Asia and the Pacific

Today, I’d like to reflect on why Southeast Asia stands out in the global history of gender, for pioneering female political and spiritual leadership; how job-creating economic growth, urbanisation and universities are the major contemporary drivers of gender equality;

Independent states in the Pacific region have the lowest levels of women’s political representation in the world.

Gloria Julia King is the only female member of Vanuatu's parliament.

Before she was elected last year, there hadn't been a female MP in Vanuatu for 15 years.

'Far too little attention has been paid to either the obstacles women face once they achieve positions of political leadership or the reasons why they leave politics.'

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Community Vision 2025 of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They are also key to fostering a more sustainable and inclusive region.

The political landscape in Asia has been very dynamic lately, but it is a disappointment to me personally that events have not been kind to women.

But what is far too often the exception should become the norm.