The Future Asia Pacific Women Want

This outcome statement is from the women’s and civil society networks and organisations present at the regional dialogue on sustainable development and the post-2015 development agenda in November 2012, Bangkok. The statement argues that while UN agencies have affirmed that the principles of human rights, equality and sustainability should guide discussions on post-2015, it will not be possible to do this without also considering crises around food, climate, finance and fuel and their position within the development model. The paper gives some background on the key gender issues within the Asia-Pacific region, drawing attention to the significant challenges around poverty, inequality, insecurity and violence that must be tackled by the post-2015 agenda. The statement is then divided into four sections:

• Women workers’ rights
• Women in conflict and transition to peace
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Women’s political agency

Each section outlines some of the key problems experienced in the Asia-Pacific region and makes recommendations on how a post-2015 development framework should begin to tackle these problems.