National Consultation in Sabah on Women's Rights in ASEAN

From 14-15 June, Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) attended a national consultation in Kinarut with women from East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) on human rights in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The consultation was organised by Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) and the Women's Aid Organisation, with support from the Southeast Asian Women's Caucus in ASEAN (Women's Caucus).

The two-day consultation included the following topics and activities:

• Introduction to the Women's Caucus,
• Introduction to ASEAN and its human rights mechanisms, including the ASEAN Charter and Human Rights Declaration, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, and ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers,
• Open Space Technology to explore women's priority issues in East Malaysia,
• Introduction to UN human rights mechanisms, including legally binding instruments ratified by Malaysia, and particular focus on the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
• Discussion of strategies and plans for the Women's Caucus in East Malaysia, including advocacy strategies to use regional and international mechanisms, and
• Group feedback and circle of support and solidarity.

Please visit LEAP's Facebook page to view photo albums from the consultation.