MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pushed for women’s rights to education, employment, and protection from violence as he faced the United Nations’ 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
CSW70 is one of the UN-related events Marcos has in his agenda on his two-day working visit to the United States. His participation in the event, the chief executive stated, signaled the strong commitment of the Philippines to gender equality and women empowerment.
He highlighted how Filipino women “have always stood at the center” in the Philippines’ way of life “as leaders in government and business, as innovators, educators, health workers, entrepreneurs, and as the steady strength within families and communities.”
“Their contributions continue to shape our democracy, our economy, and our national character. Our country has worked consistently to translate this belief into policy — strengthening protections for women, expanding opportunities for education and employment, and promoting women’s leadership across all sectors of society,” he said.
“But even as we take pride in this progress, we recognize that the journey toward full equality — both in our country and around the world — is far from complete,” he added.
The president, however, pointed out that no matter how hard the push for equality and empowerment, if women’s rights to be “educated, safe, able to work, able to lead, able to decide the course of their own lives” were not acknowledged and protected, “then no level of prosperity can truly be called progress.”
“Across many societies, women still face barriers that limit their opportunities. Too many continue to experience discrimination and violence. Too many girls are still denied the education that will allow them to shape their own futures. And that is why the work of this Commission remains as vital today as it was seventy years ago,” he said.
“Economic empowerment is equally essential. Women must have access to employment, to finance, to entrepreneurship, and to leadership. Societies that fully include women in economic life are not only more just — they are stronger, they are more resilient. And we must remain united in confronting violence against women in all its forms. Violence erodes dignity, weakens communities, and undermines the very foundations of our justice,” he added.
Beyond all these, Marcos called for all stakeholders to address factors which limited women’s roles in many parts of the world and reassured that the Philippines “stands ready to work with all nations to advance this cause.”
“We cannot hope to solve the great challenges of our time if half of our humanity is excluded from shaping those solutions. Women must be present wherever decisions are made – in government, in business, in science, in diplomacy, and in peace building,” he said.
“Because when women rise, societies rise with them. When women lead, nations move forward. And when every girl – no matter where she is born – can stand with confidence and say that her future is truly her own, and then we will know that we have built not only a more equal world...but a better one for all of humanity,” he added.