Pasig City, Philippines –  AsiaDHRRA, represented by Ms. Mags Catindig, Program Officer, had the opportunity to join the ASEAN Regional Assessment Workshop on the Millennium Development Goals Achievement and Post-2015 Development Priorities on 14-15 April 2015 at Crowne Plaza, in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The workshop was attended by official delegates of the member states to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
The draft assessment report presented indicates that, in general, poverty in the region has been reduced, but, this achievement is uneven among its countries and within countries with at least 160 million rural populations and ethnic minorities still living on less than $2 per day. Girls and women have gained more access to education and economic empowerment and reduced health risks. The report also shows that while access to water sources and sanitation systems have improved, there has been rapid increased in the deforestation and carbon dioxide emission in the region along with economic growth.
Along the task of MDG agenda completion, the region also gears up for the post-2015 challenges and new sustainable development goals. ASCC Deputy Secretary-General Alicia Bala presented the ASEAN initiatives relevant to the MDG and the initial ASEAN Community Vision 2015 and ASCC Attendant Document, to provide overview of the region’s efforts to attaining sustainable development goals.
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AsiaDHRRA is among the regional entities affiliated to ASEAN.