Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Which bodies are most effective in tackling violence against women?

Each body within a system can contribute to gender equality and tackling violence against women, however some have more opportunities to do so than others. Read the descriptions below for a quick introduction to the main ASEAN bodies relevant to violence against women or click the related link on the right-hand side of this page (or, for mobile users, at the bottom of the page) for more information.

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

As ASEAN’s core human rights mechanism, the AICHR is the principal body for ensuring the rights of all individuals within the ASEAN region. It was the ASEAN body responsible for drafting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and continues to work towards the AHRD’s implementation in all member states. Given that gender-based violence is the cause and result of human rights violations and inequality, eradicating violence against women has become a part of the AICHR’s work. To fulfil its mandate, the AICHR regularly seeks consultation from organisations at all levels – from civil society to UN Women. [Read more…]

ASEAN Commission on the Protection and Promotion of Women and Children (ACWC)

The ACWC is the intergovernmental human rights mechanism dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and children within ASEAN member states. It is credited with drafting of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Violence against Children in ASEAN, and is also identified as the monitoring body responsible for overseeing the Declaration’s implementation. [Read more…]

ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) 

As the oldest existing women’s body within the ASEAN, the AWC has been the leader on efforts to eliminate violence against women in the region. The ACW oversaw the creation of the ASEAN Committee on the Rights of Women and Children and drafted the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2004. It was also instrumental in developing the two operational documents that form ASEAN’s framework for cooperation on women – both of which focus on eliminating violence against women:

• The Work Plan for Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality (2011-2015), which has its roots in the 1988 Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN
• The Regional plan of action to implement the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Violence against Children in ASEAN (developed in collaboration with the ACWC)

[Read more…]

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