This is the first event jointly held by ASEAN and Australia after the two sides upgraded their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership. 

In his remarks, Bui underscored the importance of the event as it helps mainstream women’s empowerment and encourages partners to extensively engage in cooperation with ASEAN, thus paving the way for further discussions on the role of women in the region. 

Payne committed to working with ASEAN in the implementation of international commitments and the UN Resolution on women, peace and security, thus strengthening women’s engagement in international peacekeeping operations, humanitarian aid, and making more investment in protecting women’s rights in the community.

Participants to the dialogue

The Australian Government will support the ASEAN in implementing a number of projects in digital transformation, vocational training, enhancing institutional capacity, as well as cooperation programs in gender equality, while promoting projects on women, peace and security, she said.
Payne said Australia will set aside AUD 10 million for the strengthening of cooperation in women, peace and security in the region.
Participants to the dialogue discussed measures to enhance the leadership and voice of women in policy-making and increase the economic power of women, making gender equality and women empowerment an important priority in the process of building the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision.

They also discussed ways to promote women’s role in overcoming COVID-19 impacts as well as common efforts in dealing with major challenges in armed conflicts, extreme violence, climate changes, poverty and social inequality.

The ASEAN-Australia Dialogue on women, peace and security was first held in 2018, becoming one of the important joint activities of both sides in the field./.