AKP Phnom Penh, September 17, 2025 -- Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, on Wednesday called for stronger empowerment of women leaders to help build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN, while delivering the keynote address at the Second AIPA Women Political Leaders Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking under the theme “Women’s Leadership for Future-Ready Governance: Navigating Transitions in the Digital and Sustainability Era”, she underlined that women’s leadership is indispensable in tackling today’s governance challenges.

“Governance must shift from rigid, top-down approaches to flexible and inclusive models. Women’s leadership does matter,” she stressed. She also cautioned that global, regional, and national institutions face “unprecedented pressures from geopolitical rivalries, economic disruptions, climate change, technological shifts, and social fragmentation,” urging parliaments to embrace agile and people-centered governance.

Turning to Cambodia’s national context, Samdech Khuon Sudary highlighted the government’s Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1 (2023–2028), which prioritises gender equality and women’s empowerment. She pointed to initiatives such as the Cambodian Women Parliamentarian Caucus and the #Girls2Leader campaign, aimed at fostering youth participation in leadership.

She emphasised the central role of parliaments in advancing gender equality. “Parliamentarians shape laws, set budgets, and represent diverse communities. A gender-sensitive parliament—one that reflects the evolving demands of modern society—is more effective, legitimate, and capable of addressing contemporary challenges,” she said, stressing the elimination of barriers to women’s political participation and the protection of women in politics from violence and discrimination.

Concluding her address, Samdech Khuon Sudary urged ASEAN parliamentarians to strengthen cooperation for inclusive growth. “Advancing gender equality within parliamentary systems is fundamental to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN Community,” she affirmed.

The forum, held alongside the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, gathered women leaders from ASEAN parliaments to deliberate on strategies for inclusive governance in the digital and sustainability era.

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