Latest news with #WomenEconomicForum
The Star
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
KL mayor: Include women in decision-making spaces
A NEW whole-of-society approach is needed to empower women across all economic sectors to unlock the full potential of the 'sheconomy'. This, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said, would drive inclusive, sustainable development in the Asean region. She said women must be included in decision-making spaces and recognised as key architects of change, especially in city-level transformation where daily life is most affected. Dr Wan Azizah (seated centre) and guests with attendees of the Asean 2024 WEF at the Miti building in Kuala Lumpur. 'The 'sheconomy' is not a parallel economy. It is a reimagining of our whole economy, powered by inclusion. 'Inclusion is not charity; it is good policy,' she said in a Bernama report. Maimunah was speaking at a plenary session titled 'Asean Women Leading Social Change: Integrating Social Goals with Economic Growth in the 'sheconomy'', at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) Asean 2025 held at the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) building in Kuala Lumpur. Maimunah, a former executive director of UN-Habitat, said it was key to embed gender equity into urban governance, budgeting and service delivery. She said this aligned with the Asean Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework 2021-2025 and stressed the importance of having Kuala Lumpur put the framework into practice by ensuring better housing, transport and public health policies serve women. Maimunah also shared initiatives by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) through the Safe City Programme, which includes the installation of 10,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and improved street lighting. 'These efforts are not just for safety, but for dignity and inclusion. 'We are creating safer zones, better transit points and walkable neighbourhoods centred on women's mobility. 'In 2024, crime dropped by 15% in the upgraded areas and women reported feeling safer,' she said. Despite the progress, she said only 10% of local councils in Malaysia are led by women. Maimunah added that the private sector plays a crucial role in unlocking the potential of the 'sheconomy' by elevating women into leadership positions, fostering inclusive innovation and building supportive workplace cultures. 'Gender-smart investing, mentorship programmes and targeted support for women-led start-ups, particularly in the green and digital sectors, are how we activate the 'sheconomy'. 'Academia plays a part too, by producing gender-disaggregated data, training women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), governance as well as documenting what works. 'Communities must be empowered. Women entrepreneurs, mothers and youth must be recognised, not just as participants, but as planners and leaders,' she said. Maimunah, who is Kuala Lumpur's first female mayor, said since joining DBKL in August last year, strides had been made to close the leadership gap. She said currently, women make up 29.3% of DBKL staff, 43.6% of professionals, 44% of department heads and 40% of top management, surpassing the 30% benchmark for women representation in top management roles. Maimunah was also conferred the 'Women of the Decade' award alongside Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad by the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
WEF ASEAN 2025 highlights regional resolution on women's empowerment
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women Economic Forum (WEF) ASEAN 2025 concluded today after three impactful days of dialogue, culminating in the announcement of 27 comprehensive resolutions designed to accelerate women's leadership and inclusive economic growth across the ASEAN region and beyond. ASEAN WEF 2025 president Dr Hartini Osman said the resolutions represent a bold, actionable roadmap for ASEAN nations to empower women through targeted leadership, education, innovation and policy integration. 'The outcomes of this forum are crucial in realising the aspirations of women across ASEAN and globally to advance empowerment, to give voice to those often unheard, and to carry a collective mandate forward. 'These resolutions will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers to support the development of gender-related policies that are inclusive, effective and responsive to women's real needs,' she told reporters after the closing ceremony of WEF ASEAN 2025 at Dewan Perdana, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) today. The forum themed 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the ASEAN Sheconomy', which started on June 19, was officially closed by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, alongside Women Economic Forum founder and president Dr Harbeen Arora Rai. The closing ceremony also witnessed the official handing over of the WEF ASEAN 2025 resolutions to Dr Harbeen as well as the symbolic passing of the baton by Hartini to the Philippines, which will host the next edition of the WEF forum in October 2026. According to Hartini, the resolution is structured across four key dimensions, beginning with 'Inner Power', which focuses on empowering women from within through leadership, education and innovation, while the second dimension, 'Inclusion' promotes equitable and sustainable economic growth. The third dimension, 'Integration', emphasises cultural, digital, and policy integration for Sheconomy Growth whereas the fourth dimension, 'Innovation', calls for improved global connectivity and visibility of Sheconomy in post-normal times. The forum gathered 614 participants from 33 countries, supported by four advisory board members, nine ASEAN advisors, and three ministries; the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Health Ministry. The high-impact programme featured 24 parallel sessions, 10 plenary discussions, six workshops, nine roundtable sessions, and four firechat dialogues, supported by four keynote speakers, 29 moderators, and 20 members of the organising secretariat. Meanwhile, speaking at the closing ceremony, Noraini said the forum serves as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when shared purpose is matched by decisive action, and when women unite across borders to build a common and brighter future. 