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

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

UN Women Asia and the Pacific Regional Director Mohammad Naciri discusses the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on women, efforts to implement a gender-fair and gendersensitive pandemic recovery plan, and the continuing partnership between UN Women and ASE

How do countries produce creative and innovative learners? With Singapore consistently on the Global Innovation Index’s list of top 10 most innovative countries since 2013, The ASEAN asked Singapore Education Minister Lawrence Wong to share the country

In early December, Former Health Minister Putranto addressed The ASEAN’s questions on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of strengthening health systems and the AHMM’s initiatives to help Member States respond to future outb

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