What do we understand by gender-based violence? Who commits the violence and against whom? How does gender inequality drive violence? Why does violence against women and girls increase during conflict situations? Who is responsible for protection? What role do women play in peacebuilding?
The three-day Capacity-Building on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) will address these and other questions to raise the awareness and understanding of women’s empowerment and gender equality among ASEM diplomats as the first step towards behavioural change and the integration of a gender perspective into diplomats’ and government officials’ daily work. The training introduces the key concepts, international framework, and methods for working toward gender equality and gender-sensitive policies in line with the international Women, Peace and Security policy framework and Goals 5 and 16 of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, which commit countries to achieving gender equality and fostering peaceful and inclusive societies.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, this timely programme provides participants with a unique opportunity to engage with these foundational international commitments on women’s rights by conveying to them:
- A deeper understanding of gender equality with specific focus on human rights protection and gender issues as they pertain to different geographical and cultural contexts.
- Approaches to make connections between gender and thematic areas such as employment, education, political engagement, and emergency responses, with a particular emphasis on combating gender-based violence in conflict zones.
- An introduction to the concepts, the international framework, and the methods for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, and influencing policy changes locally, regionally, and internationally.
- Good practices and an opportunity to learn from one another.
- A commitment to cultivate a strong core of informed leaders who can contribute to global efforts in promoting gender equality and protecting human rights.
The training, which will take place from 19 to 21 May 2025 in Riga, Latvia, is hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
Target Participants and Eligibility
The training will target
→ Junior or mid-career (with up to 10 years of relevant work experience) representatives of relevant ASEM government agencies, i.e. Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, Peacebuilding, Development, Gender Mainstreaming, Human Rights and
→ Representatives of regional or national human rights institutes
→ Representatives of offices of national ombudspersons
→ Representatives of relevant CSOs involved in promoting Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Participants must be citizens of eligible ASEM Partner countries[1]and have a strong interest in the Women, Peace and Security agenda as well as working proficiency in English.
How to apply
Application Process Interested applicants are requested to complete the online Application Form here by Friday, 14 March 2025. In the online application, applicants are required to upload a letter of organisational endorsement or nomination letter, explaining how their participation in the training fits into the organisation’s priorities and activities.
The selection of participants is conducted by an admission panel designated by the Co-organisers. The applicants will be informed of the selection outcome in the week of 24 March 2025.
There is no registration or participation fee, and the organisers cover travel (subject to a ceiling) and accommodation expenses of the participants.
For further details, please refer to Training Leaflet.
[1] Eligible ASEM member countries are: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom and Viet Nam.
All ASEF projects are implemented in line with the decision of the ASEF Board of Governors.
