The ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) and the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) will work together to realise the declaration on the elimination of violence against women and children that was adopted by ASEAN leaders in 2013.

Both sides discussed a number of related issues, including the formation of the ACWC Network of Social Service Agencies (NOSSA) in Singapore by 2015, during their consultation session in Yangon, Myanmar, on October 15.

Delegates at the seventh meeting in 2013. (Photo for illustration) Source: aseanwatch.org

Earlier, the ACWC reviewed the implementation of its 2012-2016 work plan at its 9th meeting held from October 13-14 in Yangon.

Four joint projects which are related to gender and another on the public campaign for the elimination of violence against women were adopted in collaboration with the ACWC and the Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information.

Participants proposed cooperation between the ACWC and the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Senior Officials Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD), and Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC).

They underlined the need to intensify coordination between ASEAN and its dialogue partners such as the EU, the UNICEF, and the UN Women, to promote the rights of women and children.

The 10th ACWC meeting will be held from February 25-27 next year in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Source: VNA