The Southeast Asia Watch (SEAWatch) will conduct a review of the progress in women's share of political power, as its contribution to the Beijing + 10 review and appraisal processes. The study will cover Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. SEAWatch's partner is Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), which is supporting the review under its Regional Gender Project for Southeast Asia.

Gigi Francisco of Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), who is the project leader for this review, described the study as part of a three phased project to monitor progress in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Southeast Asia. The first phase on "Gender equality, equity and non-discrimination in resources" covered economic resources, care resources and environmental resources. It was carried out in 2002 and its full report is now available in WAGI. The third phase on "capabilities and freedoms" covers health, education, reproductive health and freedom from violence.

"Gender equality, equity and non-discrimination in power relations and agency" will delve on issues relating to political participation, affirmative action, leadership, women's organizations including the national machinery for women. The members of the research team are Marlea Munez for the Philippines, Pawadee Thonguthai for Thailand, Maria Chin Abdullah for Malaysia and Barbara Orlandimi for Cambodia. The report is expected to be completed by May 2004.
Other activities of the Regional Gender Program of FES include capacity building for young male and female leaders in Southeast Asia and election monitoring, with particular attention to issues of election violence and gender discrimination. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a German non-profit, private educational foundation committed to the concepts and basic values of social democracy. Its projects give special focus on empowering marginalized social sectors and groups to represent their interests in areas of socio-economic and socio-political decision-making.