The Indo-Pacific countries must enhance the components of the WPS agenda in their respective countries to foster inclusive and sustainable development in the region
This article is part of the series — International Women's Day
In the dynamic geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda emerges as a pivotal force for fostering gender-inclusive approaches to peace and stability. As the region grapples with diverse security threats, understanding the role of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction becomes paramount for building resilient and sustainable societies. This piece explores the imperative of the WPS agenda in the Indo-Pacific, analysing what the agenda means for the countries in this region, the challenges faced by these countries, and their potential for establishing inclusive security.
As the region grapples with diverse security threats, understanding the role of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction becomes paramount for building resilient and sustainable societies.
The WPS agenda, a policy framework under the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, was adopted on 31 October 2000. The resolution underscores and recognises the significant role of women in the achievement of sustainable international peace and security. It urges all countries to build equal participation, enhancing women’s involvement in the UN initiatives for peace and security acknowledging women’s participation across stages of conflict management—prevention, negotiation, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction. It further emphasises safeguarding against gender-based violence (GBV), rape, and sexual abuse during armed conflicts. At its core is the objective to, “prevent insecurity and violence by harnessing the potentials of both women and men and addressing structural gender inequality and discriminatory gender norms that are barriers to sustainable peace.”
As is the case globally, insecurities experienced by the Pacific countries at various levels, including global concerns posed by climate change, regional uncertainties, national challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, transnational crime, and illegal fishing, are further complicated and heightened by gender disparities. Moreover, the region witnesses some of the lowest levels of women’s political representation, with very high rates of gender-based violence. Needless to say, furthering the WPS agenda is vital to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
The WPS Index measures women’s inclusion, justice, and security in 177 countries and economies, relying on 13 indicators. While Japan boasted a rank of 23, South Korea 30, and the United States (US) 37, ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, on the other hand, recorded a rank of 82, 110, and 121, respectively in 2023 with India at the rank of 128. The difference is evidentially glaring, highlighting the importance of pursuing WPS in the region. Recent alliances with civil societies have provided a growing impetus with progressive efforts in the agenda’s direction. The UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has provided support through capacity-building efforts for the National Action Plans (NAP) and contributed to conflict resolution and peacebuilding in these countries. In 2017, the US government enacted the Women, Peace, and Security Act to advance women’s rights and increase their involvement, with a commitment to empower women domestically as well as internationally. The US Department of Defence in its interactions with partner nations has actively sought to increase implementation of WPS. Concurrently, ASEAN member states prioritised the development of a Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security (RPA WPS), building on longstanding political engagement within the region. This initiative seeks to mobilise ASEAN as a whole to promote sustainable peace and security, encouraged by commitments articulated in previous declarations and statements.
The UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has provided support through capacity-building efforts for the National Action Plans (NAP) and contributed to conflict resolution and peacebuilding in these countries.
Moreover, countries like South Korea and Japan have amplified assistance to gender equality in fragile states. South Korea, with the adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Resolution 1325 under its Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, reinforced its commitment in 2017. Its third NAP viewed conflict prevention, peace, and unification through the lens of gender, seeking to strengthen women’s participation. Guided by a human security approach, Japan views gender equality as indispensable for promoting human security. These strategies reflect a regional and global commitment to advancing gender equality and promoting peace and security, aligned with the WPS agenda.
Australia's National Action Plan 2021-2031 outlined four primary outcomes to direct its international engagements in fragile and conflict-affected areas. These outcomes included enhancing women and girls' meaningful participation in conflict prevention and peace processes, combatting sexual and gender-based violence, building resilience, crisis response, and efforts in security, law, and justice to address the needs and rights of women and girls. Concerning the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), the Regional Action Plan for 2012-2015 offered a structure for Forum Members and Pacific Territories to increase women’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, integrating gender considerations into security policymaking and ensuring human rights of women and girls in post-conflict areas.
The WPS strategy in the region, therefore, demonstrates a concerted effort directed towards tackling gender disparities and increasing women’s participation in peace and security. Strengths of such strategies can be specially located in regional engagements, visible in initiatives such as the ASEAN Women, Peace, and Security Action plan that facilitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing. The National Action Plans of Australia, Japan, and South Korea highlight their commitment to the agenda through addressing the country-specific challenges. In addition, the region has successful capacity building, recognising the imperative of women’s contribution to peace and security.
Strengths of such strategies can be specially located in regional engagements, visible in initiatives such as the ASEAN Women, Peace, and Security Action plan that facilitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Nevertheless, an assessment of the WPS agenda also demonstrates the wide disparity in WPS ranks. Overall, scholarship notes two major obstacles in the agenda’s implementation—a lack of consistent funding; and a lack of gender-disaggregated data on individual indicators. The absence of local women and marginalised women in decision-making, dialogue, and negotiations is apparent. Acknowledging and respecting the divergent socio-cultural contexts and local traditions can improve the relevance and effectiveness of existing initiatives for WPS. An intersectional lens is also thus significant but missing from the WPS strategy, along with a comprehensive approach that can address the structural and systemic causes of gender disparities. Further, the agenda reinforces the presence of the US as a soft power in the region. Therefore, while the WPS agenda has tremendous potential to promote gender equality and safeguard women’s human rights in the Indo-Pacific, the aforementioned inadequacies hinder the agenda’s potential to achieve its noble goals. While advancements have been notable, there remains a need for increased political commitment, resource allocation, and institutional support to fully realise the potential of the WPS agenda.
Nonetheless, the WPS agenda in Indo-Pacific countries emerges as a crucial framework for fostering inclusive and sustainable development. With continued research and periodic assessments, policy advocacy, and a commitment to amplifying the voices and agency of women, Indo-Pacific countries can enhance the components of the agenda in their respective countries.
Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation
Rhea Sharma is a Research Intern at the Observer Research Foundation
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow, Indo-Pacific at Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata, with the Strategic Studies Programme and the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy. She ...
Read More +
PREV
