If there’s one thing the Philippines boasts of amid hundreds of countries at the United Nations Commission On The Status Of Women Conference or UNCSW68 this year, it’s that “We have walked the talk”.

Permanent Representative Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo said, small as the Philippines is, “it is the one of the leaders to pushing for gender equality”

The UNCSW68 is the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, a two week long event from March 11-22 under the priority 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”.

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This year, the Philippines has the honor of chairing the event. 

What does this exactly mean for a small country like ours? 

Ambassador Leila Lora-Santos, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations New York said, “Chairing the CSW is not something very attractive because the negotiations are very tough and can get toxic. There have been years with no outcomes, countries have not come to an agreement." 

"As the chair,  the fact we were elected as a chair is a testament to the recognition of the Philippines is a bridge builder. We are capable of putting different positions together and advancing the women’s agenda. Aside from pushing our national agenda, we need to have an outcome document, we need to succeed in making all countries agree to an outcome,” she adds.

With close to 11,000 delegates from all over the world packing the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the energy is buzzing and busy. From the plenary opening to bilateral talks from different countries, to hundreds of side panel events on different issues plaguing women today, there’s a lot to take in, learn from and act on.

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The focus this year simplified is, “Invest in Women".  In the age of AI and fast developing technologies, the Philippines is specifically focusing on 3 things. Digitalization, addressing the gender digital divide and inclusive financing.  In several panels, the Philippines has presented the kind of government programs and private public collaborations it has invested in to empower ordinary women into the digital space and e-commerce.

This year, Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman headed the Philippine Delegation to the UN Women conference.

"As a testament to our commitment to financing with a gender perspective, government agencies have been allocating at least five percent of their budget to support programs and activities on GEWE since 1995. In 2022, we spent an estimated 18.9 billion USD on gender programs,” said Pangandaman.

She added that the Philippine government has also mainstreamed gender into social protection initiatives through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and strengthens business skills of women through providing them access to business financing.

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“We continue to strengthen our institutions and social protection programs to address women’s poverty. Our Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, a conditional cash transfer program with a budget that has exponentially increased from $5.37 million in 2008 to $1.9 billion this 2024, has benefitted 4.4 million Filipino households. Cash grants are given directly to mothers of eligible households, increasing their ability to invest in the well-being of their families, thereby improving the survival, health, and access to education of their children,” she said.

 Ambassador Leila Lora Santos said, “We are referred to by many countries as the example because 5% of every agency’s budget is set aside for GAD or gender and development projects”

Lagdameo added, “we are influencing other countries by showing them how to do it.”

The Philippines isn’t short on laws protecting women. 

The Magna Carta On Women or Republic Act 9710 (MCW) is a comprehensive women's human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging to the marginalized sector.  Then, there is the very strongly worded Anti Violence Against Women Law or VAWC, most recently the prohibition of the Child Marriage Act.

Like is most countries, the challenge for gender equality is uplifting millions of women from poverty, strengthening institutions to assist them and making financing more accessible for their economic endeavors.

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Lagdameo says for this year’s conference, the Philippine priorities included “championing the rights of migrant women and girls, elderly women, indigenous women and girls, those with disabilities. We also support initiatives against gender based violence, sexual harassment and trafficking in persons.”

With close to 3 million OFWS deployed this 2024, Lagdameo said they have pushed for the “even handed and fair treatment of overseas Filipino workers while respecting the norms and culture of each country.  We have pushed for unity and diversity, and a common solution to problems faced by migrant workers all over the world”

The UNCSW68, Lagdameo added, isn’t just about “talking heads in a room. We here diverse ideas, you’ll never have a unanimous decision but a consensus is important, there’s always movement to addressing women’s issues worldwide.”

Interestingly, of the 196 permanent representatives to the United Nations, only 42 are female. Most heads are male. Lagdameo being one of them, but considers himself, a real “He For She Advocate” of UN Women.

UN Women is close to his heart, “for too long women have been taken for granted but women are partners in every nation’s economic development.”

As the UNCSW68 wraps up at the end of the week, member countries remain in suspense at the outcome of the agreed document.  While the agreement isn’t legally binding, each country’s commitment is brought back to their own country which turns into policies and eventually laws. And this makes all the difference for women in pursuit of gender equality in every aspect of their lives.