Management Response

: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Thailand)
: 2014 - 2014 , Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Thailand) (RO)
: Final Evaluation of the Project on the Project on Regional Mechanisms to Protect the Human Rights of Women and Girls in South East Asia
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: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Thailand)
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Statuses and comments were updated for each key action in July 2019.

: Draft
Recommendation: UN Women should adopt targeted strategies to train new incumbents of the AICHR/ACWC to a ?foundational? or introductory training curriculum that provides new appointees with a solid background (in the appropriate language) on WHR issues. (Priority: HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation which ASEAN stakeholders agree as high priority
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1.1 Support AICHR ACWC and ACW new representatives in their capacity development ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed Engagements with ASEAn were in the context of the CEDAW South East Asia Programme (SEAP) funded by the Government of Canada (Phase II was from April 2011 to June 2016), where support to AICHR, ACWC, and ACW in capacity development focused on enhancing their knowledge and understanding of women and girls. Please refer to the results of the CEDAW SEAP programme.
1.2 Compile simple training materials for the new commissioners and representatives. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 Completed As above.
1.3 Support TOR review of ACWC and include orientation in the new TOR ASEAN Project team ROAP 2016/12 Completed Under CEDAW SEAP, efforts were made to support ACWC to define the scope of their work by supporting the review of the ACWC TOR. This was a process that was largely driven by ACWC and the ASEAN Secretariat. Efforts to improve this are ongoing (going beyond the TOR, into missioning strategies and planning) to ensure that ACWC works collaboratively with ACW and there is adequate education of their efforts.
Recommendation: Engagement activities (study visits, workshops, seminars, etc.) should be incorporated into a structured action-oriented plan with associated process and outcome indicators. This has been emphasised by several commission stakeholders, who want to see translation of their workplans and declarations into concrete activities. (Priority: HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and will endevour to influence the workplans of AICHR, ACW and ACWC for a more structured action oriented plan. However this recommendation can be implemented only if ASEAN bodies agree to ?external support and suggestions to incorporate rigorous indicators? and subject to resource mobilization.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Human Rights
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
2.1 Organize inception meetings upon fund raising back to back with AICHR, ACW and ACWC meetings especially during their work plan development stage. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed UN Women supported AICHR, ACW, and ACWC in organising inception meetings and developing work plans through the CEDAW SEAP framework. Therefore, this action was completed under the context of CEDAW. Beyond CEDAW, the latest engagements (July 2019) with these bodies were in March 2019 when UN Women supported ACWC's strategic planning and visioning workshop to better inform and develop ACWC's upcoming 2021-2025 workplan. This was jointly done with UNICEF.
2.2 To hold consultation with key partners and experts to develop process and outcome indicators ASEAN Project team ROAP 2016/12 Completed As above.
Recommendation: UN Women should focus on opportunities for catalyzing collaboration and joint programming between the two commissions to enhance their combined strength. (Priority: MEDIUM/HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and will support efforts to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between AICHR and ACWC subject to the agreement of the commissions.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable, Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Culture of results/RBM, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
3.1 Activities to strengthen functional cooperation between AICHR, ACWC , SOMSWD and other sectoral bodies along with other UN Agencies including UNICEF, ILO and IOM ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed This was completed under CEDAW SEAP. CEDAW SEAP organised and led activities to strengthen functional cooperation between AICHR, ACWC, SOMSWD, and other sectoral bodies. UN Women has continued to collaborate with other UN agencies including UNICEF, ILO, and IOM to enhance collaboration and support to ASEAN. UNICEF and Un Women co-lead social welfare and development work under ASEAN's socio-cultural community pillar. UN Women also works with ILO and IOM on gender-responsive decent work and migration mechanisms to ensure protection of the rights of women and women migrant workers. The Safe and Fair project (across the ASEAN region) is also an ongoing project with ILO.
3.2 To identify areas of cooperation and joint projects through the work plan development activities. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed There has been a regular review of joint programmes (between ASEAN and UN Women). This has continued beyond CEDAW SEAP. The latest joint programme was in May 2019. UN Women and ASEAN established a joint work programme (see https://asean.org/asean-renews-partnership-unicef-un-women/). UN Women also provided direct support for the development of the multi-year work plans for both ACW and ACWC for 2016-2020. UN Women and UNICEF have played prominent roles in supporting the strategic visioning exercises for development ACWC's work plan 2021-2025 (ongoing) (as above) to ensure buy-in ownership and high-level political support to advance gender equality and empowerment within ASEAN (http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2018/10/to-reach-sustainable-development-for-all).
3.3 To support Annual Consultation Meetings once a year between AICHR and ACWC ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed This activity was completed under CEDAW SEAP. However, no further support has been provided by UN Women on this activity since then.
Recommendation: Because CSOs, NHRIs and other non-governmental stakeholders in ASEAN member states are extremely diverse, individual approaches are necessary to engage them in the policy process. Guidelines for proactive, systematic regional engagement with these groups would be an important step in advancing women?s human rights policy. (Priority: MEDIUM)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and will develop new and compile existing materials for advocacy with ASEAN.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication, Not applicable, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Culture of results/RBM, Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Human Rights
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
4.1 Development of guidelines for engagement and advocacy with regional human rights bodies and for engagement with NHRIs, CSOs and other non-governmental stakeholders ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 Completed As above/below.
4.2 To support regular consultations at national level and invite NHRIs to meeting with ACWC ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed Under CEDAW SEAP, UN Women helped increase the number of NHRIs in the ASEAN region. Through the CEDAW framework, UN Women conducted various consultations with NHRIs on how to be more engaged with ACWC and other ASEAN bodies (directly and indirectly). As part of the UN Women mandate of Coordination,
4.3 To continue to support CSOs; dialogue among CSOs, other sectoral bodies (AICHR, ACWC, ACW) ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed This was completed within the context of CEDAW SEAP. UN Women continues to support CSOs and other sectoral bodies in the ASEAN region under other regional and country projects (notably, Safe and Fair).
Recommendation: Several commission representatives recommended a role for UN Women in advocating with ASEAN on integration of human rights and women's human rights across all three ASEAN pillars in the approach to the 2015 economic integration. UN Women should also continue to facilitate consultations and action-oriented plans to further build capacity in ASEAN across the three pillars. (Priority: HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and this is a very important process indicator for UN Women?s inter-governmental normative mandate. However this requires within ASEAN political will and development of trusted relationships.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable, Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Culture of results/RBM, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
5.1 Bilateral meetings between UN Women senior management and ASEAN SG, DSGs on mainstreaming WHR in all pillars of ASEAN and chalk out a process for this Regional Director/DeputyRegional Director ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed This was completed under CEDAW SEAP. However, this activity remains ongoing across UN Women through advocating for gender mainstreaming via the ASEAN pillars, going beyond human rights mainstreaming and comittments under CEDAW.
5.2 Develop relationships with key bodies within ASEAN in all pillars and support consultations across pillars Regional Director/DeputyRegional Director ASEAN Project team ROAP 2016/12 Completed As above. UN Women continues to support gender mainstreaming globally. Efforts were renewed after CEDAW SEAP to advance gender mainstreaming across ASEAN (such as by providing technical support, consultations, etc across pillars). For example, in 2018, UN Women consulted between the socio-cultural and economic pillars and in 2019, UN Women will be consulting on the political pillar on gender mainstreaming strategies.
5.3 Organize conferences on integrating WHRs with 3 pillars with focus on economic impact on women in ASEAN Regional Director/DeputyRegional Director ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed As above.
5.4 Development of gender checklist; human resources and gender training Regional Director/DeputyRegional Director ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 No Longer Applicable UN Women is currently working on this outside the CEDAW framework. This action is therefore marked no longer applicable in the context of this recommendation. UN Women has been working on agreements to conduct gender training (human resources, gender sensitivity, gender statistics training) for ASEAN Secretariat staff in the last quarter of 2019.
Recommendation: To build on these efforts of the Women?s Caucus, the ISG team recommends that CSOs continue to share lessons and experiences, undertake and joint initiatives designed to optimize strengths and increase efficiency among CSOs. UN Women should strive to maintain its support of CSOs and should convene stakeholders in appropriate forums. (Priority: MEDIUM/HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and will continue to support CSOs. However in phase II of the project the support will be strategic and systematic
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication, Not applicable, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Culture of results/RBM, Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Human Rights
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
6.1 Supporting development of ASEAN knowledge hub on WHRs at country level with existing women?s group; ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed No knowledge hub was created/initiated under the CEDAW project. However, many knowledge products were created as tools to support women's advocacy at the national level. For example, a number of new knowledge resources, such as monitoring tools and simplified versions of CEDAW General Recommendations, strengthened the monitoring of CEDAW implementation. Accountability improved through training a core group of trainers in government ministries and establishing national networks of CEDAW experts. Another example - Research on access to justice in plural legal systems in eight countries and regionally, with women especially from marginalized groups serving as key subjects of a feminist participatory research approach, informed the creation of flagship research products that generated widespread discussion on customary and informal practices, and on how gender stereotypes percolate into the administration of justice. Another example - In Indonesia, UN Women forged partnerships with the International Commission of Jurists and the Commonwealth Secretariat to continue work on the gender sensitization of the judiciary. Initial achievements included production of a judicial resource bench book.
6.2 Supporting advocacy of women?s groups and CSOs with ASEAN Human rights bodies. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed As above.
Recommendation: With increased capacity brought about by training programmes proposed above, as well as increased funding, ASEAN collaboration with NHRIs presents an important opportunity to promote women?s rights. AICHR and ACWC representatives should engage with member countries? NHRIs with support from UN Women facilitating this engagement. (Priority: MEDIUM/HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation. In phase II of the project this relationship development will be prioritized. However the relationship development of NHRIs with AICHR at regional level may take time given the existing uneasy relationship of some AICHR Representatives with NHRIs.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable, Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Culture of results/RBM, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
7.1 To conduct series of consultations and tripartite dialogues between ACWC-AICHR, NHRI and CSOs at national and regional level ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed UN Women worked closely with ASEAN regional bodies to support stronger integration of WHR in human rights mechanisms of the ASEAN Secretariat, AICHR, ACWC and ACW. The programme developed a partnership with the Women’s Caucus of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and worked together with other UN Agencies (notable OHCHR and UNICEF) on advocacy with ASEAN.
