The third consultation of the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) was held in Hanoi on November 28.

The consultation, themed “sustainable employment and protection of pregnant women”, was coorganised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

It focused discussions on the ACWC’s action plan, human rights within ASEAN and the issue of pregnancy in international conventions, ASEAN activities and regional initiatives. Participants also studied countries’ laws on protection of pregnant women, care for mothers and children; and international experience in protecting pregnant women and provide care for mothers and children.

According to Le Thi Thu, Vice Head of the Foreign Ministry’s ASEAN Department, ASEAN is strongly committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and children.

The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) is the first political document of ASEAN on human rights that creates a common framework for strengthening regional cooperation in this field as well as reflects the aspiration, determination and efforts of the ASEAN Governments and people to build a people-centred ASEAN Community, she said.

Founded in April 2010, ACWC aims to promote the implementation of international and ASEAN documents on human rights as well as developing policies, programmes and initiatives to raise awareness of the rights of women and children in ASEAN.