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]