ASEAN Bulletin
February
2008
- German Foreign Minister Visits the ASEAN
Secretariat, Jakarta, 27 February 2008
- ASEAN Continues to Empower Women
- ASEAN Gives Awards to Outstanding
Youths
German Foreign Minister Visits the ASEAN
Secretariat
Jakarta, 27 February 2008
 |
| Dr. Steinmeier signing the guest
book |
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Dr. Frank-Walter
Steinmeier, visited the ASEAN Secretariat on the morning of 27
February 2008 during his official visit to Indonesia from 26-28
February 2008. Dr. Steinmeier held a bilateral meeting with ASEAN
Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan. They discussed the latest
development on ASEAN as well as the cooperation between ASEAN and
the European Union and ASEAN with Germany.
Following the meeting, Dr. Steinmeier and Dr. Surin Pitsuwan held
a joint media conference to launch a 2 –million- Euro German-ASEAN
Cooperation Project focusing on the capacity-building for the ASEAN
Secretariat. The contribution was built on the long standing and
close relationship between Germany and ASEAN. It is also in line
with the implementation of the Nuremberg Declaration on the EU-ASEAN
Enhanced Partnership endorsed at the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
held in Germany in March 2007.
Dr. Steinmeier (left) & Dr. Surin (right) during
the bilateral meeting
Under the cooperation project, among others, Germany will offer
training courses in the field of human resources development, legal
matters and outreach programmes for ASEAN awareness.
Click here for the full press release.
(Left)
Media conference, (Right)
ASEAN Gallery
Posted 27 February 2008
ASEAN Continues to Empower Women
Committed to addressing and mainstreaming gender
equality issues, ASEAN Countries have continuously made a systematic
effort to increase women’s participation in leadership positions.
Concrete improvements include the enactment of legislation and
setting gender quota for parliament, public, academic and business
sectors.
In Indonesia, the Presidential Instruction
emphasising gender equality has resulted in various revisions to
legislations for all governmental institutions to integrate gender
mainstreaming concepts in all aspects of national development.
Malaysia adopted a policy to achieve at least a 30%
representation of women in decision-making at all levels. The target
is nearly reached. As of 2006, 24.6% of Malaysian women are holding
top management positions in the public sector. The Philippines
enacted laws and policies that serve as an avenue for women’s
participation and leadership in politics and the bureaucracy.
ASEAN Regional Workshop on Gender Equality
Legislation, Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 February 2008
Viet Nam approved the law on Gender
Equality in 2006 and set a target of having 50% females in
government agencies and socio-political organisations by 2010. So
far, 25.76% of Vietnamese women are holding positions as deputies of
the National Assembly (2007-2011 term).
The Lao government has created a conducive
environment for women to take up leadership positions. This includes
the revision of the Constitution in 2003 which allow women of all
ethnic groups to participate in the decision-making process.
Singapore has developed a database of
female-only job seekers known as the Women’s Register. It is a
secure online database for women who would like to seek appointments
in leadership positions. The public and private sectors have access
to this service to find the right candidates for their job
vacancies.
Agencies specialising in women’s affairs play a
great role in assisting women in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The National Committee on the Promotion of Social Morality and
Family Values in Cambodia and the Office of Women’s Affairs and
Family in Thailand undertake and coordinate programmes and
activities such as skills training and capacity building, as well as
protect and promote the legitimate rights and interests of women.
The Myanmar Women Entrepreneur’s Association helps the government to
raise gender awareness and boost the self esteem of women in the
business sector.
Women in Brunei Darussalam enjoy
increasing access to education and employment opportunity. Female
participation in the labour force increased from 31.3% in 1981 to
59.1% in 2005. Small and medium enterprises provide 92% of
employment for women in the private sector and women are the major
beneficiaries of micro-credit financing schemes in the country (62%
of the total beneficiaries as of March 2006).
Promoting skills training for women and providing
greater opportunities for self-employment and micro-enterprise for
women are priorities in ASEAN
Despite the various steps already taken, ASEAN
governments share a common view that to maintain equal opportunities
for men and women, mindsets still need to change, and there is a
need to lay the foundation for concrete change.
Posted 18 February 2008
ASEAN Gives Awards to Outstanding Youths
In recognition of their inspirational roles and
contributions to their communities, ASEAN has presented Youth Day
Awards to nine outstanding youths. The awards were given out at the
14th ASEAN Youth Day Meeting and Youth Day Award held in Vientiane,
Lao PDR, from 6-7 February 2008.
The recipients are from different age groups and
backgrounds, ranging from artist, activist to scientist. Each is an
inspirational role model, demonstrating excellence in his/her field
of work and contributing significantly to society. For example, one
of the members of the National Anti-Drug Association of Brunei
Darussalam, Mr. Haji Md.Faizul Shah Noel bin Haji Md. Jaafar,
received the award for a successful youth programme on drug
awareness.
The awards were presented by the
Secretary-General of Central Committee of the Lao People’s
Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr. Khamphan Sitthidampha, in the
presence of representatives from all ASEAN Member States.
(left) Ms. Awit Radiani from
Indonesia and Eunice Olsen from Singapore (right)
On winning the award, Ms. Awit Radiani, the
artist and entrepreneur of Patch Work from Indonesia, said, she was
proud to have been chosen from among many talented Indonesian
candidates.
“I would like to encourage all the young people
to be independent, have a fighting spirit, be innovative and
creative in achieving your goals”, said Ms. Radiani. This way, she
continued: “the young people can contribute more to our community
and to our nation”.
The ASEAN Youth Day Award Ceremony has been held
as part of the ASEAN Youth Day Meeting (AYDM) since 2001. The theme
of this year’s AYDM was “One ASEAN at the heart of Dynamic Asia”.
The ASEAN Youth
Award recognises youths with outstanding contributions towards their
communities
AYDM is observed annually on 8 August. It was
formed to highlight the role and contribution of young people in
ASEAN towards the development and prosperity of the region. Each
Member State takes turn to host the special programme, bringing
together youths and youth leaders to commemorate the event.
List of awardees are:
-
Brunei Darussalam
Mr. Haji Md.Faizul Shah Noel bin Haji Md.Jaafar
Persatuan Basmi Dadah (BASMIDA)/The National Anti Drug
Association of Brunei Darussalam
-
Cambodia
Mr.Kao Rith
Deputy Director of Department of Education, Youth and Sport,
Kampot Province
-
Indonesia
Ms. Awit Radiani
Art Worker and Entrepreneur of Patch Work
-
Lao PDR
Mr. Khamla Phouminh
National for Science Technology Authorities
-
Malaysia
Mr.Nasrul Bin Ahmad
Malaysian Association Youth Club
-
Myanmar
Ms.Cho Thiri Maung
Myanmar Women Entrepreneurship Association
Executive Director Malikha Power Engineering
-
Singapore
Ms.Eunice Elizabeth Olsen
TV Host, Nominated Member of Singaporean Parliament, Pianist and
Volunteer
-
Thailand
Mr. Watcharin Ratcharin
Lawyer and Youth Activist
-
Viet Nam
Mr.Nguyen Viet Que Sun
Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City
Posted 13 February 2008
