Gender Justice
The Asia-Pacific region is one the most diverse regions in the world in terms of politics, economy and culture. Despite significant economic growth and improved educational opportunities in recent decades, multiple socio-economic inequalities persist in the region, with ‘gender’ being a central axis of discrimination.
The labour force participation of women in Asia remains low in many countries. The majority of women work in the informal economy, often under harsh conditions without proper social protection. And while women have found opportunities opening up in labour-intense export industries and digitalized service sectors, the digital divide is shaping the future of many women and girls. Women in Asia also spend four times as much time on unpaid care work than men, often connected to a lack of public services. Far too often, the experience of gender-based violence is a part of women’s and girls’ day-to-day life. Yet, they are leading many inspiring initiatives, questioning the discriminatory gender roles and norms that are deeply embedded in social structures and cultural practices.
Against this background, FES is committed towards working with its partners to advance gender equality in Asia-Pacific. At the heart of our work lies the question: How can we overcome structural economic and social inequalities to achieve a more gender just and sustainable future?
We support public debates on gender justice through our network of offices in the Asia-Pacific and facilitate regional and international exchanges between Asian, European, and international experts. Our regional work is coordinated by FES Nepal in Kathmandu, which is part of the FES Global Gender Innovation Network. Together with colleagues, feminist activists, and partners we create spaces for mutual learning and develop strategies to support transformative change. Throughout all our activities we follow an intersectional approach.
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News
Saalitai Enger: Life of Mongolian herdswoman
Follow the scent of milk to explore challenging life of a herdswoman in Altai Mountains. While herding with Mongolian traditional clothe called... More
Asia in Transformation: Visions and Policies for a Gender Just Future
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Stories of Resilience: Women Councilors' Journeys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Interviews which showcase the women's experiences, achievements, impact to local governments in Pakistan and women's empowerment in leadership... More
Terms of Reference Layout Design for Booklet Let’s Make Trade Unions More Gender Just 2024
FES Regional Gender Justice Project in Asia is calling for a professional layout designer for a booklet; 'Let’s Make Trade Unions More Gender Just... More
Happy Women's Day 2024: When care work is shared
In the Asia-Pacific region, women bear the weight of unpaid care work, playing a crucial yet often overlooked role. It's time to shift the narrative... More
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The unnoticed workforce in urban waste management and environmental protection More
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Adopting a feminist approach to energy transitions is crucial for ensuring that the shift to clean energy is just, and addresses historical and... More
FES Human Rights Award 2023
The Afghan human rights activist Shaharzad Akbar has been advocating for an inclusive and democratic future for Afghanistan since her youth. Born in... More
Climate change's devastating toll: Salinity's impact on coastal women's health in Bangladesh
With fresh water increasingly scarce in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, women and girls must wash their menstrual cloths and other sanitary items in... More
Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Pakistan: Interview with Marion Boeker and Dr. Elisabeth Klatzer
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Fighting elections and gender inequality at the same time in Pakistan
Pakistani women have been striving for rights and representation along the history of Pakistan’s politics. What has been progress towards more gender... More
Asian expert group kicks off project on visions and policies for a gender-just future
New FES project offers platform to discuss evidence-based policy options and implementation strength to tackle gender injustices in the Asia-Pacific... More
North Korean Women’s Struggle for Survival
“We, Korean women, survive no matter what it takes, because that's who we are." More
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Publications
COVID-19 crisis and women in Asia
Gender-specific impacts, policy responses and women’s agency in context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. More
Transformative strategies towards gender equality in trade unions
Tools and strategies for change and sustaining progress towards gender equality in trade unions. More
Toolkit for gender transformative communication
Featuring best practices and common pitfalls of communications within international cooperation. More
Transformative change for gender equality
Our new guide explores feminist approaches to transformative change, extracts lessons to learn and provides tools and inspiration to bring feminist... More
Icons of gender justice
Read about the lives of those who paved the way for women’s rights in Asia in this new graphic novel anthology. More
Women and the future of the digital economy in Asia
How are women in Asia are affected by digitalization and automation? More
Women and the future of care work in Asia
This study analyses care and welfare policies and its impact on women in Asia. More
Feminist perspectives on the future of work in the Philippines
A starting point for further analysis and discussion about women and the future of work in the Philippines. More
Gender perspectives on the future of work in China
A starting point for further analysis and discussion about women and the future of work in China. More
Feminist visions of the future of work in Asia
Narratives and perspectives on the future of work in Asia through a feminist lens. More
Gender and the future of work in Thailand
A starting point for further analysis and discussion about women and the future of work in Thailand. More
Feminist perspectives on the future of work in India
This study examines the latest insights about the future of work in India and its effects on women. More
Women workers and the future of work in Pakistan
A study on narratives around the future of work in Pakistan. More
Feminist perspectives on the future of work in Bangladesh
A discussion on what the the future of work could look like for women in Bangladesh. More
Examining women’s roles in the future of work in Indonesia
A discussion about women and the future of work in Indonesia. More
What is gender justice?
Today, economic, political, and social privileges are unevenly distributed and women as well as people with other sexual and gender identities are discriminated against. Working towards gender justice means reducing structural barriers that determine the distribution of power, wealth, and time in society. At FES, we understand gender justice as the freedom to choose different ways of being and living based on equal distribution of resources, equal possibilities to exert influence and equal respect regardless of gender.
