Asean countries must double their efforts to correct the slim representation of women in leadership posts, or they will risk holding back the region’s full potential for post-pandemic recovery and sustainable growth.

Womens’ representation in the political structure has always been a waxing issue for the Asian countries. The World Bank data shows that over the last decade the socio-political changes have offered women opportunities to participate in the political structure and as a result the number of women parliamentarians has seen a significant increase.