Participation

I am pleased to report that we have recently passed the first vote on a parliamentary bill that will provide for 22 reserved seats for women to contest in the coming Elections in 2012. This does not stop them from contesting any of the existing seats.

The Philippine Government recognizes women as agent of socio-economic growth and change and thus strongly advocates their full participation in nation building.

We have also continued to build on the gains achieved in the area of human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment”.
Participation: “I have pledged my support and initiated processes that would make women constitute at least 30% of elective offices in our country.

Women's equality is one of the basic human rights, based upon the concept of equality among all human beings. Advancing women's equal access to the labour market, as well as to the political and social grounds, is not only ethically imperative, but an essential measure to overcome the crisis

Still in terms of social inclusion, my government prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, like children and the elderly. However we are also concerned with the need to protect the rights of women who historically have been victims of discrimination. I would like to point out in this regard our support for the creation of UN Women.

Even if she earns a comfortable living, a woman who lives in fear of daily violence and has no say in how her country is run is not truly free.

The UAE realizes that the success of women's empowerment is an essential component to building a modern and tolerant society. Therefore, the UAE has achieved a number of remarkable successes in the field of empowerment of women, which represents clear evidence of the absence of any conflict between the Arab, the Muslim, and the Modern.

Women are among the most vulnerable during conflicts whether internal or otherwise, and hence, must be involved in all vehicles relating to the settlement of disputes and conflict prevention. The absence of women in the process could result in the development of peace agreements which are not comprehensive in scope and which may not address those issues which affected women during the period of conflict and which continue thereafter.

And at the end of the spectrum, women are subject to gender-based violence and rape as a weapon of war. But shortfalls in these rights are not only the loss of the women affected. They are a loss to society as a whole. And I can tell you: This is very bad economic policy for the countries concerned. Not least in these times of global economic crisis, it seems obvious that we must realize the full potential of all human resources.

It is about giving all individuals irrespective of gender - the same possibilities to education, to economic opportunities and to take part in society. In the year of 2011, there are women who are still not able to enjoy equal rights. They are refused the right to vote, inherit, work and even to drive a car.