Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Five ASEAN member countries have signed the declaration of "Transforming Women`s Political Participation into Active Citizens in Southeast Asia" as an effort to fight for gender equality in politics.
The five countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Timor Leste, chairman of the Indonesian Women`s Coalition (KPI), Dian Kartikasari, reported here on Tuesday.
"To date, the five countries have been struggling to increase the number of women getting elected and proving to be able to sit in parliament," Dian noted.
According to her, women`s coalition members have realized that representation of women in the field of politics is important in advancing gender equality, freedom, human rights, and democracy as a whole.
"They also urged that sustainable development and peace can be achieved by ensuring the participation of women in politics," Dian stated.
The declaration also called for actions in several areas, including the involvement of women in government and politics through direct representatives or freely elected.
Likewise, the declaration has urged an increased access for women politicians to take the position of leader and decision maker, to enable them to actively voice their political rights.
"They should be able to change the paradigm that will help women to become leaders or equal partners with men in the community of Southeast Asia," Dian added.
The meeting carried the theme "Women in Political Leadership in Southeast Asia." (WDY)
