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JAKARTA: Asean has launched the Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (Asean RPA on WPS) to fulfil its vision of achieving gender equality, Cambodia’s Women’s Affairs Minister Dr Ing Kantha Phavi said.

She said the plan aims to promote women’s participation in peace and security, conflict prevention, peace building, preventing violent extremism and tackling emerging security risks such as disaster and pandemics in the region “Asean is committed to continue to forge ahead with advancing the WPS agenda and the Asean RPA on WPS will guide our ways,” she said in a statement.

The plan, which is backed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UN Women, is imperative to reach the region’s goal as an inclusive and people-centred community.

It is also a step to ensure that the ten member states recognise and leverage women’s participation and leadership in preventing conflict and building and maintaining peace in the region.

Previous efforts include the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in 2017, the launch of Asean Women for Peace Registry in 2018 and the Asean Regional Study on Women, Peace and Security in 2021.