From legal strides in LGBTQ rights to alarming rates of violence against women, Asia in 2024 witnessed progress in gender equality shadowed by stark reminders that systemic challenges remain.
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legally recognise same-sex marriages, paving the way for the fight for marriage equality in the region.
However, this year also exposed the stark dangers faced by women and girls, with a brutal rape and murder case sending shock waves throughout India, a crisis of gender-based violence emerging in Australia, and a battle against deepfake pornography in South Korea revealing the online threats women encounter.
Policymakers also continued to grapple with dropping fertility rates in the region as Asia experiences shifting views on marriage and childfree lifestyles.
As 2024 draws to a close, This Week in Asia reflects on its coverage of the hurdles faced by women and gender minorities in the region.
