Jakarta, 30 July 2024: Special Advisor to the President of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, met with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, to discuss the critical importance of women’s role and empowerment in peacebuilding. Prof. Yamanaka was accompanied by Adelia Rahmawati, a programme officer at ERIA, during the meeting.

The meeting underscored the significance of involving women in creating inclusive and sustainable peace. This entails the need to ensure and support women’s economic empowerment in conflict situations to enable their meaningful participation in peacebuilding efforts.

Prof. Yamanaka highlighted the joint research project between ERIA and ASEAN-IPR, which explores the potential of the digital economy to empower women in post-conflict situations. Considering the unique nature of the ASEAN way, the project is also expected to be a steppingstone for the region to better understand women’s roles in conflict-affected situations and devise peacebuilding strategies accordingly.

H.E. Kao Kim Hourn welcomed the project, as he reaffirmed ASEAN’s full commitment to empowering women. He underscored women’s crucial yet unique roles in post-conflict situations, thus appreciated the positive trend of increasing female participation in diplomacy, government and peacebuilding missions, across the region. He closed the meeting by expressing enthusiasm for a close partnership with ERIA to advance regional agendas in the future.