Duterte calls on nation to elevate, empower women

MANILA: President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday marked International Women’s Day by calling on the public to “elevate women to their rightful place in society.”

“Let us elevate women to their rightful place in society by empowering every Filipina to break not only the barriers that have long hindered them from reaching their full potential, but also the backward mindset that fueled a culture of gender oppression and inequality,” Duterte said in a message to celebrate the occasion.

“I encourage every Filipino to join us in celebrating the indispensable role of women in our nation’s progress by participating in this month-long celebration and supporting advocacies that seek to fight for and acknowledge the inalienable rights of women as equal partners of men,” he added.

The President then cited that international organisations, women’s rights movements, and various governments have worked together and made significant strides in addressing gender inequality by dealing with its cultural, institutional and historical roots, but stressed that the fight is far from over.

“While there is still much to be done to completely free women from this bondage of inequality, we can nonetheless proudly claim that concrete, sustainable, and inclusive actions have been taken by our government to create an environment where women’s rights are respected and their contributions to society are recognised,” he said.

Dutert has been criticised in the past for his alleged sexist remarks, including his order to the military to shoot female communist rebels in the vagina, and for his rape jokes.

A former Davao City mayor who served for many terms, Duterte is also known for his fierce tirades against his female critics, among them Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Leila de Lima, and United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard.

He has also discouraged his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, from running for president, saying the presidency is not a job for a woman. Sara Duterte has repeatedly said that she is not interested to run for president in 2022.