Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection is optimistic that ASEAN-wide collaboration could speed up the implementation of the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework (AGMSF).

"Through collaboration between the ASEAN and its partners, we can push for sustainable changes, improve gender equality, and empower women and children in all aspects of life," the ministry's deputy for gender equality, Lenny N. Rosalin, stated on Tuesday (July 4).

Speaking at the AGMSF Conference here, the official highlighted that implementation of the framework should focus on the three pillars of politics, economy, and society.

"One important agenda in 2023 that must be realized at once is that the ASEAN Committee on Women should guide sectoral bodies of the three pillars to realize gender mainstreaming substantially, either in policies, programs, and activities," she expounded.

Rosalin remarked that facilities and mechanisms are required to realize gender mainstreaming, including appropriate human resources for its implementation.

"We need to prepare it all to ensure that in 2024, we will be in the implementation phase," Rosalin stated.

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Meanwhile, the ministry's official admitted that several issues and challenges were faced by sectoral bodies in the implementation of AGMSF, including a limited understanding of the framework and resources to implement it.

Hence, efforts should be optimized to accelerate the implementation of AGMSF in the ASEAN, including raising awareness on gender mainstreaming and bolstering the commitment and capacity of leaders and officials in sectoral and cross-sectoral bodies.

Relevant cooperation and coordination are also essential to institutionalize gender mainstreaming in sectoral and cross-sectoral bodies in the three pillars.

"AGMSF has three pillars of politics, economy, and social, and each pillar is expected to have real output on the implementation," Rosalin stated.

The AGMSF Conference is a follow-up to several ASEAN-level regional agendas organized by the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection under Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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