Islamabad: The two-day Regional Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Gender Empowerment for Green Economy concluded Tuesday, with a collective commitment from 20 Asian countries to advance gender equality and empower women to achieve sustainable development goals.

According to Press Information Department, Romina Khurshid Alam, Chair of the meeting and Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change, emphasized the necessity of political collaboration across Asia to address and overcome gender inequalities within the context of green economic goals. The meeting, which included representatives from Japan, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Jordan, Mongolia, the Maldives, and Egypt, ended with a strong endorsement of the “Islamabad Declaration on Gender Empowerment for Green Economy.”

The participants discussed a variety of strategies to enhance policy, legislation, and programs that bolster investments in youth, eliminate gender disparities, and include women and girls in decision-making processes. Highlighting the urgency of the initiatives, Alam stressed that achieving a sustainable and inclusive green economy is impossible without significant progress in gender equality, especially in regions vulnerable to climate change.

The declaration articulated by the parliamentarians included 12 points, which recommit to empowering women and girls in education, health, agriculture, and other critical sectors. It also outlines specific actions to build resilience against climate-related risks and promote women’s leadership in peace and humanitarian actions.