From News Desk
Photo courtesy – Thanh Duc PHAN/Unsplash
The global non-profit organisation Asian Women Development Plan International (AWDPI) received two prestigious honours during the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at UN Headquarters in New York.
AWDPI was awarded the Global Outstanding Women’s Public Welfare Organisation Award, while its Board Member, Stephanie Sun, received the Asian Outstanding Female Leadership Award. These accolades reflect the international community’s recognition of AWDPI’s leadership in promoting gender equality and the rising global influence of Asian women in public service.
Five Years of Global Impact – Empowering Asian Women Worldwide
Founded in 2020 by Yimar Yu, AWDPI evolved from its original founding programme Avoice (Against Violence to Overseas Chinese Women Programme). The organisation works to eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination and to uplift Asian women through economic opportunity, political engagement and cultural empowerment.
Over the past five years, AWDPI has established a global footprint with offices in the US, UK, Belgium, and Australia. Partnering with the UN, governments, academia and private sector stakeholders, it has directly supported thousands of Asian women in more than 30 countries.
Programmes such as the Anti-Domestic Violence Support System and the Conference of Asian Women Development International are widely regarded as global models for innovation and cross-cultural impact in gender advocacy.
A Powerful Voice at the United Nations
AWDPI has participated in high-level dialogues and official parallel forums hosted by the United Nations, amplifying the call for equitable opportunities for Asian women. Its representatives have shared critical insights, proposed actionable policies, and strengthened inter-regional cooperation for sustainable development.
Championing China’s Gender Equality Policy
On March 5, AWDPI Board Member Yanping Wang, a delegate to the landmark 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, took the stage at the Femina Vox International Forum held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Speaking at the opening high-level roundtable, she reflected on the enduring global significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 30 years on.
“Empowering women is synonymous with empowering all of humanity,” she emphasised, calling on governments, private sector leaders and civil society to re-energise their commitment to gender justice in the face of growing global challenges. Her remarks brought a powerful historical and policy perspective to the forum and were met with broad international resonance.
For her outstanding contributions to public policy and civic engagement, she received the Asian Outstanding Female Leadership Award. Other honourees at the event included Nobel laureate Youyou Tu and former Secretary Elaine Chao.
Shaping the Global Gender Agenda
On March 19, AWDPI played a key role in CSW69’s parallel forum on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Yuting Deng, AWDPI’s US Representative, presented findings from global projects and urged policymakers to take meaningful steps to address the needs of overseas Asian women. Building on this engagement, AWDPI joined international delegates in signing the New York Action Initiative, symbolizing cross-border solidarity and shared commitment to women’s empowerment.
Lighting the Path Ahead
At the award ceremony of CSW69’s parallel forum, held at the United Nations Headquarters, AWDPI founder Yimar Yu reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to empowering Asian women, advancing their participation and leadership in global progress. She extended her sincere appreciation to UN Gender Equality Advocate Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo, who also served as the award presenter, for her decades-long leadership in fostering cross-cultural understanding and advancing global gender equality.
“Where fragments of light converge, they will ultimately illuminate the future of human civilisation.” —AWDPI
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