Agenda for the three-day meeting (Feb. 16-18) included the development of ACWC`s rules of procedure, its five-year work plan, including priority areas and initial activities, and the election of the Commission`s Chair and Vice Chair, according to the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat in a statement, Thursday.
"The ACWC seeks to promote the well-being, development, empowerment and participation of women and children in the ASEAN Community building process. It would also promote public awareness and education of their rights," the statement said.
The meeting will also discuss how to align the ACWC with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The latter is the overarching institution responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN.
"The establishment of the ACWC was very much welcomed not only by Governments of the ASEAN Member States, but also by regional and international communities, including human rights defenders and democracy advocates worldwide," encouraged the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, when he opened the meeting.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) were engaged in the development of Commission`s Terms of Reference and the selection of its representatives in some Member States.
"If we wish to become a sharing and caring community, we have to take care of the women and children," said the Secretary-General.
"We have to open up the space so that they feel ownership of ASEAN community-building efforts," he added.
Each ASEAN Member State has two representatives at the ACWC - one for women`s rights and one for children?s rights.
The first-day meeting decided the election of Kanda Vajrabhaya from Thailand and Ahmad Taufan Damanik from Indonesia as the Chair and Vice Chair of the ACWC respectively. In accordance with the Commission`s Terms of Reference, they will serve the Commission for three years.
(Tx.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
