By the invitation of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Professor Daw Than Nwe, Member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) participated in the workshop on the Women and Peace and Security in ASEAN, held at the Manila, the Philippines from 09 to 10 December 2013.
The representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the representatives to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the representatives of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation, the representatives of Ministries of National Defense, ASEAN Secretariat, and Civil Society Representatives working on issues of women, peace and security in ASEAN, National Human Rights Institutions of ASEAN Member States, among others, attended the Workshop.
Workshop Objectives are –
– Participants better understand situation of violations of the rights of women in conflict situations;
– Participants understand the types and levels of participation of women in peace processes;
– Participants increase knowledge of national, regional and international normative frameworks and mechanisms for addressing the WPS Agenda including links with the CEDAW ; and
– Participants make recommendations for the possible development of an ASEAN WPS Agenda/ Framework.
Workshop on Women and Peace and Security in Southeast Asia mainly focused on the UN Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820,1888, 1889, 1920,emphasizing four elements: Protection, Prevention, Participation and Relief and Recovery.
These resolutions have strong links with the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the only two international human rights conventions which have been ratified by all ten members of ASEAN. The WPS resolution and these Conventions share common requirements for participation, equality and protection. WPS resolutions clearly articulate the meaning of CEDAW in conflict contexts; while CEDAW has implementation mechanisms which can help ensure follow –up on WPS issues.
The overall aim of the seminar is to improve awareness among participants on the issues relating to human rights of women in conflict and post conflict situation; of normative framework, policies and mechanisms to address these issues; and to explore possibilities / opportunities for advancing the WPS agenda in ASEAN.
24 December 2013