Over 500 feminist leaders from 38 countries convened in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the 4th Asia Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF 2024) on September 29, 2024. The forum focused on the urgent need for a feminist world free from patriarchy, corporate capitalism, and militarism. Azra Talat Sayeed highlighted the issue of corporate capture, describing it as a form of imperialism, particularly alarming given that defense corporations earned USD 407.8 billion in 2022. The global military expenditure reached USD 2.4 trillion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase from the previous year, which raises concerns about priorities in funding for social services [630f1cd5].
The forum also addressed the severe debt crisis facing developing countries, where 3.3 billion people live in nations that allocate more resources to debt servicing than to education or health. Sarala Emmanuel pointed out that 144 developing countries allocate an average of 45% of their budget revenues to debt servicing, further exacerbating social inequalities and hindering development efforts [630f1cd5].
In addition to economic issues, rising religious fundamentalism was highlighted as a significant threat to women's rights. Zainah Anwar warned that this trend undermines the progress made in gender equality and women's empowerment. Kyungjin Oh criticized South Korea's neoliberal policies, which she argued threaten women's rights, and noted the growing anti-feminist sentiment under President Yoon Suk-Yeol's administration [630f1cd5].
The discussions at the APFF 2024 resonate with ongoing global conversations about the intersection of feminism, social justice, and economic equity. The need for a cohesive feminist agenda that addresses these multifaceted issues is more pressing than ever, as women continue to be disproportionately affected by militarism, economic instability, and fundamentalist ideologies. The outcomes of this forum may influence future feminist movements and policy-making efforts across the Asia Pacific region and beyond [630f1cd5].