SOUTHEAST ASIAN WOMEN AMBASSADORS’ FORUM ON PEACE 2025
23-24 July 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“We learned that peace requires safe spaces where people are open to speaking candidly, to listen deeply, and confront their fears and assumptions that divide them”. Such was remarked by Ms. Abir Haj Ibrahim, a well-known Syrian peacebuilder, during a session at this year’s Southeast Asian Women Ambassadors’ Forum on Peace.
This second iteration of the Forum brought the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) in collaboration once again with the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators (SEAWPM) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), held on 23-24 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Forum brought together over twenty (20) women ambassadors and senior officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs from across the region to discuss innovative and inclusive approaches to diplomacy and peacebuilding.
Conceptualised as a high-level dialogue, the Forum’s discussions/discourse prioritised practical strategies to advance women’s leadership by reflecting on women peacebuilders’ roles in addressing on-going crises in various contexts – such as, among others – situations in Myanmar, Syria, and Gaza. Discussions highlighted the importance of women’s meaningful involvement at all levels of decision-making processes. Aligning with the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action (RPA) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) that prioritises women’s participation and grassroots driven approaches to peace.
The need for trust and continuity, namely those learned from conflicts relevant to the region, became highlights of discussions. The Forum brought a Special Address by H.E. Tan Sri Othman bin Hashim, ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar. He remarked that “peace is not achieved overnight… Rather it requires sustained commitment, inclusive dialogue, and a desire for all parties to remain engaged even when progress stalls.”
During her session on Syria, Ms Abir Haj Ibrahim, also highlighted “global dialogue cafés”, places where individuals could have a coffee and talk about their issues, bridging divides between different communities in conflict. This simple grassroots approach underscores the power of inclusive dialogue in conflict affected communities that worked in the Syrian context and was led by a woman.
Similarly, Dr. Dalal Iriqat, a Palestinian lawyer and human rights advocate, passionately argued for the need for accountability in international diplomacy. She said, “diplomatic statements and resolutions are important but without any actual enforcement like sanctions they remain words on paper”, powerfully, calling on the international community to match global shared values with action.
Discussions also centred around the intersection of gender and emerging security challenges like climate change which are threat multipliers to conflict and instability. Participants underscored the need for the WPS agenda to include these evolving threats while ensuring marginalised voices like women, youth, persons with disability and displaced people are included in the recovery process.
The Forum provided a unique space that allowed exchange of diverse opinions and perspectives from frontline women peacebuilders. Besides women being vital in peace talks, a unique role they play underlined during discussions was their access to communities and spaces inaccessible by traditional diplomats. Thereby, making their inclusion to sustainable peace vital.
ASEAN-IPR’s participation in this Forum aligns with its mandate and functions, and the insights drawn from this event would further support its initiatives, including its commitment to advancing the WPS Agenda and the establishment of a regional Community of Practice on WPS -- which serves as a space for knowledge exchange and collaboration between various stakeholders working on WPS. As Dr Ambia Perveen, a prominent academic and activist from Rakhine, Myanmar noted, “this Forum has reminded us that peace cannot be built individually. It is a collective pursuit across governments, CSOs, and communities. While the voices of women must remain at the centre of these efforts.”
As ASEAN-IPR, Members States, and the plethora of local stakeholders continue to advance the WPS agenda, Forums such as this play a crucial role in strengthening collaboration and disseminating knowledge that can shape a more peaceful inclusive region. Stay updated on activities and/or initiatives of ASEAN-IPR, including how you can also participate in our activities, by staying tuned to our website, and subscribing to our social medias.
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