“Babae ang bukas: Women’s Conversations” is in partnership with Oxfam Pilipinas’ CSO partners, the Philippine Commission on Women and Eastwood City Mall, signifying that a CSO-government-private sector collaboration is vital in advocating for the advancement of women’s rights.
Oxfam Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Geronimo said, “Amplifying women’s voices and spotlighting their leadership and contributions to social development and nation building in public platforms like this is essential in paving the way towards a just and equal future for all.”
The panel discussion “Babae ang bukas: Women’s Conversations” tackled how women and girls in the Philippines disproportionately shoulder the burden of unpaid care work at home, leaving them unable to study, do income generating activities, or participate in decision-making.
Oxfam Pilipinas Ambassador for Resilience Antoinette Taus cited the strong links between climate change and gender justice.
“Women and girls are among the hardest hit by the impacts of the climate crisis. When disaster strikes, their workload in terms of care work such as collecting water increase tremendously,” Taus said.
The event also stressed the call of Oxfam Pilipinas and its partner organizations for gender-responsive and inclusive policies that would ensure the availability of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, information, and commodities to women, girls, youth, and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
“We need a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health. While there is a proposed national policy in addressing adolescent pregnancy, there is much to be done in terms of influencing policymakers to ensure its universality and gender-responsiveness,” Geronimo added.
The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of women’s participation and leadership in peace building and social healing, and the need for collaborative work between the government and CSOs to expand women’s role in conflict transformation and to ensure that protection of human rights in conflict situations.
The event “Babae ang Bukas: Women’s Conversations” also featured performances from Armi Millare, Aia de Leon, Maimai Cantillano, and Talahib People’s Music.
It was hosted by Antoinette Taus and Mich Dulce, and was attended by civil society organizations and women’s rights organizations.
Oxfam Pilipinas is a humanitarian and development organization working with partner organizations nationwide to advocate for a just and equal future without poverty. (PR)