AWLF Asia Women Leaders International Summit 2026 in Bangkok

On September 16–17, 2026, the Asia Women Leaders International Summit 2026 was held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Under the theme, “Women’s Empowerment and Asia’s Social Ecosystem Development – Co-Creating a Peaceful, Inclusive and Sustainable Asia through Women’s Leadership and Citizen Diplomacy,” the Summit brought together approximately 300 leaders from across Asia and beyond, representing a wide range of fields including government, business, academia, education, and civil society.

Alongside women leaders, youth leaders representing the next generation and male leaders also participated. Over the course of two days, participants engaged in meaningful dialogue on the future of Asia and the world, transcending national borders, sectors, and generations.

AWLF Asia Women Leaders International Summit 2026 Day1 Video

From Women’s Empowerment to a Peaceful and Sustainable Asia

At the heart of this year’s Summit was the idea of “Peace through Women’s Empowerment.”

Harnessing women’s potential and leadership across every area of society is not an effort that benefits women alone. It can create a positive cycle that extends to families, communities, organizations, society as a whole, and future generations.

The Summit was structured around five key themes: Public Policy, Wellbeing, Economy, Education, and Environment. Across these areas, leading figures delivered keynote addresses, participated in panel discussions, and engaged in small-group dialogue with fellow participants.

Rather than simply sharing knowledge and successful practices, the Summit created a space for action-oriented dialogue—bringing together insights and wisdom from different countries and perspectives while asking, “What can we take home, and how can we turn it into our next action?”

The opening session featured messages from a diverse group of leaders, including Ms. Ai Sasaki, Founder and Chairperson of AWLF; H.E. Mr. Masato Otaka, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand; Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Prime Minister of Thailand; Governor Chadchart Sittipunt of Bangkok; and Ms. Akie Abe, Honorary Advisor to AWLF and former First Lady of Japan.

A video featuring the late former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, was also presented. In addition, warm messages of support were received from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other distinguished leaders, encouraging the Summit and the development of new collaboration among women and next-generation leaders across Asia.

Compassionate Leadership ― Care, Share, Respect

At AWLF, leadership is not simply about leading others.

It is about Compassionate Leadership — listening to the voices of others, recognizing those who may be left behind, embracing diverse perspectives, and working together to create a better future.

In the Education Declaration presented at this year’s Summit, Care, Share, and Respect were highlighted as core values. These values were presented as the foundation for nurturing leadership that listens, includes, recognizes those who are being left behind, and has the courage to take action.

Throughout the Summit, leaders carrying significant responsibilities in their respective fields shared the same space with young people who continue to pursue learning and their aspirations despite difficult circumstances. Across differences in age, background, and position, participants engaged in dialogue and learned from one another.

One youth leader, who had first participated in the 2024 AWLF Summit as a young participant, took the insights and inspiration from that experience back to her own community. In 2026, she returned to the Summit together with a new group of young women.

An opportunity given to one person does not have to end with that person. It can become an opportunity for someone else.

This reflects the cycle AWLF seeks to create: leaders inspiring one another, bringing knowledge and experience back to their communities and organizations, and helping to nurture the next generation of leaders.

“From Shared Vision to Shared Action” — Five AWLF Asia Declarations 2026

At this year’s Summit, the AWLF Asia Declaration 2026 was presented under the overarching theme, “FROM BANGKOK TO 2050 — From Shared Vision to Shared Action.”

The Declaration covers five key areas — Women’s Political Leadership, Wellbeing, Economy, Education, and Environment — and expresses a shared vision for Asia’s future: advancing women’s political participation, promoting wellbeing, investing in people and inclusive economic growth, ensuring quality education for every child, and passing on a beautiful planet to future generations.

In the area of political leadership, the Declaration also set out the vision for the Asian Women Parliamentarians Alliance (AWPA), a platform designed to enable women parliamentarians and leaders across Asia to connect, learn from one another, and collaborate across borders, while sharing a long-term vision toward 2030 and 2050.

▶ Read the full AWLF Asia Declaration 2026（AWLF Asia Declaration 2026）

Connections Across Borders and Generations

We also received many reflections from participants on their experience at this year’s Summit.

“In a space where connections formed naturally across countries and generations, I was deeply moved by the compassionate women leaders and by the young people who continued to pursue learning despite challenging circumstances.
I came to feel that leadership is not only about guiding others. It can also be the way we continue to move forward without giving up on what matters most to us — and, through that example, give courage to someone else.”

Another participant shared that it was “the kind of opportunity that, looking back, may one day feel like a turning point in my life.”

Beyond titles, nationalities, and generations, people connected with one another and carried new perspectives back with them.

We hope that each of these encounters will continue to grow into meaningful change within communities, organizations, and society as a whole

AWLF 2030 Vision

Building on the connections formed among approximately 300 leaders in 2026, AWLF aims to convene around 600 leaders in 2028, and ultimately bring together 1,000 Asian leaders at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok by 2030.

Through this vision, 1,000 leaders will each empower 100 women, helping to build a network of 100,000 women leaders and extend positive impact to 2 billion people across Asia.

One Team, One Asia.

Rather than allowing Asia’s diversity to divide us, we seek to transform our differences into a source of strength — learning from one another’s experiences, wisdom, cultures, and unique perspectives.

Toward a beautiful Asia and a beautiful planet that can endure for the next 1,000 years, AWLF will continue to build connections across borders, sectors, and generations, and to co-create a movement that turns dialogue into action and carries that action forward to the next generation.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our speakers, supporters, partners, and participants from across Asia whose contributions made this Summit possible.

【プログラム】

Opening Remarks & Keynote Address

The Power of Peace through Women’s Empowerment
From Asia to the World – Building a Sustainable Co-Creation Society

Ms. Ai Sasaki／Founder & Chairperson, Asia Women Leaders Forum (AWLF)
H.E. Mr. Masato Otaka／Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Ph.D.／United Nations ESCAP Executive Secretary
H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva／Former Prime Minister of Thailand
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt／Governor of Bangkok
The late H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe／Former Prime Minister of Japan ／Video Message
Ms. Akie Abe／Honorary Advisor, AWLF／Former First Lady of Japan
Kathy Matsui氏／MPower Partners Fund L.P. General Partner
Ranjana Kumari, Ph.D.／Centre for Social Research（CSR）Director
Mr. Minoru Kiuchi／Member of the House of Representatives／Video Message
H.E. Mr. Yukio Hatoyama／Former Prime Minister of Japan／Message