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Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to you regarding the Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC that has been endorsed by the Leaders and Ministers in their Auckland Meeting in early September.

The Leaders in their Declaration stated that the Framework was a significant step to enhance the ability of women to contribute to and benefit from prosperity of the region. Furthermore, the Leaders and Ministers looked forward to a first report on the implementation of the Framework when they next meet.

The Framework consists of three inter-related elements. They are:

• Gender Analysis - a methodology for examining the differences in women's and men's lives;
• Collection and Use of Sex-disaggregated Data – data classified by sex and presented separately for women and men;
• Involvement of Women in APEC – the increased participation of women in APEC fora.

It is also accompanied by the Guides, which have been developed as tools to complement the Framework.

Implementation of the Framework is regarded as the responsibility of all APEC fora and generally applicable to APEC processess, policies, projects and activities including the APEC Secretariat.

Leaders and Ministers expressed their commitment for its implementation. As mentioned above, they have asked for a report on the implementation of the Framework in their next meetings in Brunei Darussalam. Hence fora need to consider relevant implementation issues at their next meeting.

Along with the endorsement of the Framework, Ministers also welcomed the establishment of the SOM Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Gender Integration. The SOM Ad hoc Advisory Group will assist SOM and other APEC fora on the implementation of the Framework. I believe that SOM as well as the Chair of the Advisory Group will communicate with you on the implementation of the Framework in the near future.

Attached are the Framework and the Guidelines for your own reference. These are also available on the APEC Secretariat website (http://www.apecsec.org.sg, under the "Activity by Groups – Gender Issues").

I thank you very much for your attention.

Best Regards,

Timothy J. Hannah
Executive Director

This page was last updated on 1 Feb, 2008