Aly Vongnobountham, president of the Lao Women's Union, chaired the meeting. She emphasized the importance of discussing issues like violence against women and economic empowerment to combat poverty.
Vongnobountham highlighted the economic impact of unpaid care work, stating, "According to data from UN Women, if the value of care work in the Asia-Pacific region is added to GDP, by 2025 this figure would amount to up to 4.5 billion dollars a year."
The event provided a platform for ASEAN representatives to share experiences and best practices regarding the care economy, gender equality, and women's empowerment. Discussions also covered digital care economy, migrant workers, and regional cooperation strategies.
The third ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit scheduled for Friday aims to showcase women leaders' roles in ASEAN's post-pandemic future and reaffirm the organization's commitment to supporting women in both paid and unpaid caregiving sectors.
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