12 April 2022: Indonesia has passed the sexual violence bill into law a decade after it was first proposed. The final draft of the law criminalises physical sexual abuse, both in marriage and outside, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, including child marriage, and circulating non-consensual sexual content, amongst others. It also stipulates that a court must compel convicted abusers to pay restitution and authorities to provide counselling to victims. Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI) (also known as the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA)), IPPF member in Indonesia, has been actively advocating for this bill since 2017 and has been part of the formal drafting of the bill in the past two (2) years. Eko Maryadi, PKBI’s Executive Director offered these words, “Congratulations to the PKBI Advocacy Team who consistently guarded the draft Bill until it became the Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence Law. The struggle is not over. We still must oversee the operationalisation of the law, and our advocacy and the fight against sexual violence will not stop until it does.” “We welcome the passing of the sexual violence bill in Indonesia and congratulate PKBI, Komnas Perempuan and countless activists and advocates in Indonesia for your tireless fight to ensure all people are safe from sexual and gender-based violence, and survivors have access to justice and support. This is a great win for the sexual and reproductive rights of all Indonesians, especially women and girls”, said Tomoko Fukuda, IPPF ESEAOR Regional Director.

23 March 2022 - On the sides of the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), Health Care Without Harm South East Asia (HCWH SEA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) publicly announced a strategic partnership promoting gender-sensitive, climate-resilient women’s and girls’ health agenda across South East Asia and the Pacific. “The climate crisis and the current COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impact women and girls in the Asia Pacific region, aggravate their situation, restrain their capacity, and expose the weaknesses of the current economic, social and political system as reflected on their health and well-being.” expressed Ramon San Pascual, HCWH South East Asia’s Executive Director.  San Pascual adds that, “the COVID-19 pandemic has not only exposed these challenges but also multiplied the hazards faced by women and girls who often lack access to health services and are left out of formal policy and social protection measures. Even before the pandemic, gender inequity  is also  observed in the healthcare system as well. 70% of the workforce in the healthcare sector are women, and yet the leadership and the specialist roles are assumed by men.” According to Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director of IPPF ESEAOR, “In climate-disaster situations, women, girls and people with diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) are among the most vulnerable not only to the social and environmental impacts of these climate-related disasters, but also from the lack of sexual and reproductive health services.” Fukuda adds that “In the spirit of CSW66, gender equality must be at the center of solutions. Therefore, through joint project initiatives at the country level, this regional partnership aims to provide communities and health facilities with information, skills, and resources to advance the climate, gender, sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda in South East Asia and the Pacific.” As part of the tasks ahead, both organizations are committed to exchanging knowledge and  tools among respective members and partner networks. The partnership launched a pilot project in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) and Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) to contribute to building climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable sexual and reproductive healthcare in both countries. In a joint CSW66 statement released by HCWH South East Asia and IPPF ESEAOR , they call on governments in Asia Pacific to address gender inequality and recognize the important role of SRHR in reducing vulnerability to human-induced climate-related disasters and enhancing resilience to climate change.  International Planned Parenthood Federation East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. We are a worldwide movement of national organizations working with and for communities and individuals. IPPF ESEAOR supports 23 Member Associations and 2 Collaborating Partners in a total of 25 countries to empower women, men and young people in the most vulnerable situations to access life-saving services and programmes, and live with dignity. Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) in South East Asia Health Care Without Harm - South East Asia (HCWH-SEA) is part of a global nonprofit organization that seeks to transform health care worldwide so the sector reduces its environmental footprint and becomes a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. HCWH-SEA is working with hospitals, health ministries, medical professionals, and climate advocates in Indonesia, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The climate crisis and the current COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impact women and girls in the Asia Pacific region, aggravate their situation, restrains their capacity, and exposes the weaknesses of the current economic, social and political system as reflected on their health and well-being.   Countries in the Asia Pacific region are among those bearing the heaviest burden of climate change. More than 87% of its population were affected by disasters that occurred in the last 40 years. The region - exposed to recurring hazards brought about by climate change and now with the spread of COVID-19 - is prone to cascading and multiple disasters. This is further compounded by high levels of inequity, low levels of social protection, and weak systems, among others. Within this context, deeply ingrained, systemic discrimination means that women and girls are at a higher risk of experiencing harmful effects of the climate crisis.   The climate crisis is a gendered crisis as it has major impacts on the advancement of gender equality. Gender inequality, in turn, affects women’s and girls’ capacity to anticipate, adapt, and recover from disasters, and to contribute effectively to resilience building. Where women and girls experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as on account of their gender, education, ethnicity, disability or migrant status, or any other status, their vulnerability is heightened even more. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exposed these challenges but also multiplied the risks faced by women and girls who often lack access to health services and are left out of formal policy and social protection measures.  The sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls also suffer in the context of the climate crisis. It not only impacts their access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services but also increases the incidence of sexual and gender‑based violence and trafficking, poses harmful impacts on maternal and child health, among others. Realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights is critical in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.   The recently published report of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted these deepening inequalities and unless we take transformational action NOW, we will have even more devastating impacts, further exacerbating the suffering of billions of women and girls across the region.  Addressing gender inequality and recognizing the important role of SRHR are crucial in reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and enhancing resilience to climate change. Therefore, we call on governments in the Asia Pacific region to:  Address underlying systemic causes of vulnerabilities to the climate crisis, and prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment in the planning and funding of inclusive and sustainable development.   Ensure gender-equitable participation, access to information, and influence in planning and decision-making processes around climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management, in particular inclusion of indigenous and rural women, LGBTQI+ communities, and other marginalized populations.    Recognizing the potential for multiple gains in health outcomes, using a human rights-based approach, integrate a broad range of SRH services and sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls, and other marginalised populations, in all other climate change and sustainable development plans such as national development plans, health sector plans, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) as well as into climate change adaptation and resilience measures.   Invest in meaningful engagement and inclusion of youth to ensure their SRHR and health needs are being addressed, increase their resilience, and increase empowerment and autonomy.    States must respect, protect and fulfill their sexual and reproductive health and rights, including through eliminating female genital mutilation, child, early and forced marriage, sexual and gender-based violence against children, ending impunity for those who perpetrate these human rights violations, and ensuring access to SRH services and comprehensive sexuality education.    Commit more funds to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including resources to enable health systems to decarbonize, strengthen sustainability, and build resilience to respond to existing and future climate impacts and disasters, explicitly supporting SRHR within this.    Prioritize life-saving SRH services  during extreme weather events and other climate-related disasters, by integrating the minimum initial services package (MISP) for SRH in crisis situations in emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction strategies as well as into emergency responses.    Coordinate and share disaggregated data, including digital and spatial, between climate and SRHR with better analysis and interpretation, which is critical to understand existing risks and vulnerabilities when it comes to health and SRHR, to inform effective strategies and policies.    Incorporate poverty, gender equality, age-related factors, and human rights, including the right to health and sexual and reproductive rights, in government’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), reports as a strategy to deliver on their commitments to the Paris Agreement.    Promote and establish regional forums and processes, with meaningful engagement of women’s and youth groups as well as of groups working with and representative of marginalized populations, to identify regional priority issues and current systemic challenges and come up with very specific solutions and actions.   In the weeks leading up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), HCWH-SEA and IPPF ESEAOR announced a strategic partnership that aims to promote gender-sensitive, climate-resilient women’s and girls’ health agenda across South East Asia and the Pacific. Through joint project ideas, the regional partnership will provide communities/health facilities with information, skills, and resources on how to advance the climate, gender, sexual and reproductive health agenda in South East Asia and the Pacific. As part of the tasks ahead, both organizations shall facilitate the exchange of knowledge, tools, and build capacity among respective constituencies.  International Planned Parenthood Federation East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) | The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. We are a worldwide movement of national organizations working with and for communities and individuals. IPPF ESEAOR supports 23 Member Associations and 2 Collaborating Partners in a total of 25 countries to empower women, men and young people in the most vulnerable situations to access life-saving services and programmes, and live with dignity. Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) in Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) is part of a global nonprofit organization that seeks to transform health care worldwide so the sector reduces its environmental footprint and becomes a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. HCWH-SEA is working with hospitals, health ministries, medical professionals, and climate advocates in Indonesia, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

International Planned Parenthood Federation East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR), Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (APA), and Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) sent an open letter to UN Women on behalf of 92 civil society organizations based and/or working in the Asia and the Pacific to express concerns about the accessibility and inclusivity of the Paris Generation Equality Forum (GEF). This open letter is an outcome action from a regional civil society debrief following the Paris GEF, and developed through a consultative process. We welcome conversations with UN Women to establish inclusive and accessible channels of engagement and means of support for Generation Equality as we focus on implementation and accountability. Our open letter: English version with the full list of signatories, Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi   Asia Pacific Sign On Letter: Accountability for the GEF Commitments and Civil Society Engagement We write to you as 92 intersectional feminist civil society (CS) organizations based and working in Asia and the Pacific. We are encouraged by the recent Generation Equality Forum (GEF) opportunity to build momentum and strengthen commitments to gender equality and empowerment across the globe. We are pleased to see 40 billion USD raised from multiple stakeholders towards this goal and towards achieving the targets and commitments of the GEF Action Coalition (AC) blueprints. However, we wish to express our strong concern that Asia and the Pacific was not prioritized, with a lack of engagement and a lack of resources for the region in the GEF and its development. Asia Pacific is home to the world's largest population, with over 60% of the world's youth. It is the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, disproportionately affecting women and marginalized groups. Almost 40% of women in South-East Asia and up to 68% of women in the Pacific experience sexual and gender-based violence from intimate partners [1]. The Pacific region has some of the lowest rates of women in national legislative bodies across the globe. GEF was envisioned as a space to position some of these issues with our governments and we expected the Paris Forum would provide a platform to raise our critical collective advocacy issues. Yet, we observed that no government from Asia or the Pacific took part in the Paris opening or closing ceremonies; feminist leadership was not well represented throughout the forum and specific groups like sex workers and trans people were excluded. This is a huge missed opportunity to advance the gender equality agenda across our region and accurately represent global Generation Equality realities. We call urgent attention to the disappointing lack of financial commitments at GEF to the Feminist Action and Climate Justice AC, as Asia and the Pacific are already dealing daily with massive loss and damage from the climate and ecological emergency [2]. We are also deeply concerned about the lack of accessibility of the online platform – the timing and languages of GEF events posed a barrier for feminists from our region, and the platform technology didn’t take into account accessibility from regions far away from Europe. There was an unacceptable lack of disability-related accessibility, including sign language interpretation, closed captioning or screen reader accessibility (in multiple languages). Language is a substantial barrier to participation for women, girls and others who do not understand either English or French. The GEF Paris platform did not work well overall, and many sessions were severely disrupted by buffering, moderator issues, back-end technical staff being overheard during the sessions, and other technical issues. If Generation Equality truly seeks to be more inclusive, such barriers must be removed. Without guaranteeing the participation of those marginalized by ableism, heteronormativity, patriarchy and colonial legacies, we shall never achieve gender equality, and “leaving no one behind” will simply be empty rhetoric. The GEF must adhere to and exemplify the core AC principles of “intersectionality, feminist leadership and transformation”. In moving the process forward, we shall continue to engage in good faith but require increased accountability and transparency in content, structure and process. We feel that by working collectively, we can ensure that countries in Asia and the Pacific are mobilized to build momentum for gender equality, and ensure accountability for GEF commitments and ensure they are speedily devolved to grassroots, indigenous and local women and feminist-led groups, on the ground. We recommend: Transforming the Action Coalitions into inclusive Communities of Practice with full accessibility, and establishing regional Communities of Practice with resources for regional UN offices and development institutions to support engagement of intersectional feminists and women in all their diversity, including those in urban poor, informal settlements, rural and maritime areas, sex workers, LGBTQI+, non-binary people and people living with disabilities, from across the region; Making available adequate, sustainable and flexible funding to civil society, feminist, women, community and grass-roots, and youth-led organisations; Establishing a strong and effective accountability framework at regional, national and global levels by the end of the year to monitor commitments made by all AC leaders and commitment-makers; Engaging with intersectional feminists and civil society groups in the region to advocate with governments, regional development institutions and funders to properly resource and implement a robust and inclusive accountability framework that evaluates transformative impact at the grassroots level; Urgent fundraising by GEF for the work of the Feminist Action and Climate Justice AC, and a global cross-AC campaign to increase political will on climate change, ecological and gender equality; Strengthening engagement with multi-stakeholder groups across the region as the GEF process continues to be planned and implemented, including all future fora and accountability mechanisms, to ensure that no one in our region is left out in the future. We look forward to shared leadership and action in ensuring that GEF Commitments and the ACs advance gender equality and support the realization of women’s human rights for an equal, just, peaceful and ecologically sustainable future across all regions of the world, including Asia and the Pacific. [1] The World Health Organization, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and South African Medical Research Council (2013). ‘Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence’ p 16, 20 [2] The lack of political will and financial commitments belies CEDAW General Recommendation 37 (2018) which acknowledges that climate change is a core women’s human rights issue, linked to all aspects of socio-economic and environmental rights, gender-based violence, conflict, migration and displacement. Read our Media Release

September 9, 2021 - 92 intersectional feminist civil society (CS) organizations based and working in Asia and the Pacific have released an open letter seeking inclusion and accountability in the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) process. Addressed to UN Women, the statement cites the “lack of engagement and resources provided for the region in the GEF and its development”. The Generation Equality Forum which culminated in Paris last June 30-July 2 did not feature any government representatives from Asia-Pacific nor did it have enough representation from groups like sex workers and trans people. “We fear that the de-prioritization of the largest region in the world will result in missed opportunities to advance the gender equality agenda,” said Natassha Kaur of the International Planned Parenthood Federation East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR). The statement also cited concerns about the lack of accessibility of the GEF online platform. “We were faced with barriers that are not only due to the technology-related challenges but also because of the timing and language”, said Marevic Parcon of the Philippine-based Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR). The feminists provided recommendations as to ways forward for the GEF process. These include establishing regional communities that collaborate with regional UN offices and support engagement of intersectional feminists and women in all their diversity; establishing a strong