The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in the Philippines emphasized the importance of including women in leadership roles for a more inclusive environment.
“When we invest in women, especially those marginalized, we invest in a brighter future for everyone,” said Dr. Leila Joudane in a statement issued on International Women’s Day observance.
She said Including women in the conversation and decision-making “isn’t just about achieving equality” but “creating a more inclusive and empowering environment for everyone”.
Joudane renewed the agency’s call to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls.
According to the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey, about 18 percent of married Filipino women or living with an intimate partner, have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence by their most recent partner. Only two, out of five victims, report the incident and seek help.
The report also revealed that approximately 286,000 Filipino girls aged 15 to 19, constituting 5.6 percent, are presently married or in a union.
Child marriage, defined as marriage before reaching 18, ranks as the fifth leading cause for the non-attendance of school among youths aged 12 to 17, based on the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey.
Joudane advocated for the implementation of laws and policies, delivery of high-quality essential services centered around survivors for all women and girls in all contexts, and the expansion of proven prevention methods.
“Empowering women by fulfilling their sexual and reproductive health and rights isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s the cornerstone of building a more equal, healthier, wealthier, safer, and more peaceful nation for all,” she said.
