How will the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), in place since 2015, affect the socio-economic opportunities for women in the region? The study at hand takes up this question by investigating and analyzing the expected gender impact of the established AEC. The findings show that the creation of jobs and the narrowing of the educational gap will not improve opportunities or conditions for women in the labour market unless deliberated strategies are put in place to ensure that women no longer face restrictions to move across occupational sectors or access social protection.

The publication is jointly released by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, UN Women, the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Australian Government in collaboration with ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).