Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Amenah “Mina” Pangandaman heads the Philippine delegation to represent the country at the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City, USA.

The annual CSW is the UN’s largest annual gathering that aims to address women’s issues and concerns including discrimination and violence against women, and promote gender equality, and women’s empowerment.

This year’s CSW will be held on 11 – 22 March with the priority theme, “Accelerating the Achievement of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls by Addressing Poverty and Strengthening Institutions and Financing with a Gender Perspective”.

The Philippines will be chairing the UN CSW68 through H.E. Antonio Lagdameo, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Among the participants from the Philippines are officials from the Philippine Commission on Women, Department of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Communications Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Civil Society Organizations.

Secretary Pangandaman will lead the delegation’s engagement in the session’s activities and is to deliver the Philippines’ Statement at the General Discussion and also to deliver the Remarks at the Welcome Dinner for Heads of Delegations attending the UN-CSW68.

She is scheduled to speak at the Ministerial Round Table on the priority theme to discuss mobilizing financing for gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, specifically on policies and strategies to end poverty.

Secretary Pangandaman will also chair the interactive dialogue on the review theme, “Social Protection Systems, Access to Public Services, and Sustainable Infrastructure for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls.”

In between these meeting, the Budget Secretary shall also conduct bilateral meetings with various states such as Singapore, France, Czech Republic, Australia, among others.

As the first Muslim Budget Secretary and lone woman member of the economic team of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Secretary Pangandaman has consistently advocated for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In her message for the Women’s Month celebration, the DBM Secretary encouraged women to rise into leadership roles, participate in efforts toward societal development, and create a powerful ripple effect in their communities.

“On the government’s part, we have been pursuing gender equality successfully. In fact, the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index (Global GGI) Report by the World Economic Forum shows the Philippines as the leading Asian country in narrowing the gender gap, with 79.1%, or 16th out of 146 countries, in gender parity,” Secretary Pangandaman said.

“I encourage all women to be champions of gender equality and to keep shattering the glass ceiling until we break through. For, as we empower women, we also advance toward a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future,” she added.

📷: Amenah Pangandaman FB