00:00Thank you, Madam Chair, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates.
00:08It is certainly an honor to address the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on
00:15the Status of Women on behalf of the people of the Philippines.
00:19We gather here to discuss what is, in truth, one of the most fundamental measures of a
00:26nation's progress, the status of its women.
00:30We often speak of development in terms of economic growth, infrastructure, technology, or trade.
00:37But there is a simpler and more human measure.
00:41How are the women doing?
00:44If women are educated, safe, able to work, able to lead, able to decide the course of
00:51their own lives, then the society is moving forward.
00:54If they are not, then no level of prosperity can truly be called progress.
01:01In the Philippines, we are proud to say that we have long believed that empowering women
01:06is not merely a matter of fairness.
01:09It is a cornerstone of nation building.
01:13Filipino women have always stood at the center of our national life as leaders in government
01:19and business as innovators, educators, health workers, entrepreneurs, and as a steady strength
01:26within families and communities.
01:29Their contributions continue to shape our democracy, our economy, and our national character.
01:36Our country has worked consistently to translate this belief into policy, strengthening protections
01:44for women, expanding opportunities for education and employment, and promoting women's leadership
01:51across all sectors of society.
01:54But even as we take pride in this progress, we recognize that the journey towards full equality,
02:01both in our country and around the world, is far from complete.
02:06Across many societies, women still face barriers that limit their opportunities.
02:12Too many continue to experience discrimination and violence.
02:16Too many girls are still denied the education that will allow them to shape their own futures.
02:23And that is why the work of this Commission remains as vital today as it was 70 years ago.
02:32Education must remain at the center of all our efforts.
02:36When a girl is educated, the benefits extend far beyond the individual.
02:43They strengthen families, uplift communities, and expand the possibilities of entire nations.
02:51Economic empowerment is equally essential.
02:54Women must have access to employment, to finance, to entrepreneurship, and to leadership.
03:01Societies that fully include women in economic life are not only more just,
03:09they are stronger, they are more resilient.
03:12And we must remain united in confronting violence against women in all its forms.
03:19Violence erodes dignity, weakens communities, and undermines the very foundations of our justice.
03:27But beyond laws and institutions, we must also address the attitudes and assumptions
03:32that continue to limit women's roles in many parts of the world.
03:36True equality requires not only policy change, but cultural change.
03:43Excellencies, the world today faces many challenges.
03:48Conflict, climate change, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological transformation.
03:54But there is one principle that remains beyond question.
04:00We cannot hope to solve the great challenges of our time if half of our humanity is excluded from shaping
04:08those solutions.
04:10Women must be present wherever decisions are made.
04:14In government, in government, in business, in science, in diplomacy, and in peace building.
04:20The Philippines stands ready to work with all nations to advance this cause.
04:26Because when women rise, societies rise with them.
04:31When women lead, nations move forward.
04:35And when every girl, no matter where she is born, can stand with confidence and say that her future is
04:44truly her own.
04:45And then we will know that we have built not only a more equal world, but a better one for
04:53all of humanity.
04:55Thank you and mabuhayin.
05:31You
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