Gender Justice
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
- To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
- To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
1 To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
2 To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
1st Gender Equity Forum of the 21st General Assembly of APAY
Last Updated (Friday, 02 June 2023 17:24)
1st Gender Equity Forum of the 21st General Assembly of APAY
September 13-15, 2023
YWCA International Guest House, Chennai, India
Theme: “Journeying Together as a Resilient Community: Transforming Lives through Vision 2030.”
Concept Note
Introduction
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence the commitment to Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate of the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY intends to promote Gender Equity at all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms the YMCA Values Statement on Inclusion that “diversity and inclusion are core to the YMCA movement. Therefore – the YMCA movement is open and inclusive of all people regardless of their ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background. Hence, to realize an inclusive YMCA and society requires a collaborative undertaking to translate the motto of the YMCA “That They All May Be One.”
Gender Justice objectives in the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY
1 To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels by creating platforms of learning, reflection, and exchange of experiences.
2 To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels.
The APAY Gender Equity Committee, through the Gender Justice Programs, continues its efforts to achieve the objectives and to translate the vision into reality. The members are committed to establishing an inclusive environment through education, creating awareness, and policies that promote and reflect gender justice in work, dialogue, and discussions, including the non-binary views of gender identity and sexuality.
1st Gender Equity Forum (GEF)
In the previous General Assemblies of APAY, there were workshops organised on gender justice as one of the thematic workshops. But this is the 1st time the Gender Equity Forum (GEF) will be a parallel event with the youth assembly before the 21st GA. The GEF will bring women and men participants of the 21st GA to create a common platform to discuss gender issues, gender equity, women's participation and women's leadership within the YMCA. The forum will develop the gender justice program direction for the next quadrennium and prepare the GEF delegates to participate at the GA.
Objectives
The followings are specific objectives:
- Create a space for women, men, gender diverse groups through the GEF to come together and discuss gender issues and gender equity in YMCAs
- Share and listen to the gender concerns and voices in sub-regional contexts to identify the problems and challenges to address them through various initiatives
- Develop Biblical and theological reflections from gender perspectives
- Re-imagine a gender-inclusive YMCA by linking the pillars of Vision 2030
- Come up with Gender Justice program direction for the next quadrennium for the QLR, and develop collective recommendations on gender justice policy to the GA
- Coordinate a joint session with the youth assembly to work towards common goals.
- Orient and prepare the GEF delegates to participate in the GA Develop networks and celebrate the fellowship and diversity.
Theme:
The gender equity committee chose the same theme of the 21st GA for the 1st GEF: “Journeying Together as a Resilient Community: Transforming Lives through Vision 2030.” However, the GEF will discuss the theme from the gender, inclusivity and just world perspectives.
Participants of GEF
Around 75 participants (women and men) are expected to join the Forum from different YMCAs of Asia Pacific region.
Dates: September 13-15, 2023 ( 13th Arrival). After the GEF, the participants are expected to continue joining the 21st GA
Venue: YWCA International Guest House, Chennai, India
Participation Fees: US$60
Accommodation Fees: US$33 (double room, including breakfast)
The participation fees will cover lunches and dinners during the GEF and all other costs directly related to the participants, such as the Forum materials, T-shirts, badges etc.
Subsidy: Interested participants who cannot pay the accommodation and participation fees can request a subsidy to the APAY. They can send their request at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Registration: We expect all the GEF participants to continue participating in the 21st GA from September 15-20. The Subsidised participants must attend the 21st GA.
To fill out the Assembly Registration Form, please click here
All registration forms should be sent to Ms. Irene Chan, Administrative Assistant of APAY email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Sunita Suna, Executive Secretary of APAY and related secretary for the 21st GA of APAY, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tentative Program of the 1st GEF
Conclusion
The Gender Equity Forum will be prepared and organized by the related executive secretary and the gender equity committee. We look forward to a meaningful, joyful and vibrant GEF with your participation! We hope the 1st GEF will inspire and empower us to continue our journey towards creating a gender just inclusive YMCA!
