1th AMMSWD and 7th AMMSWD+3: Accelerating ASEAN Commitments for Gender Equality

The 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development and 7th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development- 11th AMMSWD Meeting and 7th AMMSWD+3 hosted by Malaysia was held via video conferencing on Thursday.

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khine and officials of the Department of Social Welfare joined the meeting. At the opening ceremony of AMMSWD meeting,  Minister of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia who is alternate chair of the meeting gave a speech.

The meeting was held with the theme “Accelerating the Implementation of ASEAN Commitments for Gender Equality through Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion” and ASEAN Social Welfare and Development Ministers took part in the discussion.

At the meeting, the Union Minister discussed on implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG Goals) for gender equality and women empowerment, formation of Women’s Affairs Committees for women development and protection from violence against women with various ways, adopting necessary laws, policies and guidelines, drafting NSPAW Phase II (2023-2032), providing cash assistance to pregnant women and children under 2 years old, social pension and assistance to disabled, cooperation with ASEAN to carry out rehabilitation measures in MOCHA cyclone-affected areas in Rakhine State, sending Psychosocial Support Teams there to support psychosocial affairs to children, women, elders and disabled persons, the importance of social workers and regional cooperation.

Afterwards, it was approved that the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development and 8th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development will be hosted by Myanmar in 2025.

According to the agenda, representatives from ASEAN+3 countries such as China, Japan and Republic of Korea discussed cooperation in social welfare and development programs of ASEAN countries.

The Union Minister also discussed donations of China on food, drinking water plus medicines and temporary tents for damaged areas by MOCHA cyclone, reporting plan for women, children and youths in Mekong-Lancang development program and by implementing the projects and it will benefit to socio-economic development of Mekong-Lancang region countries.

The meeting then ended with a closing remark by the meeting alternate chair, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia.