Concept

It is often stated that in Asia gender-based cause lawyering has no substantial body of domestic jurisprudence. This is not wholly true. Though scarce, a body of jurisprudence does exist. While it is obviously embryonic, there is sufficient case law to demonstrate that strategic litigation on women's rights does exist in different countries in the Asian region. The potential for future growth of cause lawyering as a social movement must be nurtured through a regional exchange of strategies, shared experiences and a transnational network of Asia regional lawyers. While the term cause lawyering remains open-textured, it can be broadly defined to encompass progressive lawyering that engages in action for social change, social justice, and equal justice or in the words of Austin Sarat to mean "lawyers work that is directed at altering some aspect of the social, economic and political status quo". Cases won or lost will help shape attitudes and practices in ways that will advance the cause of women's equal access to education, public mobilization and increase heightened awareness on women's rights. If successful these claims will open the floodgates for further claims not just in one country but in many of the countries in Asia

What is Cause Lawyering for Gender Equality in Asia?

Cause lawyering for gender equality in Asia includes negotiating through legal strategies, respect, promotion, protection and fulfillment of women’s equality rights and to effect social change. Usage and promotion of evidence based research, data supporting litigation and law reform allowing for the localization of international human rights standards and norms in diverse legal systems is understood to consist of the foundations of any action for change.
The Need of a Network

The Network was established in the context of strengthening an already existent body of domestic jurisprudence from various countries in Asia. While, through documented casework, strategic litigation on women’s rights, regional exchange of information and experiences.