ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD)

The 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) was held in December 2004, under the theme “Enhancing a Community of Caring Societies.” The Ministers reviewed the progress made on implementing the ASEAN Work Programme for Social Welfare, Family and Population, and set priorities for future cooperation in several areas, including capacity building in the social sector and strengthening the family. The contribution of volunteers as well as NGOs and community organisations towards ASEAN’s goals on social welfare and development role was recognised. The ASEAN Ministers also held their first meeting with counterparts from China, Japan and the ROK in December 2004 and agreed that ASEAN Plus Three cooperation in social welfare and development would focus on promoting a community of caring societies in East Asia, the care of the elderly and the disabled, and human resource’ development in the social sector.

In line with the importance ASEAN places on strong families, ASEAN issued a statement welcoming the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family. A Regional Family Forum was held on a cost-sharing basis in November 2004 in Singapore.