ABSTRACT
Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been known for its poor human rights record, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda reveals progress. We explore the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in shaping this agenda. We examine how CSOs have advocated for WPS by delving into the historical context, CSO emergence, and engagement types to argue that diverse CSO strategies have fostered the “omnipresence” of women's rights, enhancing ASEAN's awareness of and receptiveness to the WPS agenda. This case demonstrates how CSOs, despite challenges, can substantially contribute to the regional human rights agenda through diverse and strategic engagement.
