WAO ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - Women's Aid Organisation

level alongside NGOs such as EMPOWER, All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), SUARAM and
IWRAW-AP on how to move forward and discuss our collective position on the ASEAN
mechanism on women and children which is the ASEAN Commission on the Protection and
Promotion of Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).
At the Southeast Asian Regional Women’s Human Rights Strategy Meeting on the ASEAN
Structures and Processes in Chiangmai, Thailand in August 2009, WAO became part of the
regional women’s caucus, the Southeast Asia Women’s Caucus on ASEAN (Women’s Caucus) to
engage with key ASEAN structures and in key processes towards ensuring the realisation and
protection of women’s human rights.
Following the regional consultation in Chiangmai, WAO coordinated a meeting with local NGOs,
which was attended by EMPOWER, AWAM, Malaysian Aids Council (MAC), Sisters In Islam (SIS),
IWRAW-AP to provide an update on the AICHR, ACWC and ACMW; discuss and draft Malaysia
statement for the 2 nd Working Group on ACWC Meeting; discuss national action plan with
proposed activities given the USD2,000 allocation- parallel to ASEAN activities (calendar of
ASEAN activities will be provided during the meeting); and appoint national focal point to the
Southeast Asia Women's Caucus on ASEAN.
7.8.1 National consultation on ASEAN structures and processes
On Sept 15, with funds from IWRAW a national consultation on ASEAN structures and processes
was organised with the objectives of:
Introducing and updating progress on ASEAN structures and processes and the
integration of women's Human rights within ASEAN processes;
Exploring the relevance of ASEAN structures and processes in our national work;
Developing national strategies on how to engage the ASEAN structures and
processes; introducing the position of Malaysian civil society groups on
advocating for just one human rights body
Selecting a focal point for the Southeast Asia Women’s Caucus on ASEAN (the
Women’s Caucus).
WAO (Lee Shook Fong) along with Empower (Honey Tan) have been in consultation with the
International Division of Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) to
provide input into the Terms of Reference of ACWC. WAO attended a meeting called by the
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