PH Calls for Women’s Voice on Climate Change at UN Session on Women

PCW Chairperson Sandra Sanchez-Montano: “The effects of climate change are far from gender neutral. Its impacts differ greatly across gender, age, socio-economic class, indigenous status, migration status, and disability”

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 21 March 2022 — Chairperson Sandra Sanchez-Montano of the Philippine Commission on Women highlighted the importance of participation and representation of women and vulnerable groups in all efforts to respond to the impacts of climate change and disasters in her statement at the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

“Due to enduring stereotypes, women continue to be underrepresented in STEM education and in decision- making processes at various levels of climate change development planning and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) phases of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery,” Chairperson Montano noted while stressing the differentiated impacts of the climate crises.

Chairperson Montano shared with Member States the policies, programs, and plans undertaken by the Philippine government to reduce gender gaps, including among others, the Climate Change Act, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, the National Climate Change Action Plan, and the Magna Carta for Women.

Chairperson Montano also renewed the Philippines’ commitment to accelerate progress toward gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction. She called for a for a green, climate-friendly, gender-responsive and resilient economy through a whole-of-society approach, which values the participation and representation of vulnerable groups, especially indigenous women and girls, and contributions from civil society and private sector. She added that “the Philippines commits itself to further implementing concrete reforms and locally-driven country obligations to the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework to build resilience and empower communities towards sustainable development and inclusive growth.”

The Commission on the Status of Women is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. At its opening session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need to put gender equality and women’s rights at the heart of a renewed social contract that is fit for today’s societies and economies.

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph,   https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/. END