Philippines Forges Closer Ties on Women’s Empowerment with US, Singapore, Timor-Leste
DILG Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez discuss common priorities in women’s rights and empowerment with US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield (Photo credit: New York PM)
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 14 March 2023 — The Philippine delegation to the 67th Commission on the Status of Women discussed areas of cooperation on women’s economic empowerment and gender equality with the United States, Timor-Leste and Singapore on 08 March 2023.
Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez led the Philippine delegation’s bilateral meetings. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit also participated in the bilateral meeting with the United States.
Undersecretary Gutierrez proposed areas of cooperation in food security, digitalization, women’s economic empowerment, leadership, political participation, and STEM education and research and development with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States.
In the meeting with Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion Maria do Rossario Fatima Correi, Undersecretary Gutierrez emphasized the Philippines’ readiness to assist Timor-Leste in its preparation for ASEAN membership.
“In principle, the Philippines hopes to see Timor Leste become an ASEAN Member soon. The Philippines is ready to assist Timor Leste in its capacity building as it prepares for ASEAN Membership. We hope to later work with you towards the implementation of the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework,” Undersecretary Gutierrez said.
Secretary of State Correi shared updates on Timor Leste’s initiatives in promoting women in public life, mainstreaming gender in all its policies and programs, preventing gender-based violence, and promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Meeting with Singapore’s Minister of Social Development and Family Development Xueling Sun, Undersecretary Gutierrez shared the Philippines’ willingness to learn from the experiences of Singapore on digital governance. She also expressed support for continued partnership on mainstreaming Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN.
Undersecretary Gutierrez recalled that the Philippines and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Digital Cooperation (“MOU”) in September 2022. She expressed the aims of the Philippines to fully implement the MOU, particularly on the area of connectivity and data. “We would want to have an exchange of knowledge, technical expertise, and best practices in inter-operable systems. We also wish to learn from Singapore’s experience on personal data protection and cybersecurity and explore capacity building activities on technical and vocational education especially for women,” added Undersecretary Gutierrez.
Minister Xueling Sun assured the Philippine delegation that Singapore is much willing to cooperate on the areas of ICT and that she will pass on the information to Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information.
Undersecretary Gutierrez and Minister Sun also discussed the role of families in sustainable development and nation-building. Singapore hosted the Asian Family Conference 2022 in November 2022 and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare of the Philippines attended the conference. Undersecretary Gutierrez mentioned that the family is a very important institution in the Philippines and it is mentioned in the Philippine Constitution as the basic unit of society.
Ministers and vice ministers from all over the world are in New York for the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, taking place from 6-17 March 2023. The Commission is the main intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. END
Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez discusses cooperation on women’s empowerment with Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion Maria do Rossario Fatima Correi at the United Nations Headquarters. (Photo credit: New York PM)
Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez and Singapore’s Minister of Social Development and Family Development Xueling Sun meet at the sidelines of the 67th Commission of the Status of Women. (Photo credit: New York PM)
For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.