PHNOM PENH, 8 September 2026 –The 21st ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on Social Welfare and Development convened virtually today, putting forward actionable recommendations for social welfare and development reforms to support the region’s most vulnerable groups.
Under the theme, “Strengthening Social Service for People in Vulnerable Situations Towards a More Inclusive, Empowered, and Caring Society”, the forum explored effective pathways to deliver quality social services capable of addressing emerging risks and vulnerabilities driven and exacerbated by demographic shifts and economic challenges.
Hosted by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation of Cambodia, and co-chaired by HelpAge Cambodia, the forum brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States, UN Agencies and non-governmental organisations, to discuss strategic pathways for transitioning from reactive welfare measures to proactive, inclusive and people-centred social service systems.
Opening the forum, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community San Lwin highlighted the region’s aspirations in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.“ASEAN is committed to building inclusive, resilient, and caring societies as vital to achieving transformative change across communities. Realising this vision, ASEAN drives strategic, unified actions to improve the lives of those most at risk building on regional achievements, shared priorities, and meaningful engagements with civil society and various stakeholders in addressing people’s needs throughout their life course,” stated DSG San Lwin.
Representing the host country and incoming Chair of Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD), Nhep Chane, Director of Cooperation Department Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation of Cambodia, stated that, “SOMSWD and its partner stakeholders play crucial role in building inclusive, resilient, responsive and adaptive social service systems. This requires strategic collaboration and partnership to strengthen inter-agency coordination and meaningful community engagement, to ensure social welfare policies and programmes directly impact the most vulnerable and marginalised.”
Recognising the challenges in addressing structural drivers of vulnerability throughout the life course, Von Bunret, Program Manager of HelpAge Cambodia, said, “Grassroots participation in shaping policies is necessary to realising ASEAN’s vision of a caring society that leaves no one behind. By centering the voices of women and children, persons with disabilities and older persons, we ensure social welfare policies and programmes address the needs and lived realities of the peoples of ASEAN.”
Throughout the forum, participants exchanged strategies to strengthen social service systems within ASEAN’s contexts and discussed collaborative areas to drive social welfare policy reforms that empower people most at risk and in vulnerable situations, mainstream gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion, strengthen social service workforce, and harness multistakeholder engagement and people’s participation for a transformative social development across the region.
The forum concluded with recommendations, including a call to advance the effective implementation of the SOMSWD Work Plan 2026-2030 and ASEAN’s shared commitments in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Its Strategic Plans, prioritising social service systems and social service workforce strengthening, advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusive development, and promoting sustainable multi-stakeholder partnerships across the region.
Around 65 participants attended the Forum online, including SOMSWD Focal Points, representatives from the government agencies and non-governmental organisations of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Plus Three countries, members of the academia, other international organisations and UN agencies, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
