PROTECTION OF WOMENS RIGHTS IN ASEAN: AN

INSTITUTIONAL EXPLORATION
G.I.S.T Proposal APLP G15
Marianne Dutkiewicz
Primary Objective
This G.I.S.T project proposes to look how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) protects
women through an institutional lens. Protection will be looked at in the context of the Convention on
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), of which all ASEAN states have ratified.
Utilising appreciative inquiry, this top-down approach seeks to both clarify institutional mechanisms and
understand what works well in this interaction.
The culmination of this knowledge will produce a road-map of the current institutional situation, which aims
to improve understanding and collaboration between institutional mechanisms and the civil society
organisations (CSOs) they engage with. ASEAN has strict guidelines on which civil society organisations
they interact with. In order to get a holistic understanding of the situation, this project aims to interact with
both ASEAN accredited and ASEAN non-accredited organisations.

Why?
Personal:
I have always had a strong interest in regional organisations, completing my Bachelor of Arts in European
Union Studies and taking numerous legal courses in this sphere during my Bachelor of Laws. My interest in
ASEAN stems from my New Zealand roots and is sparked by my desire to support and remain within my
local region the Asia-Pacific.
Empowerment of women is something that has always resonated with me but is something that has never
directly confronted me growing up in New Zealands relatively gender equal society. Being away from New
Zealand, I have been exposed to the struggles of women in the Asia-Pacific and I am interested to explore
these further. New Zealand was the leader of the womens suffrage movement, being the first self-governing
country in the world to extend voting rights to women, and I feel passionate about following this legacy.
As a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, I am well trained and experienced in domestic
legal issues. My goal is to work in the international sphere, either legal or otherwise, and one-day join New
Zealands Foreign Service. This G.I.S.T project will allow me to explore career options and expose me to the
structures and problems of the types of organisations I may work in or engage with in the future.
I am a firm believer that personal growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. I anticipate that
G.I.S.T will present a myriad of cultural and logistical challenges that will test my resilience but will provide
great personal growth.
Community:
The stakeholders involved in this G.I.S.T project are both the ASEAN institutional mechanisms (e.g.
Ministerial Meeting on Women, Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC)) and those civil society organisations that engage with these institutional mechanisms (e.g.
Cambodian Women for Peace and Development, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development and
other accredited CSOs and NGOs).
These stakeholders would value this G.I.S.T project because it will produce a road-map of the current
institutional situation. It is hoped that this road map would initiate or focus dialogue between institutional
mechanisms and the organisations/people they are supposed to enhance or engage with. It is anticipated
that this road-map will allow for greater understanding and/or collaboration.
EWC:

EWCs mission of promoting a peaceful, prosperous, and just Asia-Pacific region closely aligns with my
G.I.S.T project because ASEAN, as a regional organisation, is a key model through which the EWCs vision
of Asia-Pacific can be achieved. During G.I.S.T I would be an advocate for EWC and would enhance EWCs
community building through networking with the various contacts I meet.

