Gender equality in politics remains a pressing challenge in Southeast Asia. Women’s political participation and leadership (WPPL) show uneven progress, while violence against women in politics and elections (VAWP/VAWE) continues to threaten women’s meaningful participation in political life.
This report presents a comparative study of women’s political participation and leadership, as well as violence against women in politics and elections in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Lao PDR. It examines how electoral systems, gender quota policies, political institutions, and various social and cultural barriers affect women’s representation and leadership in the four countries. It also identifies gaps in data collection, reporting mechanisms, legal protections, and institutions for addressing VAWP/VAWE.
In this context, this report explores the challenges and opportunities for establishing a Gender Observatory (GO) at the regional level. By mapping and consolidating available gender-disaggregated data, this study seeks to build a more standardized evidence base and indicators for monitoring women’s political participation and gender-based violence in politics in the ASEAN region.
Drawing on international experience, particularly the Mexican model, the report also identifies policy and institutional lessons that can be considered in developing a Gender Observatory at the ASEAN level. The study’s findings emphasize the importance of strengthening quota implementation, improving data systems, establishing secure reporting and complaints mechanisms, policy harmonization, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote gender equality and protect women’s political participation in the region.
Report Information
Author
Hurriyah
Institution
Center for Political Studies / PUSKAPOL UI
Publication
December 2025
Download Full Report: Here
The report can also be viewed on the Westminster Foundation for Democracy website
