SOUTH ASIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA INTER REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON ADVANCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF GENDER SOCIAL NORMS TO ENHANCE WOMEN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is organizing a two-day South Asia and Southeast Asia Dialogue on Advancing the Transformation of Gender Social Norms to Enhance Women and Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making. The Inter Regional Dialogue is convened under the framework of the European Union (EU) funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative which is implemented in partnership with UN Women, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women. 

The WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative is anchored in the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III which identifies advancing equal participation, representation and leadership as a key area of engagement for the EU in its external action plan1. The first-ever EU Youth Action Plan in EU external action also includes increasing the voice and leadership of young people in policy and decision-making, especially young women, as a priority in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–20242.  Within this framework, the EU launched the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) which seeks to strengthen the rights, empowerment, and participation in public and political life of women and youth as key actors of democratic development. 

The Inter Regional Dialogue for South Asia and Southeast Asia is conceptualized in recognition of the persistent challenges on advancing the transformation of social norms for women and youth political participation and representation in both sub-regions. The Inter Regional Dialogue will focus on twelve countries across both regions, namely: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Myanmar. The Inter Regional Dialogue is expected to bring together 36-40 women and men in politics, leadership and decision making (political parties, parliamentarians, local government representatives, CSOs). The Inter Regional dialogue will be conducted in English in Bangkok, Thailand.