The workshop attracted more than 40 participants from various agencies
including UNIFEM, United Nations Millennium Campaign, UN/ISDR,
UNEP.RRCAP, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development of the
Royal Thai Government; apart from NGOs namely, Association of the
Promotion of Status of Women, Foundation for Women, Gender Development
Research institute (GDRI), Committee for Asian Women. Other
participants included representatives from Women and Youth Studies
Department of Thammasat University, Bangkok University, and faculty,
researchers, Master and Doctoral students of AIT.
The workshop focused on identifying inter-linkages among the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a major emphasis on gender
mainstreaming and equality and developing operational indicators for
all the goals from gender perspective.
The main speakers at the workshop included Dr. Thelma Kay (former
Director, Social Development Division, UNESCAP), Mr. Raj Kumar (former
Senior Economic Adviser, UNESCAP), Mr. Minar Pimple (Regional Director,
UN Millennium Campaign), Dr. Jean D’Cunha (Regional Programme Director,
UNIFEM East and Southeast Asia Regional Office), Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe
(Associate Professor, Gender and Development Studies) and Dr. Satya
Priya (UNEP.RRC-AP).
Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Director, AIT Extension delivered the welcome
speech on behalf of the AIT President. Prof. Routray, Director, ARCMDG
introduced the activities of the ARCMDG and elaborated on the purpose,
objective, and expected outcomes of the workshop.
The proceedings began with Mr. Minar Pimple, who gave an interesting
presentation on the background and context of the Millennium
Declaration and the MDGs. Dr. Jean D’Cunha stressed that the goals are
interlinked and that gender mainstreaming is the key factor to achieve
all the goals. Mr. Raj Kumar presented a study on ASEAN’s achievements
and current status of MDGs. Dr. Thelma Kay provided a comprehensive
analysis of MDGs with respect to gender mainstreaming and existing gaps
in terms of goals and indicators. Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe provided an
overview of the available indicators. A group discussion to work out a
set of operational indicators for gender mainstreaming and equality
under the MDGs framework was also organized. The plenary session to
deliberate on the future strattegies for the achievements of each goal
in the region was chaired by Dr. Satya Priya.
Facilitators included Ms. Maytinee Bhongsvej (Association for the
Promotion of the Status of Women), Ms. Maki Hayashikawa (UNESCO), Dr.
Aida Karazhanova (UNEP.RRC-AP), Ms. Madhavi Ariyabandu (UN/ISDR), Dr.
Pawadee Tonguthai (Thammasat University), Dr. Suteera Vichitrananda
(GDRI), Mrs. Siriporn Skrobanek (Foundation for women), Dr. Tun Lwin
(Bangkok University), Dr. Philippe Doneys (GDS), and Dr. Mokbul Morshed
Ahmad (RRDP). Program officers Ms. Jagriti and Ms. Mahbooba contributed
to make the workshop a success. According to Prof. Routray, the
proceedings will be brought out and disseminated at proper national,
regional and international platforms.
The workshop was part of a research project that aims to analyze
gender mainstreaming and economic empowerment. It was funded by the
UNIFEM- East and Southeast Asia regional Office.
Participants at the workshop on “MDGs
Analysis and Operational Indicators for Gender Mainstreaming and
Equality” was organized by the ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on
Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG).