The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Monday, Oct. 16, said the country paced its way in lessening the gender gap as it placed 16th internationally in the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum.
The country had its Constructive Dialogue on Oct. 11 in Geneva, Switzerland with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the country’s 9th periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), said PCW.
PCW said the Philippine delegation in the dialogue shared its "successes" as well as its international leadership in forwarding gender equality and women empowerment.
Based on the review period from 2016 to 2019, PCW said there were laws to address grave issues like rape and sexual exploitation, child marriage, online sexual abuse of children, and human trafficking, as well as the promotion of the rights and welfare of solo parents.
PCW added the country also utilized programs and actions to boost women’s involvement in politics and governance; advocate sexual and reproductive health; develop a just system for the victims of gender-based abuses; and overthrow gender stereotypes and sexism.
Moreover, it plans to promote the rights of indigenous women, women with disabilities, and the youth, as the Philippines also is the first country in Asia to adopt a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, PCW noted.
"The Philippines’ active engagement with the UN treaty body system reflects its strong commitment to its human rights obligations and the high importance it attaches to international norms-building and standard-setting”, said Amb. Carlos D. Sorreta, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva.
The Philippine delegation was led by lawyer Kristine Rosary Yuzon-Chaves, Executive Director and Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Commission on Women, and co-headed by Amb. Carlos D. Sorreta, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, and Undersecretary Severo S. Catura, Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat.
The Philippines will lead the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2024, said PCW. (Lizst Torres Abello)