The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council has endorsed the Terms of Reference for the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC). Following the announcement of the Terms of Reference for ACWC in conjunction with the launch of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) at the 15th ASEAN Summit, Singapore will be appointing two representatives to the Commission – one for women’s rights and one for children’s rights, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, who attended the Second Meeting of the ASCC Council in Hua Hin, Thailand on 22 Oct.
2 The ACWC, an initiative endorsed by ASEAN Leaders at the 10th ASEAN Summit in 2004, is an inter-governmental body which looks into the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and children in ASEAN. The Terms of Reference for ACWC defines the Commission’s role in promoting public awareness and education of the rights of the women and children, capacity building and encouraging studies and research and sharing of experiences and good practices related to the well-being of women and children.
3 In these regards, the Terms of Reference calls for the nomination of two representatives – one on women’s rights and the other on children’s rights - from each Member State to the Commission. It is also stated in its Terms of Reference that the ACWC shall coordinate and take reference from the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) which is the overarching human rights institution with the overall responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN. The AICHR was inaugurated by ASEAN Leaders at the 15th ASEAN Summit on 23 October 09.
4 Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said, “Singapore is supportive of this important initiative and I look forward to the launch of the Commission with our representatives onboard.” The official launch of the Commission will take place in Hanoi when Vietnam takes over the Chairmanship of ASEAN next year.
5. Besides endorsing the Terms of Reference for ACWC, the ASCC also endorsed two other sectoral initiatives at its second meeting. They are the "Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education” and the “ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change"
6 The ASCC is one of three pillars established under the ASEAN Charter - the other two being the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council and ASEAN Economic Community Council. The ASCC oversees and coordinates ASEAN's social agenda, which is focused on poverty eradication and social and human development. There are a total of 17 sectoral bodies under ASCC. The scope of ASCC Council’s work includes the environment, education, culture, health, youth, women, children, workers, social welfare, and civil service training matters.
Issued by:
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
23 October 2009
ANNEX
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial and Senior Officials Bodies under ASCC Council
1 ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information
- Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information
2 ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts
- Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Culture and Arts
3 ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting
- Senior Officials Meeting on Education
4 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management
- ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management
5 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment
- ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment
6 Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP)
- Committee under the COP to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
7 ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting
- Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development
8 ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting
- Senior Labour Officials Meeting
- ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of
Migrant Workers
9 ASEAN Ministers on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
- Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
10 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development
- Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development
11 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth
- Senior Officials Meeting on Youth
12 ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters
13 ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
14 ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management
15 ASEAN Earthquakes Information Centre
16 ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre
17 ASEAN University Network
