ASEAN promotes human rights work
The ASEAN Commission on Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) is looking to expand its work to the southern region of Vietnam, officials said at a two-day workshop on October 28.
Nguyen Thanh Hoa, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the first activity of ACWC in the southern region is to promote consultation and dialogue with all stakeholders on human rights mechanisms and related conventions.
Launched in April 2010 in Hanoi in the lead-up to the 16th ASEAN Summit, ACWC has 20 representatives from ten member states. It aims to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedom of women and children in the Southeast Asian region.
Cao Thi Thanh Thuy, ACWC's representative on women rights, said that elimination of violence against women and children, the rights of children to participate in all affairs that affect them, trafficking in women and children, women's participation in politics and decision-making, governance and democracy are among thematic areas of the commission's work plan through 2016.
Gender equality in education, promotion and protection of the rights of women and children with disabilities and the social impacts of climate change on women and children are also included in the work plan, she said.