Plan of Action on Promoting Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (WPPL) 2024-2030

Abstract

While all women leaders are motivated to be agents of change, how they participate and contribute to political changes varies in different country contexts within ASEAN. The Regional Plan of Action on Women Political Participation and Leadership (RPAWPPL) highlights the importance of women’s leadership and political participation with aim to enhance their meaningful participation and leadership in the region. In view of this, RPA-WPPL focuses on increasing more concrete actions for women to take political leadership, with a more supportive environment within the broader political systems and societies, in order to increase women’s political participation and their active role in their leadership positions. Their decision to embark on political leadership is a choice which is shaped by the economic, cultural, social and political context they are embedded in. Hence, promoting gender mainstreaming in policy decision making as well as cross-sectoral collaboration across multi stakeholder groups are seen as
key to advancing women’s substantive representation and political participation in the region.

By addressing challenges faced by women, creating opportunities for them and increasing the effectiveness of women’s political participation, the development of a Regional Plan of Action on Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (RPA-WPPL) is based on the existing regional frameworks and initiatives in addressing women political participation, and is one of the key recommendations from the Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA) resolutions in the 44th AIPA General Assembly. The RPA-WPPL will be divided into three key parts. The first section offers an overview of relevant context and challenges related to pathways for women to participate in politics and become political leaders. Section 2 identifies the rationale and objectives to amplify the impact of increasing women’s political participation. Section 3 recognizes the gender gaps in political participation and pushes for an urgent need to promote gender-responsive parliaments and policy decision making. Under this Plan of Action, the AIPA Member Parliaments will pursue cooperation in conformity with their respective Member States’ obligations in accordance with their respective domestic laws, regulations and policies in the following areas. It will also work with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and institutions in realizing these objectives.