Ensuring
the legal
system
works for
and not
against
women
in Asia
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This project
identified the sociolegal status of women in
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the
Philippines, and possible entry points for Asian
Development Bank assistance in upgrading their
status. The project focused
on property, inheritance, employment, matrimony
and divorce, child custody, labor and criminal
laws.
Project
activities included a review and compilation of
the sociolegal status of women which focused on
rights and obligations under national
constitutions, national and state statutes and
regulations, religious law and customary law and
practice. Legal constraints on the implementation
of existing laws were identified, and the extent
to which women were aware of their rights to use
the legal system to their advantage was assessed.
The project
surveyed and assessed active non-government
organizations and women's legal groups, and
developed legally-based strategies and actions to
protect and promote women's economic and social
status.
|
 Improving
women's status strengthens their contribution to
social and economic development.
Agrodev
recommended strategic entry points for legal
reforms, institution-building and training
activities that have potential for ADB
involvement. The project emphasized a
participatory framework that was highlighted by a
two week regional symposium in Manila.
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