Women’s full and equal participation in politics is not only essential for realising more just, equal societies. Women’s political leadership is also connected with better policy outcomes for the whole of society as well as democratic resilience. In March, WFD brought together students from the National University of Laos and the Thammasart University, Thailand to discuss gender equality in the political sphere and explore ways to advance women’s political leadership in parliament.  

The workshop included sessions on barriers and violence against women in politics and elections, tech and civic engagement to enhance transparency and accountability of the parliament, and gender mainstreaming and policies for women’s inclusion in politics.  

Experts from WeWatch, WeVis, and Dr. Purawich Watanasukh, a professor from the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University, shared their insights.

The expert from WeWatch spoke on hate speech and gender bias in politics, highlighting cases of online harassment against a former prime minister and demonstrating how misogyny manifests in online spaces. The representative from WeVis, which focuses on data transparency, emphasised how open data can help address gender discrimination and inform policy development. Dr. Purawich, who has good knowledge of gender equality and gender-responsive budgeting, also shared an overview of the gender equality situation in Southeast Asian countries.

Together, these three experts offered diverse perspectives on gender equality in politics. Their contributions helped students explore gender-related issues from multiple angles and reflect on their own views. The session concluded with  Srisopa Kotkhamlue, a current Member of Parliament, responding to the students’ presentations and discussing how gender-related policy advocacy can be advanced in parliament.

The workshop encouraged participants to reflect on how they would like to see changes in their home countries, especially regarding parliamentary matters. It was a first step towards raising awareness on women’s participation in politics, barriers against women in politics, understanding the importance of citizens’ engagement to monitor transparency and accountability and express ideas for policies to be more gender inclusive.

Conducted as part of our programme on Advancing Equal Societies through Women Political Leadership and Participation in ASEAN Phase 2, the workshop was held on 22 March 2025 at Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.