By Ola Almgren
It is now my sad, but nevertheless privilege, on behalf of a grateful United Nations, to express our condolences to the family and loved ones of Senator Ramos-Shahani. She will be long-remembered and appreciated, as the gains of her work will be felt for generations to come.
I understand Senator Shahani is endeared to us in different ways, and many remembering her today will articulate the dimension in which she shared her life with them. Allow me a few words to describe the value of her contributions with the United Nations.
Her story with us began as a young member of the United Nations Secretariat in the 1960s—when she joined the Section on the Status of Women under the Division of Human Rights. At the United Nations, she was quickly recognized for her talent, learning the ropes of international diplomacy. And these skills would soon prove useful in pushing for the integration of women’s issues into the global agenda, making her into one of the UN’s leading diplomats in this field who understood the dynamics of political, economic, and social forces at the UN.
Senator Shahani carved her space at the UN, and is widely recognized as one of the women who helped shape the global agenda on women’s rights, providing leadership at the United Nations, and at the same time raising the profile of the Philippines on the global stage. She was chairman of the Commission on Status of Women from 1974 to 1975. In Mexico in 1975, the United Nations declared the decade of 1975 to 1985 as the UN Decade for Women, under the themes of Equality, Development, and Peace. During this time, developing countries were urging the Commission on the Status of Women to draft a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to be based on the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women adopted by the UN in 1967. The first draft of the CEDAW and critical initial steps to move it forward until its eventual adoption is largely credited to Senator Shahani’s initiative, leadership, and diplomacy, executed in the style she was later to be known for—intelligent, bold, imaginative, resourceful, and strategic in thinking.
Senator Shahani became United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in 1981 and served in this capacity until 1986. During this time, she also served as Secretary-General of the landmark Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, in 1985. This conference is considered a turning point in the history of the global women’s movement.
I know that the United Nations was not alone in benefiting from Senator Shahani’s talent and efforts, and her advocacy for women. I’m aware she has made remarkable contributions to the crafting of ground-breaking laws here in the Philippines, such as the Republic Act (RA) No. 6725, strengthening the prohibition of discrimination against women in the workplace, and the RA 8353 known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
In addition to her distinguished diplomatic career and leadership in politics she has found time to serve in the academe, both leading and supporting NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, and facilitating links between government, the United Nations, and the civil society.
Throughout her career as international civil servant and as politician she demonstrated outstanding leadership and public service.
Since her retirement, the United Nations in the Philippines has continued to enjoy her support for our activities and advocacies, especially around reproductive health, women’s rights, and international peace.
Thank you once again, Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Many strive to leave this world in better shape than when they came into it, but not quite as many positively impact the world in the way you did.
Ola Almgren is resident coordinator of the United Nations in the Philippines. The essay is part of the eulogy for the former senator Ramos-Shahani.
