ASEAN representatives reconvene to discuss ways to promote women and peace agenda in Member States
Jakarta, Indonesia – A second multi-nation workshop has been convened to support Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to carry out plans to bolster women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding.
About 60 policymakers, advocates and representatives from civil society organizations across ASEAN gathered on 9 to 11 April 2025 in Jakarta for the training on “national action plans” to realize the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security.
ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation and UN Women provided technical support for the workshop, and the Governments of Canada, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland provided funding.
The workshop, or NAP Academy, was a big step forward in efforts to localize the regional agenda. It highlighted the role of civil society organizations in the process.
Representatives from countries participating in the workshop — Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Timor-Leste — discussed progress, challenges and lessons learned in developing and carrying out national action plans. They also discussed coordination among the civil society organizations and ministries involved in the plans, strategies to develop and implement the plans, and to ensure accountability.
“The most important thing I learned this week is the value of integrating grass-roots women’s voices into national policy discussions on peace and security,” said a Thai Government representative, Saifuddeen Salaeh,, Policy and Planning Analyst, Coordination Center for Children and Women in Southern Border Provinces.
“This matters greatly for advancing WPS (women, peace and security) in my country because it ensures that policies reflect the real needs and experiences of women affected by conflict. Empowering local women leaders through inclusive dialogue not only strengthens peacebuilding efforts but also builds long-term community resilience.”
I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of the ASEAN Institute, said: “It is truly inspiring to witness the visible growth and steadfast commitment of ASEAN in advancing the WPS agenda, commitment that is not only evident in our collective progress but also powerfully marked by this very training.
“Each step forward in developing and implementing national action plans on WPS is more than just policy progress. It is a testament to our collective dedication to a more inclusive, peaceful and resilient future.”
Said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Indonesia Representative and Liaison to ASEAN: “Women and girls have a critical role in finding solutions and advancing ASEAN’s aspirations for a people-centred community. The participants representing the government, civil society or academia, etc. are carrying not only the responsibility, but actually bringing in a unique momentum and the opportunity to help sustain peace, which is the most important agenda in the region.”
The first NAP Academy was held in Thailand in June 2024. That workshop helped introduce government representatives to good practices in designing and carrying out national action plans.
