In celebration of International Women’s Day, the United Nations (UN) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) gathered stakeholders and private organizations to showcase the efforts and programs they’ve worked on together in order to promote a prosperous and inclusive society.
In her keynote speech, the Honorable Vice President Sara Z. Duterte highlighted the importance of breaking the code for equality by evolving past traditional culture and social norms that created barriers between genders. Instead, she advocated for the creation of programs such as providing funding for womenpreneurs, alternative learning systems, and healthcare availability that would create equal opportunities for women in both education and workplace. She advocated narrowing the gap in digital accessibility which in turn gives women and girls the equal opportunities as men allowing them to prosper and avoid getting boxed within traditional norms.
Speakers from different private organizations also joined in panel discussions that discussed creating positive impact on mental health, safe spaces through communities, and maximizing innovations for women.
Working with private organizations for women empowerment
Through UN Women, the entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, the UN bridged together stakeholders and private organizations committed to the same cause.
Among their largest partners is SM Supermalls that had signed the UN’s Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in 2021. Mr. Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, spoke at the event about the different efforts that the company has committed to nurture and uplift women employees such as a continuing education series on safe spaces, self defense, mental health awareness, work-life balance coaching, and productivity workshops.
With the assistance of the UN, SM Supermalls is also now working with the Agency for Technical Cooperations and Development (ACTED) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a joint project to uplift and upskill twenty women cooperatives in the Bangsamoro Region in order for them to sell their agricultural and processed products.
“I applaud all of you for leading today’s discussion on uplifting women through digital technology and you have our assurance that we will always be your partner in providing a safe, secure and fun space for girls and women, a nurturing place where opportunities are equal, as we work towards a society where all voices are heard and no one is left behind,” said SM Supermalls President, Steven Tan.
Continuous Effort Towards Equality
Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez, UN resident coordinator in the Philippines, said “The digital gender divide prevents young girls from getting access to their her daily lessons, young women to complete her education, rural women to own her own bank account to feed her family or get employment. Inclusive digitalization and gender equality will be a cross-cutting theme across pillars of the new UN Philippines Cooperation Framework. By closing the digital gender divide, we will together build a more resilient and inclusive society.”
A key partner in all of the UN’s efforts is The Philippines Commission on Women. To make sure that all efforts towards equality are being acted upon, the commission is mandated to create an enabling environment for government and stakeholders to be more responsive in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by establishing policies for the same goal.
The work towards equality continues even after International Women’s Day. As important as it is for private organizations to come together towards this goal, everyone should also pitch in making an effort to promote and practice equality for all in order to give women and girls the same leverage as men in the workplace and in job opportunities.
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