National Consultation on ASEAN Structures and Processes Tuesday 15 September 2009 Shah’s Village Hotel, Petaling Jaya ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)

Bases for the Establishment of the ACWC Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) (Measure of the VAP) Hua Hin Declaration on the Roadmap for the ASEAN community ( ) which replaced VAP Both the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Blueprint and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint reiterate the establishment of the ACWC as an important measure to ensure equitable development of women and children.

Establishment of the ACWC All ASEAN member States are parties to the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC)

What has been Done? The ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD) responsible for implementing the APSC and the ASCC Blueprints, have taken the following steps:

What has been done? 8 April Convened the Joint Roundtable discussion among ACW, SOMSWD and the ASEAN Standing Committee(ASC) in Jakarta, which discussed the possible elements and modalities of the ACWC  The Joint Roundtable came up with the recommendations for consideration of the ACW and SOMSWD 22 – 23 October The Joint Session of the ACW and the SOMSWD in Hanoi, Vietnam on  Agreed to set up a working group to study and propose recommendations on the establishment of the ACWC

What has been done? 29 April adopted the Terms of reference of the Working Group that will work towards the establishment of the ACWC at the joint session of the ACW and the SOMSWD  Formed the Working Group  Composition: ASEAN representatives on women’s rights and children’s rights appointed by member states  Malaysian representatives - Hon. Datin Seri Elena Chiang Abdullah

What has been done? 10 – 12 June 2009, Hanoi, Vietnam – First meeting of the Working Group to prepare the first draft of the TOR of the ACWC  Elements within the TOR  Purposes  Principles  Status of the ACWC  Mandates and functions  Composition – membership, qualifications, terms of office, responsibility of members, chair and vice chair, immunity and privileges  Modalities – decision making, meetings, lines of reporting, public information, coordination and alignment,  Workplan and funding  Role of Secretary of ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat  General and final provisions

Consultations with the HLP Held consultations with the HLP on the AHRB, now the AICHR on the possible relations between the AHRB and the ACWC

Dialogues with civil society Dialogue with civil society organizations and academia.  29 April CSOs were invited at the joint session of the ACW and SOMSWD, in Manila.  A representative from the CSOs spoke on the work of the CSOs in the ASEAN region

Dialogues with civil society 17 August The Working Group on the ACWC had a dialogue with CSOs at the Open Session of its Second Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Representatives from national and regional women CSOs and children CSOs from the ASEAN countries

Dialogue with civil society Dialogue with CSOs aimed to seek inputs on the following areas of concern: 1. Guiding principles of the ACWC 2. Expected mandates and functions of the ACWC 3. Possible relations between the ACWC and the civil society 4, Other suggested aspects to be covered in the TOR of the ACW

Dialogue with civil society Discussion points:  Civil society participation  Access to draft TOR  Principles  Mandates and functions

Current status 1 – 2 October 2009 – Proposed dates to finalise the TOR ‘Mesyuarat khas’ – between ACWC WG and ACW and SOMSWD focal points

Current TOR Principles Mandates and functions Modalities and reporting lines

References Tess Vistro, SEA Regional WHRs Strategy Meeting on the ASEAN Structures and Processes, 8 – 10 August, Chiangmai ACWC Working Group TOR ACWC TOR, Zero draft ACWC TOR, August draft VAP (2004 – 2010) Roadmap for the ASEAN community ( )

THANK YOU Wathshlah G. Naidu International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW) Asia Pacific 80-B, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: (603) Fax: (603) / Website: