President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday vowed to protect women’s rights and stand against any threat that could hamper their progress.
Mr. Marcos made the vow as he joined the entire nation in celebrating International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month.
“Dynamic and ever-evolving, similar to our Inang Bayan (motherland), being a woman requires resilience and strength. Many of the developments we witness today can be attributed to the innumerable contributions of women across generations who fought, struggled, and advocated for various noble causes,” he said in his message.
“The Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) we are building will always advocate for women’s rights and vigorously oppose anything threatening their progress.”
Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that women’s rights are under attack and “we must fight back.”
“Digital tools, while brimming with promise, are also often silencing women’s voices, amplifying bias, and fuelling harassment. Women’s bodies have become political battlegrounds.”
“And online violence is escalating into real-life violence. Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we are witnessing the mainstreaming of chauvinism and misogyny,” Guterres said.
He said gender equality was not just about fairness.
“It is about power – who gets a seat at the table, and who is locked out. It is about dismantling systems that allow inequalities to fester. And it is about ensuring a better world for all,” Guterres added.
For her part, Vice President Sara Duterte said ensuring that every woman and child is protected, heard, and empowered to thrive lies at the core of the fight for women’s rights.
“The fight for women’s rights is not just about closing economic and political gaps,” Duterte said in a statement.
“Every sector of society—government, private institutions, civil society, and individuals—must work together to break the cycle of abuse and exploitation. Together, let us build a future where no woman fears for her safety, where every girl can pursue her dreams without fear of violence, and where equality is not just a goal, but a lived reality,” she added.
Senator Grace Poe also underscored the significance of policies that advance women’s rights.
“Women, mothers matter significantly in our lives. Access to quality healthcare ensures the good health of a mother and her newborn child,” said Poe, author of the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay” Act or the First 1,000 Days law.
“Improved access to maternal health services and systems could not have been more timely and relevant with our celebration of the International Women’s Day…This one is close to our heart because as an abandoned child, we could have been one of the many children who could not have gotten adequate care,” the senator added.
