2006 is a special year for APWLD. APWLD is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is also time to take stock of the 20 years of promoting women’s human rights in the Asia Pacific region.

Participants of APWLD General Assembly, February 2006, Chiangmai

The General Assembly of APWLD that convenes every three years also met early this year for 2006 – 2008 strategic planning. 43 members from 17 Asia Pacific countries representing various structures of APWLD, such as the Regional Council, the Board of Directors, taskforces and the working group, both individual and organisational members and members of the Secretariat, came together in Chiangmai on February 7-9, 2006. The General Assembly made an assessment of the past three years programme implementation, discussed the external evaluation report and set strategic objectives for the next three years based on proposed plans from the five taskforces and the working group. The Regional Council, as the highest policy making body of APWLD, then approved the strategic plan in its meeting attended by 14 Council members on February 10, 2006.

General Assembly participants discussing the strategic plan

In general, the plan for the 2006-2008 programme cycle continues to address the challenges posed by the political context of growing globalisation,fundamentalism and militarism in the region. The plan continues to pursue APWLD’s purpose of empowering women to use law as an instrument of change whereby law is not limited to legislation but induces the legal system and the customary and religious practices when law can only become agents of change in providing social and economic justice; strengthening existing rights and unnamed rights and women’s human rights; developing and promoting a feminist analysis of law; facilitating a network of lawyers, academics and activists and disseminating human rights tools to support national campaigns.

Wanee Thitiprasert (Thailand) proudly wearing an APWLD 20th anniversary tshirt at the Pakistan solidarity event

The strategic objectives of the program cycle for 2006 to 2008 are:

1. related to the programmes: to advance feminist perspectives, knowledge and strategies for the recognition, fulfilment and protection of women’s human rights, particularly in the context of globalisation, fundamentalisms and militarism.

2. related to the network and the membership: (a) to establish stronger links with national, regional and international people’s and women’s movements, and groups working on similar issues, including lobby and advocacy networks; (b) to expand APWLD membership in underrepresented sub-regions, countries, and groups (i.e. Mekong sub-region,?Central Asia, and the Pacific, and among women lawyers, young women and lesbian groups)

3. Related to advocacy: to sharpen strategies to influence law and policy change at all levels by advocating for women’s human rights.

4. Related to the institution: (a) to improve implementation of APWLD’s policies and procedures through coordinated, account- able, democratic, and transparent processes guided by feminist principles; (b) to take steps leading to financial sustainability.

The General Assembly culminated with a true demonstration of sisterhood solidarity: APWLD organised a fundraising event for the survivors of the October 2005 earth- quake in Pakistan. All the funds raised from sales of the buffet tickets and the auction were handed over to Azra Talat Sayeed, APWLD member from Pakistan, whose NGO “Roots for Equity” have been involved in the relief operations. On APWLD’s behalf, I’d like to thank our members who donated beautiful items which they brought from their countries and members and guests who bought those items for helping our Pakistan sisters in need. And special thanks to our fantastic auctioneers, Ivy Josiah and Virisila Buadromo (our Regional Council members), who skilfully advertised the items as if they have been auctioning as a profes- sion rather than defending women’s human rights.

Virada Somswasdi (Thailand) donating her painting for the auction at the Pakistan solidarity event

Ivy Josiah (Malaysia) and Virisila Buadromo (Fiji) – our fantastic auctioneers bidding up the price for an Indonesian wall decoration donated by a member

Rashila Ramli (Malaysia) singing at the Pakistan solidarity event

Azra Talat Sayeed talking about the devastating impact of the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan at the solidarity event.