'This forum sparks inspiration and provides a blueprint for long-term cooperation. And the ideas born here, if nurtured and carried forward, have the power to shape policies, influence markets, and redefine inclusive leadership in ASEAN and beyond. She also said the forum also acknowledged that bold ideas often come with challenges including complexity, limited resources, resistance to change, steep learning curves as well as the need for time to test and refine them. 'Let us reaffirm our commitment to good governance, the cornerstone of impactful intergenerational agendas. As we move from discussion to implementation, the principles of transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness are more vital than ever. 'We believe the outcomes of this forum will be translated into real, measurable actions through sound policies, innovative enterprises, community-led efforts and meaningful collaborations,' she added.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
WEF ASEAN 2025 ends with 27 key women empowerment goals
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women Economic Forum (WEF) ASEAN 2025 concluded today after three impactful days of dialogue, culminating in the announcement of 27 comprehensive resolutions designed to accelerate women's leadership and inclusive economic growth across the ASEAN region and beyond. ASEAN WEF 2025 president Dr Hartini Osman said the resolutions represent a bold, actionable roadmap for ASEAN nations to empower women through targeted leadership, education, innovation and policy integration. 'The outcomes of this forum are crucial in realising the aspirations of women across ASEAN and globally to advance empowerment, to give voice to those often unheard, and to carry a collective mandate forward. 'These resolutions will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers to support the development of gender-related policies that are inclusive, effective and responsive to women's real needs,' she told reporters after the closing ceremony of WEF ASEAN 2025 at Dewan Perdana, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) today. The forum themed 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the ASEAN Sheconomy', which started on June 19, was officially closed by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, alongside Women Economic Forum founder and president Dr Harbeen Arora Rai. The closing ceremony also witnessed the official handing over of the WEF ASEAN 2025 resolutions to Dr Harbeen as well as the symbolic passing of the baton by Hartini to the Philippines, which will host the next edition of the WEF forum in October 2026. According to Hartini, the resolution is structured across four key dimensions, beginning with 'Inner Power', which focuses on empowering women from within through leadership, education and innovation, while the second dimension, 'Inclusion' promotes equitable and sustainable economic growth. The third dimension, 'Integration', emphasises cultural, digital, and policy integration for Sheconomy Growth whereas the fourth dimension, 'Innovation', calls for improved global connectivity and visibility of Sheconomy in post-normal times. The forum gathered 614 participants from 33 countries, supported by four advisory board members, nine ASEAN advisors, and three ministries; the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Health Ministry. The high-impact programme featured 24 parallel sessions, 10 plenary discussions, six workshops, nine roundtable sessions, and four firechat dialogues, supported by four keynote speakers, 29 moderators, and 20 members of the organising secretariat. Meanwhile, speaking at the closing ceremony, Noraini said the forum serves as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when shared purpose is matched by decisive action, and when women unite across borders to build a common and brighter future. 'This forum sparks inspiration and provides a blueprint for long-term cooperation. And the ideas born here, if nurtured and carried forward, have the power to shape policies, influence markets, and redefine inclusive leadership in ASEAN and beyond. She also said the forum also acknowledged that bold ideas often come with challenges including complexity, limited resources, resistance to change, steep learning curves as well as the need for time to test and refine them. 'Let us reaffirm our commitment to good governance, the cornerstone of impactful intergenerational agendas. As we move from discussion to implementation, the principles of transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness are more vital than ever. 'We believe the outcomes of this forum will be translated into real, measurable actions through sound policies, innovative enterprises, community-led efforts and meaningful collaborations,' she added.
