Promoting Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion in Cities

Madeline A Suarez, President, Alliance of Peoples Organization Along Manggahan Floodway (APOAMF), Pasig, Philippines will be speaking at the special ASEAN Forum session. The Special Sessions are expected to complement the ASUS Thematic Dialogues, providing the opportunity to address key themes of crucial relevance for ASEAN Member States (AMS) and all stakeholders. Urbanisation trends, including the implementation of sustainable urbanisation actions, impact different population groups differently, presenting challenges and opportunities alike. Social inclusiveness represents a crucial component of sustainable urbanisation, ensuring attention to gender, disability, as well as youth and the elderly. Marginalised groups can bring unique perspectives and contributions to sustainable practices and support the common effort to avoid entrenchment of growing exclusion and social divide.

The topics of inclusiveness and equality are cross-cutting for all aspects of urbanisation and the ASUF aims to integrate them within all its sessions. Considering the relevance of ASEAN efforts and the great initiatives of multiple realities across the region, this Special Session aims to provide space to share best practices and solutions to build more inclusive cities and communities.

The session title “Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)” builds on the name of a plan that urban initiatives should include in all the implementation phases. Although often presented as a combined plan, this session recognises the different approaches of each GEDSI component. This session will unfold GEDSI by separating discussions on (i) gender equality, (ii) disability, and (iii) social inclusion (youth and elderly), inviting relevant experts, groups and institutions to share their experience. The session focuses on engagement processes, contributions towards sustainable urbanisation, cross-sector partnerships and cooperation, implementation strategies and action plans, as well as the challenges/opportunities in relation to Covid-19, especially in ASEAN midsized cities.