Jakarta (ANTARA News) - ASEAN emphasized a Work Plan to improve the lives of women and children in its Third Meeting of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in Solo, Central Java, recently.

"With its Rules of Procedures (ROP) finalized and its Work Plan near completion, the Commission is now running at full speed," the ASEAN Secretariat said in a statement here on Saturday.

The meeting was convened from 6-8 September 2011 in Solo, Indonesia, while the Fourth ACWC Meeting will be held on 16-18 February 2012 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

There have been noteworthy developments, as the Meeting agreed on the top priority themes for the first five years of the Work Plan and identified the corresponding concrete actions.

The Meeting also welcomed the new children`s rights Representatives from Lao PDR and Myanmar, Baykham Khattiya and . Rupar Mya, respectively.

Singapore proposed to convene an event involving philanthropists, foundations and corporations with CSR commitment to pledge funding support for ACWC`s work in helping victims of violence who are predominantly women and children. A

The funds raised would be used to kick-start the setting up of an ASEAN network of national agencies and volunteer welfare organizations involved in providing social services for women and children who suffered violence and abuse.

The top priority themes for the Commission`s first 5-year Work Plan include elimination of violence against women and children; trafficking in women and children; women and children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS; and social impact of climate change on women and children; promotion and protection of the rights of women and children with disabilities.

The Commission has planned to further strengthen its engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms in the spirit of cooperation in areas of common interests and convergence among CRC, CEDAW and the ACWC.

The Commission will organize a consultative meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the Special Assistant to the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children in 2012.
(Tx.F001/H-NG)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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