By Sunita Suna
Executive Secretary for Programs
Gender Equity Committee Felicitated the writers of the International Essay Contest
Last Updated (Thursday, 05 May 2022 15:48)
The felicitation ceremony of the International Essay Contest on “Towards a Better World for Women and Girls: Gender Justice by 2030” as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence was organised virtually on April 29, 2022. Around 25 participants joined the meeting, including members of the gender equity committee (GEC).
MC of the ceremony, Cecilia Lou, a member of the GEC, opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and guests. Sunita Suna, executive secretary of APAY, briefly introduced the international essay contest, its objectives, significance, etc. She also explained in detail the process and criteria of the said contest. She informed the following judges were selected to review the essays are:
Dr. Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran, professor at the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Dr. D. Dominic, Professor & Director, Dept of Kannada Studies, Bangalore University, Karnataka, India
APAY General Secretary Nam Boo Won gave congratulatory remarks to the achievers. He expressed his deep appreciation for the work done by the GEC and congratulated the achievers of the essay contest. GS Nam said it would be interesting and meaningful to know this generation's perspectives concerning gender equity, and he is very much looking forward to reading those essays. He also acknowledged that only the APAY region has the gender equity committee and affirmed to continue to work on achieving a gender-just world, and said the essay contest would be an ongoing activity of the APAY.
Read more: Gender Equity Committee Felicitated the writers of the International Essay Contest
BreakTheBias: Listen to HER Story -Women’s Voices from the Asia Pacific
Last Updated (Wednesday, 30 March 2022 20:39)
#BreakTheBias: Listen to HER Story -Women’s Voices from the Asia Pacific
Every year we observe or celebrate the International Women’s Day differently. This year the gender equity committee (GEC) of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs plans to celebrate IWD in a meaningful way by listening to “HER Story”. This project intends to bring women’s issues, stories, struggles, challenges and hopes from different parts of Asia and the Pacific and dedicate the entire month to women, as March is also remembered as “Women’s History Month”. For this purpose, on the International Women’s Day on 8th March, the GEC decided to launch a YouTube channel called Gender Justice APAY to share women’s issues and stories with its networks. The GEC will use the YouTube channel for “Women’s History Month” and as a medium to connect with its members and community in the coming days, especially during the COVID19 pandemic, as many countries continue to face challenges of the pandemic travel restrictions, social distancing etc. We hope you will take some time to listen to “HER” stories and experiences and find them meaningful.
International Women’s Day celebration by YMCA Ranchi
Last Updated (Thursday, 31 March 2022 12:46)
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International Women’s Day celebration by YMCA Ranchi
On International Women’s Day, a Seminar was organized by YMCA Ranchi under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Approximately 110 women from 7 slum centres of YMCA Ranchi participated in this programme. The session was very informative and interactive. The Guest Speaker for this occasion was Mrs. Rekha Purnima Khalkho, Senior Manager, East Zone, World Vision India. The speaker used very simple language so that the participants could fully participate in this session. She presented a few data which were very alarming for the future. According to the National family health survey, the sex ratio of India in 2016 was 991(F) / 1000(M), and in 2020 it was1020(F) / 1000(M). but what is very alarming for our state is that the sex ratio of children aged 0-5 yrs in 2020 was 899(F) / 1000(F). Each female has to be aware and speak out if any atrocity or girl child infanticide is practised in their families; then only we can move towards gender equality. The participants said they might forget what they learned, but they vowed to keep it deep in their hearts.
Read more: International Women’s Day celebration by YMCA Ranchi
Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Savar YMCA
Last Updated (Thursday, 31 March 2022 12:45)
Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Savar YMCA
Gender Mainstreaming is a global issue that incorporates women's empowerment as well as Gender Equality. This is the inner urge, desire, ache, and determination of women in today’s world, where women are the poorest of the poor. In Bangladesh, the women’s way of thinking and position is not exceptional. Bangladesh is one of the seven countries globally where the number of men exceeds the number of women, with a population of 160 million. Bangladesh was ranked 133 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and 128 out of 166 countries surveyed on the Gender Inequality Index. However, Bangladesh is still ahead of some other South Asian countries and moving forward positively.
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