International Conference on ASEAN women. Empowerment: Issues and Challenges
The world community presently can see women become the head of the states, CEOs, bank governors and important figures in certain organization. However, equally true, there are a large number of women around the world who are still struggling with their lives to get access to even basic human -cum- women rights such as right to education, right to personal security and right to determine her own course of live. Barriers that prevent women empowerment emerge from the individual self and community, values, customs and religion, as well as institution. The combination of these sectors inhibit the women in taking control of their lives and reaching for their full potentials. It also takes a concerted effort at the international, regional and national level to identify and eliminate these forms of discriminations against women.
The realization of women empowerment is vital in ensuring the growth, prosperity and development of human race, nations and regions because after all they constitute almost half of population of in these nations. As to empower women worldwide, the United Nations, through the General Assembly has adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1979. It is a working document that provide, enhance and protect the rights of women in various aspects including politics, social, economy, time of conflicts and others. Overall, states which accept this Convention, will commit themselves to implement measures to end discrimination against women in all forms and provide facilities to empower them.
Taking the spirit of empowering women in ASEAN in particular, the Northern Corridor Research Center, Universiti Utara Malaysia, a collaboration with the Universiti Islam Bandung, Indonesia, organize this International Conference on ASEAN Women: 'Empowerment: Issues and Challenges' .