What?
Context:
ASEAN is made up of three pillars or communities: Economic, Political/Security, Socio/Cultural.
Empowerment of women is an issue that cross cuts all ASEANs pillars but it has been largely confined to
the Socio/Cultural pillar, which has traditionally been the most neglected and stagnant pillar of action.
The ASEAN way of cooperation broadly refers to the reluctance of its members to enter into binding
agreements, instead preferring ad hoc understandings. The ASEAN way projects an unwillingness to
interfere in matters unique to member states. It is evident that the cultural and contextual nature that is
inherent in the empowerment of women has led to a lack of consensus and action by ASEAN in this sphere.
Lack of consensus and action puts institutions out of alignment with their prescriptions and therefore their
purpose. For example, the ACWC prescribes the following:
1. Terms of Reference: Article 3.9 states that ACWC will, adopt a collaborative and consultative
approach with ASEAN Member States, academia and civil society pertaining to the rights of women
and children.
2. Rules of Procedure: Article 53 states that The ACWC shall engage the participation of civil society
and stakeholders wherever possible. Such participation shall respect the principles of transparency,
effective and meaningful dialogue.
Failure to adhere to institutional prescriptions creates a disconnect between the institutional mechanisms
and the organisations they are supposed to enhance or engage with. I propose that a disconnect exists in
this sphere. This disconnect is evidenced by engagement on women empowerment issues being primarily
defined by individual member states and confined to the state level. Lack of regional coherence in this
sphere is undesirable as it leads to inconsistent approaches and therefore outcomes.
Despite the problems outlined above, this project will engage in an appreciative inquiry approach to data
collection. As a citizen of a western developed country, people may be wary of a foreigner coming in and
pointing out problems and therefore an appreciative approach will be a good way to open doors for honest
and frank conversation.
Location:
The locations I have chosen for the majority of this G.I.S.T project are Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia.
These countries also provide an avenue of interest in that they are a mix of CLMV and non-CLMV states
CLMV being the group of newer ASEAN member states that are considered to be experiencing a
development divide.
Deliverables:
The tangible deliverables of this G.I.S.T project that would be provided to stakeholders include:
1. Production of a road-map, either in the form of a paper or a visual chart, of ASEANs current
institutional situation in the sphere of womens empowerment. This would include:
a. an overview of the institutional structure and what works well
b. an indication of the organisations that work with the institutions
c. how the institutions and organisations engage
d. suggestions for improvement or collaboration
2. A presentation outlining the road-map above.
Transferability:
Looking at the empowerment of woman in ASEAN through an institutional lens will test my ability to
understand complex institutional structures that operate in a highly political context. It will allow me to study
the bigger picture to understand how external factors, that would not usually be thought to have an impact,
actually shape institutional structure and outputs.

The analysis, understanding and high-level thinking that would gained from this G.I.S.T project could be
adapted to look at any regional organisation, or any organisational structure for that matter, and these skills
will be useful when I enter the Foreign Service one day.
I am committed to the Asia-Pacific region believe there is a possibility that my G.I.S.T project could be useful
in looking at how the Pacific institutions can work regionally on the empowerment of women. The Rarotonga
Partnership of 2012 was a commitment from various states, including New Zealand, to improve the status of
women in the Pacific. The Rarotonga Partnership demonstrates a desire to tackle this issue regionally and
puts my G.I.S.T project in good stride to be useful in the Pacific context.

How?
Interviewing and Networking:
The primary tools I will use to achieve my deliverables are interviewing and networking. I will arrange to meet
with various stakeholders and listen to their perceptions and experiences. I will prepare a couple of common
questions that I will ask to all interviewees so I can compare and contrast the responses of those who work
within the institutions and those who work in the organsiations that the institutions are supposed to enhance
or engage with. Networking will be very important throughout G.I.S.T as I will rely on contact suggestions to
ensure I am talking with the right people. I will keep detailed notes of my interviews and networked
connections.
Sample questions:

What were your best interactions with ASEAN + examples? What made them positive

What were your worst interactions with ASEAN + examples? What made them negative?

What do the current mechanisms in place look like?

Observing and Assisting:

Observing and assisting will also be key tools that I utilise. Although my G.I.S.T project is framed to be a top
down institutional analysis, it is important for me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the types of
people and organisations that these institutions are supposed to enhance or engage with. As such, I would
like to observe and assist with projects undertaken by origanisations to empower women. I will keep notes of
my experiences observing and assisting.
Reading:
Academic literature on ASEAN institutions and empowerment of women in the region will provide a good
starting point for my G.I.S.T project. I will be able to compare and contrast the literature with my own
experiences to create well-founded deliverables.

When?
Date
(approx.)
Mid-Jan

Location

Module

Thailand

Late-Jan to
earl-Mar

Thailand

Launch/Group
Training Workshop
Independent Project

Intention/s

Sharing intentions and actions

Interviewing and networking:

relevant ASEAN officials, accredited
CSOs and NGOs
Observing and assisting: womens
empowerment projects
Sharing experiences
Interviewing and networking:
relevant ASEAN officials, accredited
CSOs and NGOs
Observing and assisting: womens
empowerment projects

