Over 600 women delegates from 21 APEC economies - representing government, business, academia and civil society - met over two days from 4-5 August 2009 in Singapore to discuss issues on Women and Sustainable Development, covering areas and issues pertinent to women in business, the knowledge economy, work-life harmony and social enterprise.

Participants agreed on ten policy recommendations and priorities for their work ahead:

1. Strengthen capacity building programmes, including education and vocational skills training for women.
2. Promote employment generation programmes to level-up women particularly those in informal and vulnerable sectors.
3. Ensure access to financing especially for micro and small enterprises.
4. Secure social safety nets for women.
5. Simplify business registration and operational processes.
6. Promote the use of science and technology as an enabler and leveller for women.
7. Facilitate access to information communication technology (ICT) especially for rural and indigenous women, through the provision of services, equipment and technological literacy training.
8. Encourage public-private partnerships, including civil society, as a viable approach in furthering the contributions of women to the economy.
9. Support social enterprise as a business model for women and sustainable development.
10. Recognise the economic and social value of supporting, investing and promoting programmes and measures relating to environmental issues such as climate change, and work-life initiatives, such as childcare and caregiver support.

Commenting on the success of the Meeting, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Chairperson of the 14th APEC WLN Steering Committee Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon stressed 'I am happy that the recommendations are anchored in promoting the 3Ps – a total approach involving the public, private and people sectors – through the government, employer and community. These partnerships enable women to leverage on info-communications technology, to harmonise their work and family life, to achieve both their career as well as familial aspirations.'

In her closing speech, Chairperson of the 14th APEC WLN Meeting and Group CEO of SingTel Ms Chua Sock Koong noted that more needs to be done  to advance the development of women. 'Thanks to the struggles and unceasing efforts of those before us, the world has made significant advances in gender equality over the past few decades. But as many distinguished women leaders have shared at the Meeting, there are significant challenges and structural impediments that still need to be overcome in both developing and developed countries. We need an integrated social, economic and environmental policy to further gender equality and women’s economic security.'

Follow the key-note presentation of Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, Immediate Past President, BPW International Advisor to Minister of Science and Technology at APEC Women Leaders’ Network 2009, 'Women in ICT: Power to Make a Diifference through leadership, action and advocacy' ppt.

The WLN will convene its 15th meeting in Japan in September 2010.

Published by Dr. Patrice, Braun

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