Articles Category: Social Protection

The first ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave, held from 24–26 April 2024 in Singapore, was a meaningful step in advancing regional collaboration and gender equity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). It was organised under th

Philippine tourism remains at the forefront of the country’s local economy, contributing an all-time high of 760.50 billion Philippine pesos (approximately 13.2 billion US dollars) in tourism revenue from inbound tourism expenditures in 2024. Approxima

A new report on gender equality in Southeast Asia shows improvements in women’s education, access to water and sanitation, and political representation—but also warns of their continuing poverty and vulnerability to climate change.

Malaysia is transitioning into an ageing society, with individuals aged 60 and above expected to comprise more than 15 per cent of the population by 2030. The most pressing challenges include: Limited access to age-friendly healthcare services, particu

The phenomenon of population ageing is emerging as a critical demographic trend with far-reaching socio-economic and policy implications worldwide. By 2050, the global population aged 65 years and above is projected to reach 1.6 billion (UN Department

Demographic transition in ASEAN The ASEAN region is ageing rapidly: by 2035, the number of older persons aged 60 years and over in the ASEAN region is projected to increase to over 125 million, more than double the 2015 population (ASEAN, 2015). This d

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

During its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, Indonesia advanced the One Health Initiative as a key deliverable. Health Minister Budi G. Sadikin offers invaluable insights into Indonesia’s efforts to champion the One Health approach, highlighting its strategi

As the Chair of ASEAN in 2024 and the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM), Lao PDR has set a significant agenda under the theme “Health: Transforming ASEAN Health Development Resilience in a New Context.” In this interview, Minister Bounfeng Phoummal

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

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