Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls have played a central role in establishing ASEAN priorities as the community aims to accelerate economic growth, social progress, cultural development and promote peace and stability in the region. The ASEAN Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals (2017) reinforced the strong commitment of ASEAN leaders to “ensure the realisation of people-oriented and people-cantered ASEAN where all women and girls are able to reach the fullest of their potentials”.

The Declaration strengthens the prior commitments to protect, fulfil and promote the rights of women and girls and advance gender equality in the region, including: the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2015), ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children (2013), Hanoi Declaration on the Enhancement of the Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children (2010), and the Declaration of the Advancement of Women in ASEAN Region (1998) among others.