President highlights historic role of women and urges “closing gender gaps” and greater participation of women in politics

President Michelle Bachelet participated in the 4th National Women’s Summit in the Philippines, which was held as part of a state visit to the Southeast Asian island nation.

Speaking in Marian Auditorium at Miriam College, the President said, “I am grateful for this opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences about issues that are very important to me, such as closing the gender gap and women’s participation in politics. From the different areas in which I have worked in public service, including as President of my country and Executive Director of UN Women, I have emphasized action and reflection on these issues.”

“I am convinced that the economic and human development of our people, as well as the consolidation of our democratic systems, depend to a great extent on them,” she added.

In her speech, President Bachelet remarked that the forum was taking place at a time when the international community is commemorating events that defined the struggle for gender equality: the 40th anniversary of the First World Conference on Women in Mexico City, the 20th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, and the 15th anniversary of the passage of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Over the past four decades, the President noted, the historic role of women and their contributions to humanity’s progress have been recognized. “Today, for example, no one questions the importance of Manuela Sáenz, an Ecuadoran woman who was not only Simón Bolívar’s companion but also played a leadership role in Latin American independence,” she said, adding, “Today, no one questions the role of the Katipunan women in the Philippine Revolution of 1896 or the contribution of the Katipuneras of Miriam College in the struggle against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.”
In addition, she said there is no doubt about “the major contributions of our predecessors, who were the driving force behind women’s and feminist movements, and who also promoted human rights. Women like Hermila Galindo, in Mexico; Librada Avelino, here in the Philippines; Amanda Labarca, in my country; or Eleanor Roosevelt in the United States, just to name a few examples.”

“We also should recognize Leticia Ramos Shahani, who has made such an important contribution to the struggle for equity and justice in the Philippines and around the world. She has been, as she mentioned, general secretary of the 3rd World Conference on Women, held in Nairobi in 1985, and an outstanding UN official, as well as ambassador, senator and leader of the Philippine delegation to the Beijing conference.”

According to President Bachelet, “We are making progress in acknowledging the efforts and daily contributions of billions of women to development and their own education as well as the education of others, and the creation of networks for other women, work that is difficult and often goes unrecognized. That’s why we have seen substantial advances in these last four decades throughout the world in terms of everyday rights for women in health, education, non-discrimination, security, pensions, and political participation.”

In her speech, the President highlighted progress made in the Philippines: “The Philippines is currently the only Asian country that has succeeded in completely closing the gender gap in education and health, and it is the only one that ranks in the Top Ten of the Global Gender Gap Report 2014 published by the World Economic Forum. According to that report, the Philippines is ranked 24 globally in terms of economic participation and 17th in political empowerment of women, and it is the country with the highest percentage of women-owned businesses. These data are quite significant, and I congratulate you.”

However, the President noted that there are still many global challenges related to gender violence, maternal mortality, and the feminization of poverty. “For example, close to 800 women die each day because of complications during childbirth. In my region, Latin America and the Caribbean, 9,300 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes.”

In this context, she said, “In many regions we have succeeded in significantly reducing poverty, but poverty’s effect on women is increasing. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in the past few decades female poverty has increased in Latin America, with 117 women living in poverty for every 100 men in the same condition. So we cannot allow these trends to continue, mortgaging their future, and with that, the future of our sons, daughters, and our people.

She also spoke of the challenges that remain in the areas of education, salary gaps and participation in public and private companies, as well as politics. “I am convinced that if we are present in the spheres of power and decision-making, we will have a greater opportunity to influence and promote needed changes in laws and practice,” she said.