Philippine Chairship of 68th Session on the Status of Women - Testament to PH Global Leadership in Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo opens the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
NEW YORK 18 March 2024 — The Philippines showcased its leadership in advancing gender equality on the world stage with Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Antonio M. Lagdameo, who chaired the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).
With the theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”, the Commission, which serves as the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, will meet in the next two weeks beginning 11 March 2024 to discuss and agree on solutions to eradicate women’s poverty.
At the Opening Session, Ambassador Lagdameo underscored that the challenge of fulfilling women’s rights is a shared responsibility among all Member States.
“We are meeting today at a critical time for the lives and livelihoods of women and girls. The challenges to fulfill their rights and needs are unprecedented in scale and complexity. Foremost among these is their fundamental right to a life of safety, dignity, and prosperity,” the Ambassador said.
“It is our shared responsibility to eradicate women’s and girls’ poverty and address all the barriers that are standing in the way,” he further stated.
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangdaman, Head of the Philippine Delegation to the CSW68, also delivered statements during the General Discussion and Ministerial Roundtable, highlighting the various investments being undertaken by the Philippine government to lift women out of poverty. Economic inclusion with gender lens is critical to the Philippines’ development agenda because the Philippines fully believes that empowering women ultimately redounds to empowering the nation.
In 2022, the government spent an estimated US$18.9 billion on gender equality programs. DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which has a current budget of US$1.9 billion, has benefited 4.4 million Filipino households through cash grants for mothers. DTI’s Kapatid Mentor Me program offers coaching and mentoring for micro, small, and medium enterprises, benefitting women entrepreneurs.
Ambassador Lagdameo and Secretary Pangandaman also co-hosted a Welcome Dinner for the Heads of Delegation to CSW68 in the evening of 11 March 2024. In her remarks given during the reception, Secretary Pangandaman underscored the crucial role of women in ensuring peace and security and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She proudly announced the upcoming International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security that the Philippines will host in October 2024 in Manila.
CSW68 is scheduled to run until 22 March 2023 at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A. END
Secretary Pangandaman and Ambassador Lagdameo welcome UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous to the Welcome Dinner for Heads of Delegation
Sec. Amenah Pangandaman delivers Philippine statement during the Ministerial Roundtable