More than 50 female parliamentarians from all 10 ASEAN countries debated three draft resolutions related to women’s access to economic opportunities, their role in environmental decision making and improving maternal health at a meeting in Phnom Penh yesterday.

Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Khoun Sudary chaired the Annual Inter-Parliamentary General Assembly and emphasised the need to increase female involvement in tackling climate change.

“We must build-up women’s capacity regarding knowledge of the environment, protection of the environment and preservation of the environment to ensure a sustainable future for ASEAN,” she said.

She said AIPA countries also needed to work harder to meet their United Nations Millennium Development Goals for maternal health.

Delegates urged ASEAN countries to improve women’s access to savings, credit, and other financial services and to develop programs that would equip women with business-related skills.

“Women play a vital role in the economy of families, communities and nations, so we have to offer more chances for them to receive vocational training,” Khoun Sudary said.

Women Parliamentarians of AIPA, which was established in 1998, aims to promote women-specific issues within  the transnational organisation.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY EAK SOUNG CHHAY