Early-Mar
Early-Mar
to early-Apr

Cambodia
Cambodia

Mid-point Rendezvous
Independent Project

Early-Apr to
late-Apr

Indonesia

Independent Project

Late-Apr to
early-May

Indonesia

Group Project/Debrief

Interviewing and networking:

relevant ASEAN officials, accredited
CSOs and NGOs
Observing and assisting: womens
empowerment projects
Collaboration and sharing
experiences

With What?
Current Contacts:
Name/Organisation
East-West Center (via Scott
MacLeod)
Diane Desierto and David
Cohen

Country
United States

Amanda Ellis

New Zealand

Josh Cooper

United States

United States

Relevance
Various alumni and ASEAN
contacts throughout region
Co-Directors of ASEAN Law and
Integration Center. Various
ASEAN contacts throughout
region
Diplomat. Involvement in many
womans empowerment
organisations/initiatives globally
Various NGO, organisational
and political contacts throughout
region

Projected Contacts:
Organisation
ASEAN
Commission on the
Promotion and
Protection of the
Rights of Women
and Children
(ACWC)

ASEAN
Confederation of
Women's
Organisations
(ACWO) CSO
accredited

Name
H.E. Ms. Lily Dorianty
Purba

Country
Indonesia

Relevance
Indonesian Rep on ACWC

H.E. Long Sophally

Cambodia

Cambodian Rep on ACWC

H.E. Mrs. Kanda

Vajrabhaya

Thailand

Thai rep on ACWC

Malaysia

Malay rep on ACWC

Cambodia

Vice-President. President of
Cambodian Women for Peace and
Development

H.E. Dato Dr. Noorul

Ainur Mohd. Nur
H.E. Khloth Tong
Phka

cwpd.net
Dr Dewi Motik
Pramono

Indonesia

Dr Vina
Churdboonchart

Thailand

Fifth Director. President of National

Council of Womens Organisations
Indonesia
www.kowani.or.id
President. President of National
Council of Women Thailand
www.thaiwomen.or.th

Prof Tan Sri Dato

Wira

Malaysia

President of National Council of

Womens Organisations Malaysia

Asia Pacific Forum

on Women, Law
and Development CSO accredited
League for the
Promotion and
Defense of Human
Rights - CSO
accredited
SILAKA - CSO
accredited
UN Women
specifically
CEDAW South
East Asia
Programme

Kate Lappin

Thailand

ncwo.womencommunity.net
Regional Coordinator

N/A

Cambodia

NGO for human/women rights

N/A

Cambodia

NGO for women empowerment and

N/A

Offices in
Thailand,
Cambodia

UN entity for gender equality and the

empowerment of women

CEDAW Working
Group Initiative
CSO accredited
Womens Caucus
HRRC Human
Rights Resource
Center for ASEAN
Human Rights
Organization for
Transparency and
Peace CSO
accredited
Cambodia Human
Rights Task Force
(CHRTF) CSO
accredited
Cambodian Center
for Human Rights
(CCHR) CSO
accredited
Cambodian Human
Rights Action
Committee CSO
accredited
Cambodian
Institute for
Development and
Human Rights
(CIDH) CSO
accredited
Cambodian League
for the Promotion
and Defense of
Human Rights
(LICADHO)- CSO
accredited
Cambodian

N/A

Regional office
in Bangkok and
country offices
in Cambodia
and Indonesia
Indonesia

N/A
N/A

Thailand
Indonesia

NGO
Think Tank

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

http://www.unwomeneseasia.org/projects/Cedaw/staff.html

NGO

Working Group for

an ASEAN Human
Rights Mechanism
CSO accredited
Center for Human
Rights Cambodia
CSO accredited
Khmer Kampuchea
Krom For Human
Rights and
Development
Association CSO
accredited
Legal Aid of
Cambodia
The Cambodian
Human Rights and
Development
Association
(ADHOC) CSO
accredited
Indonesian Legal
Aid and Human
Rights Association
CSO accredited
Alliance
Democracy for
Papua (ALDP)
CSO accredited
Bali Legal Aid (LBH
Bali) CSO
accredited
Banda Aceh Legal
Aid (LBH Banda
Aceh) CSO
accredited
Bandung Legal Aid
(LBH Bandung)
CSO accredited
Business Watch
Indonesia CSO
accredited
DEMOS CSO
accredited
Human Rights
Working Group
CSO accredited
Indonesia Legal
Aid Foundation
CSO accredited
Institue for
Democracy and
Peace CSO
accredited
Institute for Policy
Research and
Advocacy (ELSAM)
CSO accredited
Jakarta Legal Aid
(LBH Jakarta)
CSO accredited
International NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Cambodia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

