The society will benefit if the economic status of women is uplifted, United States first-ever female Vice President Kamala Harris has said.
Talking about women empowerment at a town hall discussion in Pasay City on Monday, Harris pushed for equal opportunity for women in terms of entrepreneurship by giving them access to capital.
She said providing women access to banking systems and financial literacy, among other things, "are absolutely critical" for them to have their own visions and dreams.
"Through hard work, implement it and get it going in a way that invariably will benefit their family, their community. And all society will benefit," she said in a discussion moderated by another female American figure, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
"I think we all know and I feel very strongly: you lift up the economic status of a woman, her family will be lifted, the communities will be lifted, the society will benefit," she added in the gathering composed mainly of women who are young professionals, entrepreneurs and advocates, among others.
A prosecutor before becoming a US senator and then the second highest US government official, Harris noted the "correlation" between gender violence and economic status.
She said most women with less options in life in terms of economic status would likely endure "almost any abuse if it means keeping a roof over the head of their children."
"But if that choice doesn't have to be made, if she has an individual opportunity to achieve economic well being, it is less likely she will remain in that environment or situation," she argued.
The Vice President believed that people, especially women, have the right to be free from violence and fear. These things, she said, are an "impediment" for someone's growth, success and vision.
"So when we connect these issues, there is the connection between what should be a human right to live, free from fear to live, in a safe situation that allows one to then thrive around things like having an idea of being innovative, to the point of the person last question, to be able to start something and grow it," she added.