President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to gender equality on the global stage, delivering a keynote address during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations Headquarters.
Addressing world leaders and delegates, the President emphasized that the Philippines is prepared to collaborate with all nations to create a world where the interests of women are not only protected but actively advanced.
In a departure from traditional metrics of success, President Marcos Jr. challenged the international community to look beyond GDP and financial indicators. He argued that the true measure of a nation’s development lies in the agency and safety of its female population.
“True progress cannot be measured by economic growth or prosperity alone,” the President stated. “It is measured by whether women are educated, safe, able to work, able to lead, and able to decide the course of their own lives.”
A central theme of the President’s address was the urgent need for female representation in high-level decision-making. Highlighting that no global solution is complete if “half of humanity is excluded,” he called for a surge of women in leadership roles across all sectors, including:
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Governance and Diplomacy: Crafting policies that reflect diverse lived experiences.
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Science and Business: Driving innovation through inclusive perspectives.
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Peacebuilding: Ensuring sustainable stability through gender-responsive mediation.
By positioning the Philippines as a proactive partner in the CSW70 agenda, President Marcos Jr. underscored the country’s role as a regional leader in gender parity. The address serves as a call to action for the international community to dismantle barriers that prevent women from shaping the future of global society.