7.2 Pilot joint programming in 1-2 countries ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed UN Women in the Philippines participated in development and pilot testing of online courses in CEDAW and on Human Rights. As a “Delivering as One” country, UN Women Viet Nam’s activities are contained in outline in the Delivering As One plan (currently 2012-2016) and are implemented on a more detailed basis with partners via Detailed Project Outlines (DPO). In Timor-Leste, UN Women works within a coordinated approach to supporting the justice sector together with UNDP UNICEF, and the UN’s Human Rights Unit (HRU). In Cambodia, UN Women worked closely to promote use of CEDAW as a normative framework and capacity building on CEDAW OP. The programme also worked collaboratively with the HRU to provide technical support to CEDAW reporting, including conducting mock sessions.
Recommendation: Future capacity development by UN Women for the ASEC should be investigated, and could involve a more structured training process that maximises the availability of the ASEC and their potential contribution to the lack of terms of reference for them. (Priority: MEDIUM)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation. In phase II of the project the capacity development initiatives for ASEC will be conducted in a more systematic way.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication, Capacity development, Not applicable, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Culture of results/RBM, Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Human Rights
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
8.1 Conduct an e-survey as needs assessment for capacity development for ASEAN Secretariat supporting AICHR, ACWC and ACW and develop a training plan and modules. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 No Longer Applicable This was not completed under the context of CEDAW due to limited funding and the end of the project. However, in the aftermath of CEDAW, this activity is currently being explored with the ASEAN Secretariat to better identify the way forward/needs assessments.
8.2 Support and conduct systematic trainings with pre and post-tests to assess use of knowledge and skills. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed As above comments - completed under CEDAW SEAP.
Recommendation: Future work with the ASEAN commissions should focus on building capacity and knowledge on, and advocacy for the development of, policies and instruments for the protection of girls. (Priority: HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation. In phase II of the project the capacity development initiatives will be conducted in a more systematic way.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable, Capacity development, Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Culture of results/RBM, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
9.1 Support identification of key issues on protection of girls and support consultations among AICHR, ACWC and ACW to prioritize issues and support development of policies and instruments ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 Completed Through development, dissemination and institutionalization of a variety of knowledge products and online platforms, the project brought practical applications of women’s rights into judicial training institutions, policies of national women’s machineries and ASEAN human rights bodies. It reached diverse groups of marginalized women—including rural and indigenous women, HIV- positive women, lesbian and bisexual women, transgender and intersex persons, youth and disabled women—to help them identify and end multiple types of discrimination.
9.2 Compile simple training materials for the new commissioners and representatives. ASEAN Project team ROAP 2017/12 Completed Some examples of trainings under CEDAW for ASEAN stakeholders are: Through project support to the Cambodian National Council for Women, a system of reporting and monitoring across government, involving civil society, has been facilitated by consultations, trainings, dialogues, and a tool for monitoring and reporting on CEDAW. From zero, 20 out of 26 line ministries and 17 out of 25 provinces are now reporting to the Council on actions taken on CEDAW Concluding Observations. Viet Nam’s first training curriculum for legal professionals on women’s human rights and gender equality now includes case files that address gender-based violence, especially sexual violence against women and girls. These offer a reference for legal professionals, judges and lawyers so they can provide better protection for survivors of violence and end insensitivities that result in “double victimization.” Three policy dialogues targeted justice providers to improve women's access to justice, including through access to legal aid and in addressing sexual violence. Representatives of the National Legal Aid Agency and other stakeholders identified gaps in the current Legal Aid Law and recommended amendments. The project supported integrating women’s human rights and CEDAW in the curricula and training materials of legal training centres. As a result, all lawyers trained in Cambodia, Thailand, Timor- Leste and Viet Nam will be schooled on women’s human rights. Critical new tools to improve gender-responsive jurisprudence include the CEDAW casebook, which identifies positive references to CEDAW in judicial decisions, and a tool on gender stereotypes in judicial processes. Both tools have been very well received by judges and will be incorporated into judicial trainings.
Recommendation: There is need to continue and develop a second phase of the project. Future sustainability strategies should take into account a realistic timeframe in which these strategies can be achieved. (Priority: MEDIUM/HIGH)
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Normative Support, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Human Rights, Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
10.1 A draft Project document is under development and will be PACed ASEAN Project team ROAP 2014/12 Completed
10.2 Resource mobilization efforts are ongoing ASEAN Project team ROAP 2015/12 Completed Completed under CEDAW framework. This is also an ongoing activity under UN Women as a whole, specifically Safe and Fair. ASEAN resource mobilisation has been successful in 2018-2019 across the Governance, WPS, Gender Statistic, Climate Change, and WEE teams. ASEAN has provided catalytic funding after the CEDAW project. The Safe and Fair project can be used as examples for further resource mobilisation.