14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting makes ten policy recommendations
The 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) meeting was successfully concluded this evening at the Raffles City Convention Centre with ten policy
recommendations to be proposed to the APEC Leaders.
Over 600 women delegates from 21 APEC economies met over two days from 4-5 August 2009 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. The background of these women delegates spanned from government, business, academia and civil society.
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 said, "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.”
The policy recommendations which will be proposed to the APEC Leaders are:
- Strengthen capacity building programmes, including education and vocational skills training for women.
- Promote employment generation programmes to level-up women particularly those in informal and vulnerable sectors.
- Ensure access to financing especially for micro and small enterprises.
- Secure social safety nets for women.
- Simplify business registration and operational processes.
- Promote the use of science and technology as an enabler and leveller for women.
- Facilitate access to information communication technology (ICT) especially for rural and indigenous women, through the provision of services, equipment and technological literacy training.
- Encourage public-private partnerships, including civil society, as a viable approach in furthering the contributions of women to the economy.
- Support social enterprise as a business model for women and sustainable development.
- 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.
In closing this year’s meeting, 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," she said.
The WLN will convene its 15th meeting in Japan in September 2010.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech at the 14th APEC Women Leaders Netwrok (WLN) Meeting
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Women Leaders’ Network Steering Committee, Ms Chua Sock Koong, Chair of the Women Leaders’ Network, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
I welcome warmly more than 600 women leaders from 21 APEC economies to Singapore. We are delighted to see here leaders from all sectors, in the government, in business, in academia and in civil society participating in this conference.
We are meeting in the midst of a major global economic crisis, but, in fact, the story of the Asia-Pacific region in the last few decades has been one of optimism and of dramatic growth. The emancipation and education of women has contributed greatly to the transformation of our societies and economies.
At the same time, of course, these rapidly-changing times have confronted women with new opportunities and new challenges. Therefore, it is good for us to have a chance to meet, whether in person here or by teleconference in Korea, in order to talk about the impact of the immediate crisis, especially where women may be more vulnerable, and to talk about longer-term issues like sustainable development. And we hope that in Singapore, we will be able to contribute to this discussion by sharing our experience on these issues.
Welcome address by Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports at the 14th Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting Welcome Dinner
Ministers, Heads of Delegations, Excellencies, Colleagues and Friends
Welcome
A very warm welcome to the 14th Women Leaders Network Meeting Welcome Dinner.
I am happy to see so many familiar faces in the audience. To those of you who are new to the WLN meeting and to Singapore, a warm welcome to the meeting and to Singapore.
This is the first of many opportunities for all of us to come together to exchange ideas and to meet new regional partners. It is also the first of many events that will provide you with a taste of Singapore hospitality and Singaporean’s great passion for food.
Growth of WLN and its influence
The Women Leaders Network has grown in size and influence since its first meeting in 1996. To date, more than 4,000 women have participated in the meetings and events linked to the WLN. We have , over the years, done well in influencing economic change in the region.
WLN’s growth, and continued importance, is a clear reminder that our economies cannot realise their full potential without the full participation of men and women.
Pre-Event Press Conference for the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting – Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports
2009 is a special year for us as a nation. Singapore is the proud host of the APEC Meetings and the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting will be held on 4 and 5 August.
Women play important roles in business and economic development. Over the years and in many parts of the world, women have become successful entrepreneurs, professionals and captains of industry. Many have taken on leadership positions in society, in government and in international organisations. The WLN Meeting is a premier platform for such women leaders in the APEC region to network and share with each other their insights and experiences in the
various sectors of their respective economy.
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What's New
- 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting makes ten policy recommendations
- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech at the 14th APEC Women Leaders Netwrok (WLN) Meeting
- Welcome address by Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports at the 14th Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting Welcome Dinner
- Pre-Event Press Conference for the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting – Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports
- 2009 APEC WLN official website now live
- Women Entrepreneurs – IT & e-Commerce in International Trade
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- The International Alliance for Women (TIAW)
- Invitation to the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network Meeting: 4 – 6 August 2009
- Invitation to 14th APEC Women Leaders Network Meeting: 4 – 5 August 2009
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