Empowering women to use law as an instrument of change and promoting women’s human rights in the Asia Pacific region.
Who We Are
APWLD is the region’s leading network of feminist organisations and women. Our 180 members represent groups of diverse women from 25 countries in the region. We have been active for nearly 25 years. APWLD has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. We are an independent, non-government, non-profit organisation.
Our Work
APWLD empowers women in the region to use law as an instrument of change for equality, justice, peace and development. APWLD uses research, training, advocacy and activism to claim and strengthen women’s human rights as enshrined in UN international human rights instruments.
Our Beliefs
We believe that law can be transformative as well as repressive. We seek to dissect, engage with and transform laws, legal practices and the systems that shape and inform them.
We believe that the fusion of patriarchy with militarisation, fundamentalisms and neo-liberal economic globalisation is responsible for gross violations of women’s rights.
We believe that equality, development and the realisation of human rights can only happen when women, particularly marginalised women, are empowered to lead policy and legal debates and articulate solutions.
We believe that a transformative form of democratic leadership can bring about the structural changes required to claim and advance women’s rights.
Our Structure
Our diverse membership provides the strength and expertise that both drives and executes our programme activities. APWLD members come together every three years in a General Assembly. They appoint a Regional Council to govern APWLD and a smaller Programme and Management Committee to oversee operations. Our Secretariat in Chiangmai carries out day to day operations and provides for programme implementation as well as financial and technical support.
Our Constitution