and effective accountability framework at regional, national and global levels; engaging with intersectional feminists and civil society groups to properly resource and implement a robust and inclusive accountability framework that evaluates transformative impact at the grassroots level; and strengthening engagement with multi-stakeholder groups across the region as the GEF process continues to be planned and implemented. Climate Justice also merited its own recommendation with the feminists asking for “urgent fundraising” to fund a global campaign to increase political will on climate change, ecological and gender equality. The Asia-Pacific region is the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, disproportionately affecting women and marginalized groups, according to the statement. “Notwithstanding our concerns, as intersectional feminists, we ask UN Women to provide space for CSOs to strengthen the GEF commitments. We will continue to engage in good faith but we will seek increased accountability and transparency in content, structure, and process,” said Alexandra Johns of the Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, a Bangkok-based SRHR network.   Media Contacts: Malaysia: Natassha Kaur | [email protected] Philippines: Shiphrah Belonguel | [email protected] Thailand: Alexandra Johns | [email protected]

Written by: Ipsita Dwivedi and Kanae Inage, Interns, IPPF ESEAOR, 2021 After nearly two (2) years of preparation, the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) finally took place on 30 June – 2 July in Paris, France. In the last 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, our society has changed a lot, but we still face gender inequality, discrimination, and stigmatisation in every corner of the world. Also, under the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the countries face unpredictable difficulties. Now, it is time to rethink how we can develop our society, and this three-day Forum might give you some insightful takeaway. The Present is Feminist In this forum, many female leaders and youth activists emerged as champions and pioneers of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). In the opening ceremony, US Vice President Kamala Harris also emphasised the importance of democracy, inclusiveness, as well as reproductive health. "When women have access to reproductive health care to stay healthy, they can participate more fully, and our democracy grows stronger." Young feminists and activists and the rise of youth organisations stood out in the sessions. Their open mindset successfully challenged the existing gender and sexuality binaries, eventually introducing more inclusive approaches. Under the pandemic with limited access to the resources, they have utilised the digital platform efficiently and communicated with them through diverse ways: podcast, zine, and online webinars. Accessibility, Inclusivity and Diversity Challenges at the Forum The three days were packed with various events on every possible topic in relation to gender equality. However, as participants, we did face many technical difficulties accessing the online forum. There were issues with the translations, unavailability of closed captions and slow servers. Many people were not given access to their accounts till the very last moment which reflected the slow response of the administration. To tackle this, youth and feminist organisations hosted Zoom Parties to make the events more inclusive and open. We also observed a lack of diversity in the selection of speakers. The sessions lacked representation from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. This was also observed in the commitments, as very few Asia Pacific nations committed to Generation Equality. The Forum also lacked representation from certain marginalised communities such as trans persons and gender diverse persons, and sex workers. This was also reflected in the language of the panellists which was very gender binary and heteronormative. Irrespective of these challenges, the GEF did make us hopeful. The enthusiasm and passion of youth feminists and advocates promise us a brighter and intersectional future. We must ensure to Leave No One Behind.     Building an Intersectional Future The GEF concluded with world leaders committing 40 billion USD for gender equality. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a moment of reckoning as many world leaders doubled their investment for gender equality. It also launched the Global Acceleration Plan to advance gender equality by 2026 designed by the six Action Coalitions for the rapid advancement of gender equality. Another key outcome of the Forum is the Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) Compact that sets out to systematically and meaningfully include women and girls in peace and security and humanitarian processes. With over 50,000 participants, the GEF provided us with a space to exchange ideas and learn new ways of advocacy, and communications. Many success stories inspired and motivated us to continue our fight for gender equality. “The Generation Equality Forum marks a positive, historic shift in power and perspective” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women. Throughout the programme, governments, women’s, feminist and youth-led organizations, international organizations, foundations and the private sector made their commitments. For example, UNFPA committed the development of SRHR in several East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific countries: 1) Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Laos & Philippines, 2) access to contraceptive services in Cambodia, Lao, People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, and 3) end female genital mutilation in Indonesia. Here, as a leader of SRHR, IPPF commits to work to accelerate universal access to safe abortion care centred on three principles: rights-based, reproductive justice and gender transformative. IPPF will also work with the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands to help realize universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and CSE. What does the future look like? In the words of Dr Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General, “…we want the GEF to be more than just an alliance committing to a set of beautiful and progressive words. We want action to make a difference in everyone’s life, especially the most forgotten women, adolescents and girls. And for that, we need a solid Accountability Framework, where all commitment makers report progress periodically. We want to develop effective monitoring mechanisms, to make sure that the GEF does not become a mere bouquet of empty promises.”   Sources: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/7/news-gef-paris-action-coalitions-launch-commitments-for-gender-equality https://www.ippf.org/news/ippf-announces-new-commitments-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-srhr-generation https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/30/billions-pledged-to-tackle-gender-inequality-at-un-forum