The Star
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
WEF Asean 2025 highlights regional resolution on women's empowerment
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women Economic Forum (WEF) Asean 2025 concluded on Saturday (June 21) after three impactful days of dialogue, culminating in the announcement of 27 comprehensive resolutions designed to accelerate women's leadership and inclusive economic growth across the Asean region and beyond. Asean WEF 2025 president Dr Hartini Osman said the resolutions represent a bold, actionable roadmap for Asean nations to empower women through targeted leadership, education, innovation and policy integration. "The outcomes of this forum are crucial in realising the aspirations of women across Asean and globally to advance empowerment, to give voice to those often unheard, and to carry a collective mandate forward. "These resolutions will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers to support the development of gender-related policies that are inclusive, effective and responsive to women's real needs," she told reporters after the closing ceremony of WEF Asean 2025 at Dewan Perdana at the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) Saturday. The forum themed "Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the Asean Sheconomy", which started on June 19, was officially closed by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, alongside Women Economic Forum founder and president Dr Harbeen Arora Rai. The closing ceremony also witnessed the official handing over of the WEF Asean 2025 resolutions to Dr Harbeen as well as the symbolic passing of the baton by Hartini to the Philippines, which will host the next edition of the WEF forum in October 2026. According to Hartini, the resolution is structured across four key dimensions, beginning with "Inner Power", which focuses on empowering women from within through leadership, education and innovation, while the second dimension, "Inclusion" promotes equitable and sustainable economic growth. The third dimension, "Integration", emphasises cultural, digital, and policy integration for Sheconomy Growth whereas the fourth dimension, "Innovation', calls for improved global connectivity and visibility of Sheconomy in post-normal times. The forum gathered 614 participants from 33 countries, supported by four advisory board members, nine Asean advisors, and three ministries; Miti, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Health Ministry. The high-impact programme featured 24 parallel sessions, 10 plenary discussions, six workshops, nine roundtable sessions, and four firechat dialogues, supported by four keynote speakers, 29 moderators, and 20 members of the organising secretariat. Meanwhile, speaking at the closing ceremony, Noraini said the forum serves as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when shared purpose is matched by decisive action, and when women unite across borders to build a common and brighter future. "This forum sparks inspiration and provides a blueprint for long-term cooperation. And the ideas born here, if nurtured and carried forward, have the power to shape policies, influence markets, and redefine inclusive leadership in Asean and beyond," she said. She also said the forum also acknowledged that bold ideas often come with challenges including complexity, limited resources, resistance to change, steep learning curves as well as the need for time to test and refine them. "Let us reaffirm our commitment to good governance, the cornerstone of impactful intergenerational agendas. As we move from discussion to implementation, the principles of transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness are more vital than ever. "We believe the outcomes of this forum will be translated into real, measurable actions through sound policies, innovative enterprises, community-led efforts and meaningful collaborations," she added. - Bernama
Barnama
21-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
WEF ASEAN 2025 Highlights Regional Resolution On Women's Empowerment
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- The Women Economic Forum (WEF) ASEAN 2025 concluded today after three impactful days of dialogue, culminating in the announcement of 27 comprehensive resolutions designed to accelerate women's leadership and inclusive economic growth across the ASEAN region and beyond. ASEAN WEF 2025 president Dr Hartini Osman said the resolutions represent a bold, actionable roadmap for ASEAN nations to empower women through targeted leadership, education, innovation and policy integration. 'The outcomes of this forum are crucial in realising the aspirations of women across ASEAN and globally to advance empowerment, to give voice to those often unheard, and to carry a collective mandate forward. 'These resolutions will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers to support the development of gender-related policies that are inclusive, effective and responsive to women's real needs,' she told reporters after the closing ceremony of WEF ASEAN 2025 at Dewan Perdana, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) today. The forum themed 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the ASEAN Sheconomy', which started on June 19, was officially closed by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, alongside Women Economic Forum founder and president Dr Harbeen Arora Rai. The closing ceremony also witnessed the official handing over of the WEF ASEAN 2025 resolutions to Dr Harbeen as well as the symbolic passing of the baton by Hartini to the Philippines, which will host the next edition of the WEF forum in October 2026. According to Hartini, the resolution is structured across four key dimensions, beginning with 'Inner Power', which focuses on empowering women from within through leadership, education and innovation, while the second dimension, 'Inclusion' promotes equitable and sustainable economic growth. The third dimension, 'Integration', emphasises cultural, digital, and policy integration for Sheconomy Growth whereas the fourth dimension, 'Innovation', calls for improved global connectivity and visibility of Sheconomy in post-normal times. The forum gathered 614 participants from 33 countries, supported by four advisory board members, nine ASEAN advisors, and three ministries; the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Health Ministry.
