From September 9–11, 2025, our circle initiator, Dr. Anna Christi Suwardi, represented DEEP EnGender at the RC48 Summer School Retreat in Montreal, Canada. The retreat was hosted by the International Sociological Association (ISA) Research Committee on Social Movements, Collective Action, and Social Change (RC48).

The program brought together scholars, activists, and practitioners from the Global South and Global North to reflect on the intersections of social movements and their contemporary developments, covering themes from feminist and women’s movements to climate justice.

Renowned Canadian voices in social movement studies, Prof. Lesley Wood (York University) and Prof. Chris Dixon (Carleton University), shared insights on grounding social movements as analytical frameworks while emphasizing the importance of sustaining solidarity between scholarship and activism. Unlike most formal academic gatherings, the retreat was intentionally communal and participatory, fostering stronger bonds and meaningful connections among participants.

Dr. Suwardi was selected to join this program based on her research on women’s digital movements for peace amidst two decades of conflict in the southern border provinces of Thailand. She presented her work through a creative video format, which was highly appreciated by fellows from Canada, Brazil, Taiwan, Chile, Austria, Germany, the UK, and Mexico. Her presentation highlighted how research and storytelling, when delivered through audio-visual means, can touch audiences in powerful ways beyond written text.

We are proud of Dr. Suwardi’s contribution and honored that DEEP EnGender’s perspective was part of this global exchange linking scholarship, activism, and solidarity for social change.

DEEP EnGender is honored and proud to be invited as one of the CSO representatives from Indonesia to the 2025 ASEAN Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held on 9–10 September 2025.
This important agenda resonates with our ongoing commitment to advancing peace and gender justice as part of our broader mission of bridging divides through ecological regeneration, Indigenous food systems, and the right to education across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Together with our Project Coordinator, Fatin Jamjuree, MSW, & our Chairperson, Dr. Sadar Ginting joined this space of dialogue and exchange, sharing experiences and lessons with colleagues from across the ASEAN region. When it comes to so-called “best practices,” our Chairperson reflected that the term often feels blurry. What truly matters is the exchange of lived experiences, our own engagement with communities and stakeholders, as well as the stories that communities themselves share. These encounters reveal how local contexts generate diverse pathways for building resilience, sustaining peace, and advancing gender justice. Rather than assuming there is one “best” model to replicate, each story reminds us that peacebuilding is always contextual and evolving.

“Peacebuilding is always contextual and evolving. There is no single model, only diverse pathways shaped by communities themselves.”

Key reflections emerged from the following sessions:
Gender-Responsive Climate Action & Disaster Resilience for Peace and Security, and Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)
This dialogue underscored how inseparable peace and climate justice are, and how addressing violent extremism requires not only security responses but also inclusive, gender-responsive approaches rooted in resilience.
Intersectional Perspectives & Human-Centered Security in Thailand
Here, diverse groups such as conflict-affected caregivers, women fishers, rural farmers, and migrant women shared how they face layered vulnerabilities, yet also lead as peacebuilders, environmental defenders, and community leaders.
The Role of Youth, Persons with Disabilities, and Indigenous Communities in Advancing the WPS Agenda in ASEAN
This exchange highlighted the transformative power of inclusive participation. Youth, Indigenous voices, and persons with disabilities bring diverse perspectives and resilience strategies that are vital to reimagining peacebuilding in our region.

Moving Forward
For DEEP EnGender, participation in this summit is not only about representing Indonesia but also about amplifying the voices of communities across Southeast Asia who live at the intersection of climate vulnerability, conflict, and gender inequality. The insights gained from these discussions reaffirm our belief that peacebuilding is most effective when grounded in local realities and enriched by inclusive participation.
We look forward to bringing these lessons into our ongoing initiatives, from strengthening Indigenous food systems in Indonesia to empowering youth storytellers through the Youth-Inclusive Learning Academy (YILA), and from advancing ecological justice to championing the right to education for marginalized groups.
As we return from the 2025 ASEAN WPS Summit, DEEP EnGender remains committed to turning dialogue into practice, working alongside communities, civil society partners, and policymakers to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future for all.