Canada is providing a contribution of $10 million to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the Improving Women’s Rights in Southeast Asia project.
This project will help achieve greater equality between women and men before the law in eight Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam. It will focus on improving access to equitable justice systems for women; strengthening the capacity of government and civil society experts to develop and implement legislation that is respectful of the United Nations Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and helping to create regional standards with respect to equality between women and men.
UN Women is a dynamic and strong champion for women and girls, providing them with a powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels. Among other issues, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
The goal of Canada's international development assistance Southeast Asia regional program is to reduce poverty in the region by supporting the ASEAN agenda on economic growth and improving human rights.
