Gender conference report 2001

Background
Being the prime movers in the economies of Southeast Asia including Indochina, women are central to the growth and economic recovery of the region. However, not enough information is available about the dynamics and factors that shape the lives of women and men in this region. Southeast Asian studies as well as NGOs have not paid adequate attention to policy studies relevant to improve the economic capacity of women (and men). The field of gender studies has also shifted away from studying "women" to understanding how both men and women are affected by and contribute to the development process. The understanding of women's and gender issues has also been influenced largely by western scholarship, Southeast Asian women scholars have not evolved indigenous thinking and critical analysis of their societies. This region-wide conference will focus on women's issues to encourage dialogue between NGOs, activists, academics, donor agencies and learn from each other's experiences. Apart from policy planning and learning, the conference will also focus on reviewing the state of women's studies whose role is to generate knowledge and analytical tools to enhance society's understanding about women's contribution and needs in economic, social and political participation.

Significance
The conference will have both social and economic significance as well academic interest to stimulate Southeast Asian women's studies and activities to be more systematic, organized, and useful. It will contribute to enhanced understanding, networking and exchange among Southeast Asian participants.

Aims and objectives
The aim of this conference is to analyze women's socio-economic roles, their changing contexts and opportunities, and the efforts made by the governments and NGOs to enhance their contributions. Specifically, the objectives are:

1. To analyze gender issues and the socio-economic role of women in the traditional and modern sectors

2. To provide countrywide data on opportunities and constraints on women including status of women in education, health, politics, natural resources and civil society

3. To document lessons learned from GOs' and NGOs' programs

4. To review the state of women's studies in developments efforts,

5. To suggest policy measures to improve education and opportunities to enable women at all levels to participate in the new economic order effectively

6. To set a new tone of discussion on globalization and development as partnership between men and women for reconstructing family, community, and work in the new economy of the 21st centrury.

Target/Participants
The conference will be suitable for students, academics, NGO and GO workers, donor agencies, media person, activists and concerned individuals.

Methodology and Approach
This conference is designed to provide a comprehensive review of past and current development issues and emerging challenges of human resource development in the Southeast Asia region and the transitional economies of Indochina. There will be country-specific panels, regional discussions, and presentations on gender-related issues in Indochina and in Southeast Asia. Experts, researchers and Interested individuals will be invited to submit paper proposals/abstracts to address following issues of gender in Southeast Asia and Indochina:

Three main panels
*Women and civil society
* Women/gender in the Formal / Informal Economy and SME
*Gender mainstreaming or national machinates

Other panels on these topics will also be accepted
*Women/gender and Resource Development
* Women/gender in Culture and History
* Women/gender in Economy, Politics and Education.
* Women/gender in Health, HIV/AIDS, Violence and Prostitution
* Country or regional review through Gender Lens

Organization Profile
WARI is an independent, secular, non-profit organization based in Bangkok. It is devoted in general to the issues of socio- economic development and in particular to the issues of development and gender. The main goal of WARI is to promote gender sensitivity and capacity building of GOs & NGOs. It carries out research, education and training programs, and aims to be a regional media resource and action center. WARI carries out research so that policies are based on informed choices, and the knowledge base is expanded for deeper discussions.

A feedback about the year 2001 gender course and conference:

"I want you to know how much I enjoyed working with you and being involved with your participants in the gender course and conference 2001. I was very impressed with the kind of enthusiasm and energy that you generated in the participants in the training program. Your mentoring of the younger women researchers and NGO workers was really inspiring and their enthusiasm is its own reward. It is as if you cast new rays of light into the desperate conditions that have hung over the countries of Mekong sub-region. The very idea that all these people are back at work with heightened gender consciousness is truly inspiring. I do hope you will be able to continue these training programs. You are serving a vital function. I know very well how exhausting this work and organizing international workshops and meetings can be. But there are so few in the region who are really addressing the fundamental issues of gender. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. You have my continued support."

------Dr. Kathleen Barry
(One of the resource person for the 10 day course on Women, gender and Development, and one of the speaker for the gender conference)
Professor of Gender Studies
Penn state University USA
Author: Vietnamese Women in Transition

Conference Evaluation/feedback (2001)