Articles Category: Social Protection

The ASEAN region is undergoing a significant demographic transition. The population of ASEAN countries has grown more than fourfold since 1950, from 164 million to close to 700 million in 2025, and will continue to increase to an estimated 773 million

As the population continues to age, the Philippines, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the country’s lead agency for social protection, is intensifying efforts to ensure the dignity, well-being, and active participation o

Over 100 participants gathered at the ASEAN+Republic of Korea (ROK) Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons, with the theme “Nurturing a Shared Future: Bridging Generations, Strengthening Communities, and Innovating Care” from 30 June to 2 Jul

ASEAN is dedicated to improving the lives of older people, recognising the profound impact of global ageing trends. By 2023, 8.1 per cent of ASEAN’s population, or 55.9 million people, were aged 65 or older. This demographic shift is set to accelerate

About the Artist Azalia Suhaimi is a Malaysian illustrator, poet, and multimedia artist, whose visual and written work explores the intricate layers of womanhood, motherhood, and self-compassion. Her work is shaped by her multidisciplinary education an

MALAYSIA ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP 2025 INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY On 1 January 2025, Malaysia assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN for the fifth time, marking a decade since its last leadership role. Coincidentally, this year marks the end of the ASEAN Comm

Bullying of children is becoming a pervasive concern in the region. Director General Luu Quang Tuan shares with The ASEAN, some of the initiatives started by ASEAN to protect children from bullying, both online and offline.

Minister Khattiya provides an overview of ASEAN’s goals and strategies for upholding the rights and advancing the well-being of children in the region. She talks about the progress made in terms of protecting children from violence and increasing acces

Suharso Monoarfa has been actively participating in numerous development projects in the country. Those experiences have shaped his career as well as equipped him with various essential soft skills.

Minister Phoeurng discusses Cambodia’s key policies and programmes to develop and support its creative industries, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role that the creative industries play in the country’s post-pandemic recovery pla

A group of mothers and grandmothers from Wates village, Majalengka, West Java, who bear the financial responsibility of keeping their households afloat, have banded together to form Mother Bank. Co-created by the artist Bunga Siagian, 37, Mother Bank i

At 76, Ngai Hin Kwok knows every turn of the trail at Singapore’s MacRitchie Reservoir. On even-numbered days, he laces up his running shoes and moves along the familiar path beneath a canopy of green. On odd-numbered days, he trades his running shoes

Sixty-eight-year-old Vanda Ou leads the Cambodian Ageing Network (CAN), a platform uniting organisations and stakeholders to improve the lives of older people in Cambodia.

It was a sweltering day in Brunei Darussalam in early May 2025. The “feels like” temperature in areas such as Bangar and Pekan Tutong reaches as high as 44 degrees Celsius. The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department posted social media warnings an

Since its inception in 2007, Maya Dance Theatre (MDT) has been faithful to its philosophy: bridging the space between audience and artist to provoke thought and dialogue about pressing social issues. In 2018, MDT’s artistic director and co-founder, Kav

Nguyễn Văn Cử is the Deputy Director of Disability Research and Capacity Development Center (DRD) and Director of Doi Rat Dep Social Enterprise. Doi Rat Dep, or “Life is Beautiful” in Vietnamese, is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to promoting