ASEAN to sign new declaration on protecting women and children

Quratul-Ain Bandial
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ASEAN leaders are expected to sign a new declaration on the elimination of violence against women and children after a committee met in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to finalise the draft.

The draft declaration will contain commitments to build adequate national welfare systems and legislation to protect women and children against violence in times of disaster, migration and labour, among others.

The declaration, which will be submitted to leaders this October at the ASEAN Summit in Brunei, will also include provisions on cyber pornography and cyber bullying.

Datin Paduka Hjh Intan Hj Mohd Kassim, Brunei representative and chairman of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), said it would be an enhancement to the declaration made in 2004.

"With the signing of the declaration, we hope that there will be more effort expended to protecting the rights of both women and children in ASEAN countries," she said at the conclusion of the meeting.

"Everybody should play a role in eliminating violence against women and children, and we hope that all countries and civil societies will support this declaration."

Datin Paduka Hjh Intan said ACWC would conduct a survey on cases involving violence against women and children in ASEAN countries.

"It is a project that we intend to implement within five years to know and understand the impact of violence on our children and women."

ACWC also submitted 10 proposals for funding by the European Union to improve the condition of women and children in Southeast Asia.

ACWC was inaugurated on April 2010 and comprises 20 representatives from 10 ASEAN countries.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times