(Left photo: Clockwise from top-left) Ambassador Noel Servigon and Deputy Permanent Representative Elizabeth T. Te together with distinguished speakers Dr. Sita Sumrit, Assistant Director/Head of Poverty Eradication and Gender Division of the ASEAN Secretariat; and Ms. Pomi Moges, Policy/Program Analyst of UN Women Indonesia.

(Right photo: Ambassador Noel Servigon delivers his opening remarks.)

Group photo during the webinar.

13 March 2021, JAKARTA – In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN organized an online lecture/webinar entitled Women Make Changeto highlight the efforts of women in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and to bring greater awareness of the pressing issues that women are facing due to the pandemic.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Noel Servigon highlighted that women in the Philippines have generally enjoyed a greater sense of equality.  He cited the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, showing the Philippines as the top country in Asia in closing the gender gap.  At the same time, he cited a recent survey showing that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inequalities among Filipino girls and young women, who suffered more from income loss, food insecurity, inability to continue education, and heightened tensions at home.

Dr. Sita Sumrit, the Head of Poverty Eradication and Gender Division of the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), emphasized the need to integrate gender equality into policy strategy and planning and advance the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda in the region. She discussed ASEAN’s response and initiatives to the pandemic, including the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework which highlights the need to strengthen human security through the provision of social protection measures and related interventions.

Ms. Pomi Moges, Policy/Program Analyst of UN Women Indonesia, acknowledged the contributions of women in their respective roles as frontline workers, entrepreneurs and community leaders for COVID-19 mitigation. She emphasized inclusion by engaging men and boys in various activities, institutional transformation, legal transformation, empowerment through trainings and other interventions.

In her closing remarks, Deputy Permanent Representative Elizabeth Te stated that governments, together with the private sector and civil society should provide the necessary support for women who are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Such support could include mental and emotional support, provision of access to quality education and accurate information, provision of safe platforms where girls and women can contribute their inputs, and protection programs to prevent harassment and violence.

The webinar was attended by personnel from the Philippine Mission to ASEAN, the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, Filipino Community leaders, Spouses of Heads of Missions in Indonesia (SHOM), members of the ASEAN Women’s Circle-Jakarta (AWC) and officials and staff of ASEC .  END