Gyroscopic and Surrogacy Representation of Southeast Asia Women NGOs in CEDAW Reporting Process

摘要

This study attempts to systematically discuss the roles of women NGOs in empowering women in Southeast Asia from gyroscopic and surrogate representations analysis. This paper applies an evolving concept of political representation due to the globalization phenomena and democratization of global politics. Gyroscopic representation refers to the representatives that "look within" to derive from their own experience conceptions of interest and principles to serve as a basis for their actions. Meanwhile, the surrogate representation occurs when representatives represent a group of people beyond the constituents. It is also can be called political representation transcending the national border for women or any marginalised groups. By examining local-global representation activities of women NGOs in Southeast Asia through Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reporting process, this research aims to point out the strengths and the impacts of these types of representation to women locally. Through content analysis of CEDAW and United Nations women development related agencies official documents and unofficial documents prepared by local and international NGOs, this research seeks to investigate the women NGOs' roles played in the global realm. This study is analysed through the social constructivist approach of global politics and the feminist perspective. The findings of this paper indicate CEDAW governance has constructed a surrogacy representation platform for hundreds of NGOs in Southeast Asia to represent women in each country globally from gyroscopic representation perspective.