Thailand to host East Asia forum on families and gender equality

BANGKOK, December 9 (TNA) - Thailand will host the East Asia Forum on Families and Gender Equality in Bangkok during December 21-23. Social Development and Human Security Minister Police General Adul Saengsingkaew on Friday inspected the venue and facilities at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, as part of the country's preparations for the upcoming host of the regional forum. Police General Adul said it is the first time that Thailand has been selected to honorably host such the regional forum, which is normally organized biennially, and it is also the first time that all 17 countries in East Asia will participate this time. The minister acknowledged this year's forum, in which more than 250 delegates from the East Asian countries will participate, will be an integrated one on families and gender equality issues, different from previous years when families and gender equality issues will be separately discussed in separate forums. According to the minister, this year's regional gathering will be, however, divided into the Senior Officials Forum on Families and Gender Equality and the East Asia Ministerial Forum on Families and Gender Equality and all participants in both forums are decision makers who will share knowledge and experiences on families and gender equality issues in their respective countries. In case of Thailand, the minister noted, Thai delegates will take the opportunity to present the country's progress in policy, measures and mechanisms on the development of families and gender equality, while also learning from measures and mechanisms shared by other countries. Besides, the Bangkok Declaration will be signed by the participating countries, in which the East Asian nations agree to cooperate on families and gender equality issues to drive the region forward to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 2030. "In the part of Thailand, the national agenda to be included in the Bangkok Declaration cover solutions to violence in families and pregnancy among young students, as well as family planning policy and measures to create balance between people's work and living, while also presenting the country's position on striving towards the UNSDGs through a 20-year national strategy on social development and human security", the minister revealed. (TNA)