The Hidden Costs of Exclusion: Gender Inequality in ASEAN Policymaking and Its Economic Implications

ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, yet persistent gender inequality continues to limit its economic potential. Women play a vital role in powering ASEAN’s economies, but they remain systematically underrepresented in leadership, policymaking, and high-value sectors. This report demonstrates that gender inequality is not only a matter of fairness but also a profound economic inefficiency, costing the region trillions in lost GDP and undermining sustainable development.