Forum on
Indonesian
Development
CSO accredited
Various other legal
aid organisations
(see ASEAN HR
website) CSO
accredited
The Indonesian
Human Rights
Monitor (Imparsial)
CSO accredited
Asian Forum for
Human Rights and
Development
(FORUM-ASIA)
CSO accredited
Burma Lawyers'
Council
Business & Human
Rights Resource
Centre CSO
accredited
Diakonia Asia
Regional Office
CSO accredited
Focus on the
Global South
CSO accredited
Human Rights
Education Institute
of Burma CSO
accredited
Human Rights
Lawyers
Association- CSO
accredited
Nvader

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Indonesia

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO

N/A

Thailand

NGO set up by a New Zealander to

combat sex trafficking

Events:

20th Meeting of the AICHR (2016)

o 3 - 5 Feb 2016 | Regular Meeting | Lao PDR | ASEAN Event
o When: 3 February, 2016 @ 9:00 am 5 February, 2016 @ 5:00 pm
o Where: Vientianne, Lao PDR
First AICHR Symposium on Judiciary: The Judiciary, Human Rights and Rule of Law
o 1 - 4 Mar 2016 | Workshop / Seminar / Training | | ASEAN Event
o When: 1 March, 2016 @ 9:00 am 4 March, 2016 @ 5:00 pm
o Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Budget:
Date
(approx.)
Mid-Jan

Days
(approx.)
6

Location

Module

Thailand

Launch/Group
Training
Workshop

Costs ($USD)

Flight from New Zealand to

destination: Auckland to
Bangkok - $900.00
Visa: Provided by EWC

Accommodation: Provided by
EWC
Food: $10 per day - $60.00
Miscellaneous/contingency:
$10 per day - $60.00
TOTAL: $1020.00
Visa: 60 day Visa - $75.00
Accommodation: $30 per day $1110.00
Food: $10 per day - $370.00
Miscellaneous/contingency:
$10 per day - $370.00
TOTAL: $1925.00
Flight from Thailand to
Cambodia: $350.00
Visa: Provided by EWC
Accommodation: Provided by
EWC
Food: $10 per day - $30.00
Miscellaneous/contingency:
$10 per day - $30.00
TOTAL: $410.00
Visa: Single entry, one month $45.00
Accommodation: $20 per day $600.00
Food: $10 per day - $300.00
Miscellaneous/contingency:
$10 per day - $300.00
TOTAL: $1245.00
Flight from Phnom Phen to
Jakarta: $400.00
Visa: 30 day Visa - $35.00
Accommodation: $20 per day $480.00
Food: $10 per day - $240.00
Contingency: $10 per day $240.00
TOTAL: $1395.00
Visa: Provided by EWC
Accommodation: Provided by
EWC
Food: $10 per day - $60.00
Contingency: $10 per day $60.00
Flight from Bangkok to
Auckland: $900.00
TOTAL: $1020.00
WORKING TOTAL:
$7015.00
Less EWC CONTRIBUTION: $3500.00
Equals PERSONAL FUNDS:
$3515.00

Late-Jan
to earlyMar

37

Thailand

Independent
Project

EarlyMar

Cambodia

Mid-point
Rendezvous

EarlyMar to
early-Apr

30

Cambodia

Independent
Project

Early-Apr
to lateApr

24

Indonesia

Independent
Project

Late-Apr
to earlyMay

Indonesia

Group
Project/Debrief

Conclusion
Thank-you for considering my G.I.S.T proposal. My contact details are as follows:
Phone:
Email:

+1 (808)-226-8419
marianne_dutkiewicz@hotmail.com

Address:

1811 East-West Road, #949

Honolulu, HI 96848-1811