UN convenes panel on barriers to women's leadership

MANILA — The United Nations (UN) in the Philippines convened a panel of gender advocates on 17 October to discuss the role played by women leaders in democracy, peacebuilding, and the pursuit of sustainable development.

The panel, composed of Senator Risa Hontiveros, Representative Edcel Lagman, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Froilyn Mendoza, and trade union leader Joanna Bernice Coronacion, tackled the challenges faced by women in pushing forward inclusive legislation and policies, as well as the continued importance of creating an enabling environment for women and girls to lead in spite of these hurdles. 

Broadcast journalist Karen Davila, who was recently named a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, moderated the discussion.

Among the key issues discussed was the ratio of women to men in leadership positions in government and whether a quota system would be a viable solution to address uneven representation, particularly in Congress and the BARMM Parliament. Though the panelists expressed their reservations with the quota system, Sen. Hontiveros highlighted that it could jumpstart the process of increasing women’s participation in the legislature. 

A similar policy has recently been approved in the BARMM, following the passage of the region’s Electoral Code in March: at least 30 percent of each political party’s nominees must be women. 

However, even with a quota system to address some barriers to entry for representation, the panelists identified another persistent concern to women’s meaningful participation: the harassment faced by women in positions of power, particularly those who are vulnerable to intersectional discrimination, such as women indigenous leaders or women with disabilities. The panelists shared their experiences and observations of instances of harassment against them and their colleagues, which they attributed partly to the country’s machismo culture.

The panelists also underscored the need for effective implementation of existing laws in the Philippines, which they noted has some of the strongest legislation for the protection and empowerment of women in the world.

This panel discussion is part of a series of events throughout October for UN Month to highlight and strengthen the collaborations between the UN and partners in government, civil society, private sector and the international community. With the theme "SDGs: A Race We Can Win," which is part of the global campaign, these events aim to amplify the drumbeat of opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Activities around UN Day also underscore the continuing importance and role of multilateralism and collective action to turn the UN’s vision for a better future for all into reality.