Some of the challenges existing in gender mainstreaming in the South-East Asia’s legislation are:

- Limited understanding of gender equality and non-discrimination as oppose to the substantive equality promoted by CEDAW. This leads to the situations when a legislation that seemingly promotes women's needs and interests becomes a tool to protect a formal equality approach.

- Limited technical skills to review existing legislations or draft legislation from gender equality and women's rights perspective.

Gender Equality Legislation

Lao PDR
Lao Law on Protection and Development of Women enacted in 2004

Philippines
Draft bill Magna Carta of Women

Thailand
Draft bill on Promotion of Opportunity and Gender Equality Act

Vietnam
Law on Gender Equality enacted 2006

Singapore
Women’s Charter enacted 1961

Anti Domestic Violence Legislation

Cambodia
Prevention of Domestic Violence Against Women Law, 2005

Indonesia
Law of Republic of Indonesia No 23/2004 regarding Elimination of Violence in Household

Lao
Law on Development and Protection of Women, 2004

Malaysia
Domestic Violence Act, 1994 Act 521

Philippines The Anti Domestic Violence Republic Act passed in 2002

Singapore
The Women’s Charter was amended in 1996 to enhance provisions on family violence, including the expansion of the definition of family violence.

Thailand
Law on Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act 2007

Vietnam
Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence 2007

Anti-trafficking Legislation

Cambodia
Anti Trafficking Law 2007

Indonesia
Anti trafficking law enacted in 2007

Lao
Law on Development and Protection of Women, and Children, 2004

Malaysia
Anti Trafficking in Persons Act 2007

Myanmar
Anti-trafficking in Persons Law 2005

Philippines
Anti-trafficking in Persons Act 2003

Singapore
Penal code, Employment of Foreign Workers Act deals with trafficking

Thailand
Anti trafficking in Persons Act enacted 2007

Vietnam
Ordinance on Prevention of Prostitution, a provision criminalizing sex trafficking

Engendered laws on Political Participation

Cambodia
Law on Commune Election has a general provision on the rights of women and men to be elected; no specific provisions enabling greater women’s participation

Indonesia
2007 amendment to Law on Political Party requires at list 30 % women in party membership, on party decision making bodies and in political posts
2008 amendment to Law on General Elections requiring every third candidate on a party list to be a woman.
Lao
Party policy has set a target of 30% women’s representation

Thailand
Constitutional provisions require political parties to place equal number of women on party lists; parliament’s standing committee on social issues must have at least one third of female members among NGO representatives.

Vietnam
Law on Election to the National Assembly and the law on election of People’s Councils requires women’s representation, but does not specify further; Party Resolution sets a target for women

This list is provided by Ms. Manav Sadcheva, Program Specilaist, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and UNIFEM Bangkok Team [Shoko Ishikawa, Ccpannin Llaptaweesath, Ryratana Rangsitpol, Amarsanaa Darisuren, Patharaporn Theeratham]