By Dr. Leila Joudane
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippines Country Representative

For the past 3 years, I have lived in the Philippines and I have seen first-hand how incredible Filipino women are. We see many Filipinas in top positions not just in government but also in the private sector and most especially in civil society. Women in the Philippines experience many freedoms, at least when compared to their peers in other countries. With higher economic participation and educational attainment of females, the Philippines even ranked 16th among 146 countries, in the 2023 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Index report (GGGR).

We take the opportunity this Women’s Month to celebrate the advancement of women’s rights in the Philippines and the rest of the world -- thanks to the collective efforts of vibrant women’s movements, civil society, development partners and nations.

But while we enjoy such successes, the Philippines, alongside other countries, still has a long way to go towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, including the goal for gender equality.

We at the United Nations Population Fund are especially concerned with the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls. While great strides have been made to address such issues, the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that 18% of Filipino women who had a husband or intimate partner, reported having experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their most recent partner. And of those who experienced gender-based violence, 2 out of 5 did not seek help.

The same report showed that roughly 286,000 or 5.6% of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 years old are currently married or in union. This practice of child marriage or marrying under the age of 18 is the 5th most cited reason for youths aged 12 to 17 years old for not attending school, according to the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) “Concluding Observations” on the Philippines released in 2023 welcomed the enactment of laws protecting the rights of women such as the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse Act. However, it expressed concern over “the high levels of violence and insecurity aggravated by natural disasters and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which have had a negative impact on women’s human rights and the rule of law.” It raised other concerns such as the lack of a comprehensive and publicly available disaggregated statistics, the high incidence and underreporting of domestic violence, low prosecution and conviction rates of perpetrators, and the absence of a comprehensive strategy to address discriminatory gender stereotypes.

We echo the CEDAW’s call for enforcement of legislation and policies, provision of quality survivor-centered essential services for all women and girls in all contexts, and the scaling-up of evidence-based prevention strategies.

Following the passage of Republic Act no. 11596 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, UNFPA has worked with government partners to develop the National Action Plan to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage. In BARMM, where we have seen a lot of child marriages taking place, we are organizing and capaciting young people as youth change agents to lead mobilization efforts in their community on the issue of child marriage. Similarly, we are partnering with the Philippine Commission on Women to develop a multi-year National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women. 

With UNFPA being the sexual and reproductive health agency of the UN, we also look at the progress that the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) has afforded us. The ICPD, which will be marking its 30th anniversary this year, was a ground-breaking global event held in Egypt in 1994. ICPD’s Programme of Action recognized that women's empowerment is impossible if women and girls are not able to exercise the right to make informed decisions about their bodies and reproduction.

Among the SDG targets that we still need to work on for the Philippines is ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in accordance with the ICPD Programme of Action. We are hopeful that the country will soon pass into law the “Adolescent Pregnancy Bill,” which guarantees access to reproductive health services for adolescents without parental consent under specific circumstances. The bill, which was already approved by the House of Representatives and awaiting passage in the Senate, will establish a National Action Plan encompassing various interventions to help reduce adolescent pregnancies in the country.

It is important to realize that fulfilling sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is crucial for us to achieve gender equality. SRHR prevents severe health consequences and other vulnerabilities that women face. But it’s not just about women's health. It's about dismantling the power structures that perpetuate gender inequality. With comprehensive sexuality education, young people will have the knowledge to protect their health, make informed decisions and challenge gender norms and stereotypes. By ensuring women have control over their reproductive choices, we create a society where they can participate equally in all aspects of life.This means, reducing adolescent pregnancies that hinder young people from pursuing education and their full potential. SRHR also empowers women to space pregnancies to improve their health and well-being, and give them opportunities to participate in the workforce.

An investment case funded by the Joint SDG Fund produced by UNFPA with the help of the Burnett Institute showed the  undeniable economic and social benefits of sustained financing for SRHR. It presents a compelling argument backed by data: for every dollar invested in SRHR, the Philippines can reap $18 in return through healthcare savings and long-term socio-economic gains. 

Including women in the conversation and decision-making isn't just about achieving equality; it's about creating a more inclusive and empowering environment for everyone. When we invest in women, especially those marginalized, we invest in a brighter future for everyone. 

Empowering women by fulfilling their sexual and reproductive health and rights isn't just a moral imperative; it’s the cornerstone of building a more equal, healthier, wealthier, safer, and more peaceful nation for all. When we invest in women and girls, we all reap the rewards. #

ABOUT UNFPA

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA globally is promoting commitments to achieving three transformational goals by 2030 - ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and other harmful practices against women and girls including child marriage. 

In the Philippines, UNFPA works with the government, civil society, development partners, other UN agencies, academia, and the private sector to reach those furthest behind first and leave no one behind, especially young people, the poorest, the conflict and disaster-affected, indigenous peoples and people with disabilities. Currently, it is also involved in programmes that aims to address the high rates of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines.

ABOUT DR. LEILA JOUDANE:

Before her assignment in the Philippines, Dr. Leila Joudane was the Country Representative of UNFPA Iran for four years, where she pushed for the integration of protection and response to gender-based violence, as well as investing in youth and women. She also served as the UNFPA Assistant Country Representative in Tunisia for ten years. Prior to joining the United Nations, Dr. Leila Joudane was the Deputy Director of the National Institute of Family and Population, Ministry of Health in Tunisia. Dr. Leila Joudane is a medical doctor with a Master’s Degree in the Management of Quality of Care in Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, in Sousse, Tunisia.