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

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)

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

International Women’s Day Celebration

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Last Updated (Friday, 07 February 2025 09:03)

5th February, 2025

TO: The National General Secretaries,

The Executive Committee Members, Standing Committee & Task Group Members,

Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs

Dear Colleagues,

Sub: International Women’s Day Webinar on March 10, 2025

Greetings to you from the Asia Pacific YMCA!

March is designated as Women's History Month. International Women's Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8th, is a global event that honors the achievements of women in various fields, including social, economic, cultural, and political areas. This day serves to recognize progress in gender equality, raise awareness about ongoing issues, and advocate for women's rights.

IWD's history dates back to the early 20th century, originating from women's labor movements, where activists fought for equality, better working conditions, and suffrage. Today, this occasion is celebrated with a variety of events, including marches, rallies, and educational initiatives, all aimed at celebrating women's contributions and working toward a more equitable world.

The theme for International Women's Day 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," accompanied by the campaign theme "Accelerate Action." This theme encourages proactive and collaborative efforts to advance gender equality. It emphasizes the importance of taking prompt and effective measures to overcome the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in their personal lives and professional environments. By fostering a sense of urgency and commitment, we can enhance progress toward gender parity and uplift the initiatives of organizations and groups that are dedicated to empowering women and girls. As Women’s History Month is celebrated globally, the Gender Equity Committee (GEC) of APAY is collaborating with others to organize a virtual regional webinar in honor of International Women’s Day (IWD). The GEC encourages local and national YMCAs to celebrate this occasion in their own communities. Many national and local YMCAs will host events and activities on March 8th. Therefore, the regional webinar organized by APAY's GEC will be held on March 10th, 2025. We are excited to invite you to our upcoming webinar in celebration of International Women’s Day! Join us as we listen to inspiring stories of women’s achievements, the challenges they have faced, and their hopes for the future. Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues, staff, and members of local YMCAs to encourage them to register for the webinar.

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Below is a link to register for the Webinar.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZQilGBO0ThiOQWuITlIunw

Here are more details of the upcoming Webinar:

- Date: March 10, 2025

- Time: 6PM-8PM HKT

- Venue: Through Zoom
(After submitting your registration, you will automatically receive the Zoom link. Please save the zoom link)

If you have any questions or need clarifications about the event, please contact my colleague

Ms. Sunita Suna, Executive Secretary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you on 10th March!

Warm regards,

Nam Boo Won

General Secretary

2754, 1100-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Republic of Korea

E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it · URL: http://www.asiapacificymca.org

Fax : (82) 0508-952-0244 Tel : (82) 064-747-1721

Comprising YMCA Movements in: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea,

Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore,

Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam

The Gender Equity Committee met online to chart out the 16 Days of Activism against GBV

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On September 26, 2024, from 4 PM to 6 PM HKT, ten members participated in an online meeting. The meeting began with a word of prayer by Dr. Betsy Williams. The primary focus was to plan the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, scheduled from November 25 to December 10. The discussion centered on creating safe spaces and ending gender-based violence, with various activities proposed to engage members and YMCAs across the Asia Pacific region.

Committee members were given a structured format to share their ideas for observing the 16 Days of Activism, which included:

Proposing an activity
Detailing the contents/process of the activity
Providing the rationale behind the activity
Outlining implementation steps
Discussing potential impacts

Members contributed innovative ideas to creatively engage YMCAs in the APAY region. Additionally, they expressed concerns about ongoing conflicts and violence worldwide, urging YMCAs to advocate for peace in affected areas.

The GEC decided to invite all YMCAs in the APAY region to participate in creating safe spaces and ending gender-based violence. The meeting was moderated by the chairperson Marshia Mili Gomes.

YMCA MADURAI WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION

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YMCA Madurai

Women’s Day Celebration

Women’s Day was celebrated at YMCA Madurai on 9^th March 2024. 65 staff members from various service projects of YMCA Madurai, participated with great joy and enthusiasm. Competitions on various games and rangoli was conducted. A debate on the topic “Is investing on education alone enough for women to accelerate progress?” was conducted and the staff team participated with much interest.

Ms. J. Shamila Doris, General Secretary, YMCA Madurai welcomed the gathering and the guests. Fr.J. Benedict Barnabas, President, YMCA Madurai delivered the presidential address. He said women’s empowerment is a human right. He quoted, Karl Marx’s statement ‘Great Social Changes are impossible without feminine upheaval’ and Gandhiji’s prayer which says, ‘Make me more Womenly’. He wished every woman to be the seeds of change in the community. Dr. Janet Vasanthakumari, Chairperson, Women's Concerns Desk, YMCA Madurai, greeted the gathering and emphasized on the necessity of acquiring life skills by women. She appreciated the participation of men in the program. The Special guest Dr. Sudha Dheep, Obstetrician & Family Physician, Taj Hospital, who is also the Co-Founder, TOPKIDS Foundation, talked about the internal well being of women. She stressed the need for Master Health Check up for women and men and shared about the precautionary measures to prevent cancer. She also informed about the available vaccinations and the need for Pap Smear Test that helps to find conditions such as infections or inflammations in cervix which leads to cancer. Ms.D. Priscilla, Board Member, YMCA Madurai and Ms.Judith Kirubakaran, Member of the Women’s Concerns Desk were also present on this occasion. Prizes were distributed to the winners in various competitions.