Over 160 participants—spanning teacher unions, governments, civil society, youth organizations, UN agencies, and academic institutions—from South and Southeast Asia came together from September 23–25, 2025. They shared valuable insights and explored innovative strategies to strengthen education systems in delivering inclusive, stigma-free, and gender-responsive curricula, including Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
The forum, titled Transforming Teachers and Teaching for Adolescent Health, Well-Being and Gender Equality, was co-convened by Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP), ARROW, UNESCO offices in Bangkok and South Asia, UNICEF regional offices, and UNFPA. Key partners also included SDG 4 Youth and Student Network and the Y-PEER Asia-Pacific Center.
During her opening remarks, EIAP’s Undarmaa Batsukh emphasized, “Investing in the health and well-being of adolescents and young people are essential to the future. However, students’ well-being will be as strong as teacher’s well-being is.”
A major highlight was the all-teachers panel on advancing the professionalization of CSE teachers. Educators from across the region discussed barriers and solutions. Parichart (NTTU/Thailand) asked, “Teachers are the frontline in protecting students from mental health challenges — but how can we fulfil this role when our own well-being is buried by non-teaching and non-student-care duties?”Ms. Susilowati (PGRI/Indonesia) echoed the call for systemic support: “Systemic support is A MUST!!”
Educators also linked CSE with broader social justice. Prof. C. Kwe (ACT/Philippines) declared: “CSE is premised on our rights to our body, identity, and freedom… This global exploitation… has a specific name: imperialism.”The forum ended with a united call to action—urging continued collaboration and solidarity to empower teachers and scale up CSE throughout the region. As Kusmita (ISTU/Nepal) affirmed: “Every young person deserves knowledge, dignity and equality.”
Empowering Teachers for Gender-Responsive, Stigma-Free Education Across Asia-Pacific
