Study Findings and ASEAN–EU Dialogue Put Women in Politics in Focus

4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit: ASEAN-EU Study Findings and the 2nd EU-ASEAN Gender Equality Dialogue Put Women’s Political Participation and Leadership in Focus

Jakarta, Indonesia – At the 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit in Manila, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), under the leadership of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and its Chair, Philippines, officially launched theStudy on Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (WPPL) in ASEAN. The launch was followed by the 2nd ASEAN–EU Dialogue on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, bringing both regions’ perspectives on progress, barriers and the way forward.

Commissioned by the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) under the leadership of ACW Cambodia, and developed jointly with ASEAN Member States, through technical and financial support from the EU, the WPPL Study marks an important milestone in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality by providing concrete evidence of progress in WPPL while identifying persistent challenges facing women across the region.The official launch ceremony was followed by presentations of the WPPL Study’s key findings as well as the latest state of play in the EU, based on the recent study issued by the European Parliament (EP).

The subsequent 2nd ASEAN–EU Dialogue on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls identified opportunities for collaboration and discussed the strategies to widen women’s participation, including among younger generations, the role of political leadership, parliamentary cooperation and regional frameworks, as well as common concerns such as shrinking civic space, resistance to gender equality, violence and stereotypes. The exchange underscored stalled progress in women’s representation, persistent institutional and social barriers, and emerging risks. 

Ms Lina Gálvez, Honourable Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), European Parliament reflected on these challenges: “The EU’s overall picture is one of progress, but not yet parity, and there is a worrying trend. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence can create new opportunities, but they can also perpetuate bias and stereotypes and facilitate campaigns opposing gender equality. We need to ensure that digital transformation strengthens, rather than undermines, women’s democratic participation. Sustained political commitment, supportive institutional frameworks and deliberate action are essential to address these emerging challenges.”

H.E. Ms Marina Rafti, EU Ambassador to the ASEAN highlighted the significance of the event: “Promoting gender equity, and women’s political participation and leadership is a shared priority under the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership. The EU will continue to work with ASEAN to advance women’s representation in leadership and decision-making, contributing to greater diversity and representation in public policy and decisions that affect our societies. The EU-funded Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (WPPL) Regional Study is part of a joint ASEAN-EU effort to promote this shared objective, through gender-specific policies with measurable, time-bound targets, effective implementation mechanisms, and the integration of gender and WPPL considerations into national data-collection systems.  At a time of growing political and financial pressure on gender equity initiatives, the WPPL Study provides valuable evidence of progress and a trajectory for policy reform to overcome persistent gaps across the region.”

H.E. Ms Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), serves as the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) remarked during in the opening session: “Our partnership with the European Union is both timely and invaluable, as both regions share a core commitment to democratic governance, inclusive political participation, and gender-responsive institutions. The WPPL Study further grounds our regional dialogue in rigorous empirical evidence, providing a clear analytical lens to guide ASEAN’s strategic direction.

H.E. Ms Koung Sorita, Secretary of State, Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Cambodia, and Cambodia’s Representative to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women, further emphasised the way forward during her opening remarks: “As ASEAN advances the implementation of ASEAN 2045, our ambition moves from participation to meaningful influence and leadership. The WPPL Study makes an important contribution to this ambition. It also provides a basis for ASEAN and the EU to explore strategies to effectively advance women’s political participation and leadership.

H.E. Mr Massimo Santoro, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, further reiterated the focus on moving beyond representation towards meaningful leadership during his opening remarks: “The objective is not only to increase numbers. We also want to advance gender-responsive leadership that delivers for the entire population, strengthens cohesion and builds confidence in democratic governance. This also connects directly with the Women, Peace and Security agenda, where women have an essential role in decisions about peace and security. These are shared objectives that we can advance together with ASEAN.”

ASEAN and EU representatives participating in the discussions included political office-holders and officials of Member States from ASEAN (Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Timor-Leste) and the EU (France, Germany and Netherlands), as well as regional institutions from ASEAN: the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA); and from the EU: the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The event was attended by 200 participants, including representatives of ASEAN Sectoral Bodies (ASBs), national authorities from all ASEAN Member States, dialogue partners of ASEAN and international organisations. The event was also livestreamed on the Philippine Commission on Women’s official platform, reaching more than 400 additional online viewers.