Feminist Peace Agenda within ASEAN: Challenges and Ways Forward

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has recently embraced the promotion and protection of democracy as a universal principle. ASEAN's commitment to democracy is a positive step towards promoting a feminist peace agenda in the region. By acknowledging democracy as a fundamental principle, ASEAN has set the stage for the advancement of feminist ideals and the pursuit of gender equality in the pursuit of peace and stability. While some ASEAN member states have made efforts to include gender perspectives in their peace and security policies, there is still a long way to go in fully integrating feminist principles into the region's peace agenda. This study then aims to examine the development of feminist peace agenda within ASEAN including its challenges and its ways forward. It argues that despite the progress made in integrating women’s issues, the feminist peace agenda in ASEAN still faces several challenges that need to be addressed in order to make meaningful progress. One of the main challenges is the reluctance of ASEAN member states to incorporate women's issues into the political security pillar, which has resulted in slow progress in following up on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This reluctance indicates a need for a shift in mindset within ASEAN member states to recognize the critical role of women in conflict situations and peace processes, including as combatants, arms smugglers, mediators, peace lobbyists. To address these challenges, ASEAN needs to actively promote and implement gender mainstreaming, gender-responsive policies and initiatives that recognize the agency of women in conflict resolution and peace-building processes. Moreover, there is a need to enhance ASEAN’s engagement with civil society organizations and feminist activists in the region for the integration of a feminist peace agenda. These organizations can mobilize grass-roots movements, provide training and resources, and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Overall, the feminist peace agenda in ASEAN should seek not only to address gender inequalities in its member states, but also to create an inclusive and empowering environment that allows women to actively participate in decision-making process within ASEAN.