2014 Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

© Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

Between May 30^th and June 1^st, 2014, Chiang Mai hosted the Second Asia-Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF), a gathering of almost three hundred feminists from the region to discuss the political, economic and cultural space for women’s rights activism.  With a large percentage of Sangsan students being female Sangsan’s Director Jeab Matcha Porn-in attended.  The forum provided Jeab with a unique opportunity to promote the work of Sangsan, network with prominent regional feminists, gain knowledge and strengthen the capacity of Sangsan to provide women’s rights discussions and activities in our programmes.

Sangsan supports many young women and girls and women's rights and gender issues are a significant part of our work.  According to the APFF women account “for approximately two thirds of the one and a half billion people in extreme poverty, and they make up 60 percent of the close to 575 million working poor globally”.   The forum explored women’s rights issues such as the impact of youth marriage, financial inequity, violence against women, reproductive health, and exclusion from leadership, ownership, education and equal opportunity.  In our work we have found many of the girls we support, especially those who have been unable to access education, have experienced these same issues.

© Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

The forum comprised of four broad categories reflecting feminist theories of change: knowledge building, skills building, advocacy and strategising, and movement building.  The open forum approach of the APFF allows all members to participate and learn from each other.  Sangsan was an active participant contributing to the discussion and gaining new knowledge from fellow attendees. 

A focal point of the forum was a five-finger model of development justice.  The model addresses key issues facing women and aims for equitable distribution of wealth, power and resources.  Each finger represents a specific issue, redistributive justice, economic justice, social justice, environmental justice and accountability for the protection women.  The model promotes active engagement across all five areas in order to make and real and enduring impact.   For Sangsan, the model provided a practical framework for addressing not just women's rights but the rights of marginalised people in general. 

© Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

The APFF also included a Funders-Women’s Rights Organisations Dialogue session, a valuable opportunity to network with potential donors and promote our project.  Notable connections with the Mama Cash Organisation, the YoungFeminist Wire and the Frida Fund were established and new funding possibilities discovered. 

Attending the forum brought many benefits to Sangsan as we strive to incorporate gender issues and women’s rights discussions into our programs.  New activities, resources and frameworks were learnt and new potential funding avenues realised.  Jeab and Sangsan would like to thank the APFF and all those attended the forum for the constructive experience.

For more information please head to the APFF's website or head to their facebook page.

Follow this video link by Asia Pacific Feminist Forum to see a video from Plenary 3 of the forum.

All images courtesy of the Asia Pacific Feminist Forum.