CEDAW Southeast Asia Programme (CEDAW SEAP)

The UNIFEM CEDAW Southeast Asia programme (CEDAW SEAP), through the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has been working since 2004 to facilitate better implementation of CEDAW to advance women’s rights in Southeast Asia. The programme has focused its work in seven countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste – and has sought to play a catalytic role in spurring more effective action around CEDAW. 

The main objectives of the CEDAW SEAP have been to:

• increase awareness about women’s human rights and deepen understanding of CEDAW by state institutions, and organized civil society groups;
• strengthen the capacity of governments and civil society groups to promote women’s human rights under CEDAW, both at the national and regional levels; and
• encourage stronger political will and commitment to CEDAW implementation.

To achieve this, the Programme works with governments to build knowledge of CEDAW and state obligations across the three branches of government (legislative, judiciary and executive); to create high-level political commitment to implement CEDAW; and to develop technical expertise to fulfill their CEDAW obligations.

It works with civil society organizations to help them develop a clear understanding of CEDAW and its relevance to their work; to build expertise to maximize the use of CEDAW in their advocacy and services; and to hold governments accountable to their promises for gender equality.

The programme also works with partners within the UN System and international community to promote the use of CEDAW as a framework to advance women’s human rights.