As the first ASEAN Summit is set to take place on May 26–27, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, civil society across Southeast Asia will gather under the ASEANPEOPLES@ASEAN 2025 initiative. This forum will provide a space for civil society organizations (CSOs) from ASEAN member states to raise inclusive and socially just agendas.
One of the key events will be a thematic session titled “Reframe and Invest in Inclusive and Gender-Sensitive Maternity Protection and Care System in the ASEAN Economy”, which will be held on May 24–25, 2025. The event will be co-organized by Malaysian CSOs such as Martabat Untuk Semua (Martabat PJ), Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (YAWAS), Village Vision Malaysia, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, and Women for Equality Association, along with regional and international networks like Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP), Homenet South East Asia (HNSEA), and WIEGO.
Sikola Mombine from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, together with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, will be one of the panelists in Plenary Session 2: Country Contributions. They will present a session titled “Indonesia: Good Practices in Strengthening Gender-Based Social Protection and Care Systems for Women and Vulnerable Groups in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.”
In this session, Sikola Mombine will emphasize the importance of building gender-responsive and inclusive social protection systems, particularly in post-disaster and marginalized areas. They will also share local initiatives that have succeeded in improving women’s access to protection services through integrated care, reproductive health programs, and economic empowerment.
The event will aim to:
- Highlight the importance of universal social protection in building a transformative care economy in ASEAN;
- Establish a stronger understanding of the gaps in ASEAN frameworks and policies related to inclusive and gender-sensitive maternity protection;
- Present policy recommendations to improve maternity protection and promote a gender-responsive care economy for all workers, including those in the informal sector;
- Encourage ASEAN to respond to the need for universal healthcare, maternity protection, child benefits, and childcare as key elements of an inclusive care system; and
- Strengthen collaboration among CSOs around a shared advocacy agenda for inclusive and gender-sensitive maternity protection and care systems at both the ASEAN and national levels.
Sikola Mombine’s participation will reaffirm the commitment of Indonesian civil society to advocating for a just, gender-equitable, and sustainable social protection system across the region.
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Penulis: Satrio Amrullah | Editor: Satrio Amrullah
