02 April 2014 - Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Deputy Secretary General (DSG) for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Alicia Bala was one of the guest speakers at the inaugural International Women’s Summit of the All-China Women’s Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association Limited held on March 29 at the Jockey Club Auditorium.
DSG Bala talked about the state of women in ASEAN, including their role in realizing the ASEAN Community in 2015. She also discussed the milestones in promoting
women’s advancement and gender equality in ASEAN which includes the 1988 Declaration of the Advancement of Women in the ASEAN Region and the creation of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW). DSG Bala also noted that the post-2015 agenda of ASEAN should be gender-responsive and that issues on ASEAN migrant workers who are mostly women in mid to low-skilled work is an emerging challenge in ASEAN integration.
DSG Bala likewise underlined the importance of civil society organizations such as the All-China Women’s Federation in promoting women empowerment in Asia, particularly within the context of the ASEAN Plus Three (i.e., China, Japan and Republic of Korea) mechanism.
Prior to being nominated by the Philippines in 2012 as DSG for ASCC, Mrs. Bala was the Undersecretary for the Policy and Programs Group of the Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines, and the Philippines’ Representative for children to the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).
Other speakers included Mrs. Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Government; Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN Yang Xiu-Ping; Professor Fanny Cheung Mui-ching, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ms. Khunying Dhipawadee Meksawan, former Secretary General of the Civil Service Commission and former Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office of Thailand; Professor Nguyen Thi Thuan, President of the University of Labor and Social Affairs of Viet Nam; Ms. Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, Chairperson of the National Commission on Violence against Women of Indonesia; and Ms. Wang Yai-Ping, China’s first woman astronaut, who gave presentations on gender equality and culture, as well as balancing career and family. Dr. Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, Director General of the World Health Organization, also gave a video presentation on the women in international affairs. The event was also attended by Mrs. Regina Leung, wife of Mr. Chun-ying Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR. END