Philippines Assumes Chairship of the ASEAN Committee on Women;
Member States and Development Partners Strengthen Commitment
to Gender Equality in the Region
In affirmation of ASEAN’s continuing pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment, the 24th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) was convened on November 10, 2025, and hosted by the Philippines through the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
During the meeting, the Philippines formally assumed the Chairship of the ACW for 2025–2026, with Singapore serving as Vice-Chair. In her statement, H.E. Ermelita Valdeavilla, PCW Chairperson and the Philippines’ Representative to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW), underscored the country’s commitment to steering the Committee’s collective efforts toward a gender-equal and inclusive ASEAN.
“As we gather under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of ASEAN: Women’s Leadership in Advancing People Empowerment, Regional Security, and Economic Prosperity,’ we reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that women and girls are at the heart of ASEAN’s journey toward a more inclusive, secured, and sustainable future,” said Chairperson Valdeavilla. “This theme reflects our collective recognition that women’s leadership is not peripheral, but central, to ASEAN’s vision for peace, prosperity, and resilience.”
The ASEAN Secretariat reported an 88% completion rate in the implementation of the ACW Work Plan 2021–2025. Chairperson Valdeavilla emphasized the importance of sustaining this momentum as the Committee transitions to developing the ACW Work Plan 2026-2030, aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
ASEAN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to advancing gender equality across all pillars of the ASEAN Community, with the meeting tackling key agreements and priorities such as:
- Continue strengthening the ASEAN Gender Outlook 2024;
- Deepen partnerships in amplifying the regional campaign against online gender-based violence;
- Provide inputs on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) – Relief and Recovery Research Project and Phase II of the Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace initiative;
- Contribute comments on the Philippines-proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Gender-Transformative Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which is expected to be adopted during the 49th ASEAN Summit under the Philippines’ Chairship of ASEAN in 2026;
- Commit to supporting the establishment of the ASEAN Centre of Excellence on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment;
- Provide inputs on the concept note of the 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit; and
- Collaborate on the development of the ACW Work Plan 2026–2030.
Forging Stronger Cooperation with Development Partners
The meeting provided a platform for ASEAN’s development partners — including the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN), Australian Mission to ASEAN, Canada Mission to ASEAN, UN Women, Guardian Girls International (GGI), Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and GSMA, Inc. — to share updates on programs advancing women’s rights and gender equality in the region. Their initiatives span key areas such as women’s economic empowerment, disaster risk reduction, the care economy, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, prevention of gender-based violence, gender data, and women’s political participation.
ASEAN Member States expressed appreciation for these partners’ continued collaboration and support, which have strengthened regional efforts and brought the gender equality agenda closer to communities. They also expressed their interest in continuing to work closely with these partners to sustain progress and jointly address emerging challenges in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
As the newly elected Chair, the Philippines pledged to nurture and strengthen these efforts and partnerships, ensuring that future generations of women and girls in ASEAN grow up in a region free from discrimination, inequity, and violence.
