BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, (PNA/Xinhua) — The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) and Elimination of Violence Against Children (VAC) is set to be presented for adoption at the 23rd ASEAN Summit, which will be held from Oct. 9-10 in the country, the Brunei Times reported Tuesday.
The declarations, which will be brought before leaders at the 23rd ASEAN summit, recognize the pertinent issues faced by certain groups in society and adopt a “holistic multi-disciplinary approach to promote the rights of women and children” and those disadvantaged to be “entitled to equitable access to social protection that is a basic human right.”
During the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) held recently in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Pehin Hazair also shared the Brunei government’s framework to achieve the country’s 2035 vision, which stresses social safety towards ensuring national peace and that the people’s care.
He mentioned that the government has also adopted a holistic approach in realizing this goal and includes the various demographics, paying special attention to children, the elderly and the differently-abled.
In line with this year’s meeting theme, “Social Development for All”, the minister also shared the work that has been carried out by Brunei in terms of social empowerment especially among the aforementioned demographics, such as the country’s 21st Century National Education System (SPN21) that peruses specially designed curriculum encompassing nine fields aimed at molding students intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally as well as the national service program.
The minister said that a number of programs are being carried out to accommodate the needs of the elderly and the differently-abled in ensuring that they are not left behind and this includes the setting up of a Special Needs and the Elderly Committee.