empowering women: celebrating strength, resilience and achievements
The Women’s Month Celebration has since served as a venue to highlight women’s achievements and discuss continuing and emerging women’s empowerment and gender equality issues, concerns, challenges, and commitments. The emphasis of this year’s celebration is on practical initiatives that are in line with laws and agreements at the local, national, and international levels, such as the Beijing Platform for Action, the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025), the Framework Plan for Women, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
“Together, let us strengthen our advocacy and reaffirm our commitment to a better world where women, LGBTQIA+ community are heard, respected and honored.”
BMB Kicks Off the 2024 National Women’s Month Celebration
As the lead agency in protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and natural resources, the Biodiversity Management Bureau has lined up activities in observance of National Women’s Month. This is to strengthen and reinforce our commitment to promote gender equality, resilience, and inclusivity in all of our programs, projects, and activities. This year’s theme, “WE for Gender Equality, Inclusive and Resilient Society,” reminds us of the immense contributions of women in our society and the importance of their equal representation in various fields. It is a day to honor and pay tribute to their achievements, inspiring stories, and significant roles in shaping the world. It is also designed to inspire the country to celebrate and participate in events that will emphasize the participation and contributions of women in our society.
A GADvocacy walk last March 11, 2024 was conducted to show our support and reflect on how far we have come in our collective efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. On March 22, 2024, a GAD Women’s Forum was organized which highlighted the contribution of women in protecting our biodiversity.
“Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan Patunayan,” this year’s National Women’s Month celebration theme, honors women’s accomplishments, fortitude in the face of change, and endows them with greater possibilities. We continue to explore the importance of advocating for policies and initiatives that promote gender equality in all aspects of life.
WOMEN’S FORUM
Igniting passion, finding fulfillment, inspiring stories of women in biodiversity
In line with the celebration of National Women’s Month with the theme “WE for Gender Equality, Inclusive and Resilient Society,” the Biodiversity Management Bureau conducted a Forum on the Role of Women on Biodiversity Conservation with the theme “Igniting Passion, Finding Fulfillment and Inspiring Stories of Women in Biodiversity” on March 22, 2024 at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.
The forum emphasized the roles of female partners have played in conserving biodiversity. The activity also honored the Top 5 people who, in support of gender equality and an inclusive and resilient society, have made an extraordinary effort and have unique perspectives on environmental protection, regardless of their age, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, race, or physical ability.
Empowering Women: Showcasing the talent, creativity and accomplishments of women
Driven by women’s organizations, the Philippines has seen a notable upsurge in the creation of businesses that support biodiversity in recent years. These businesses support sustainable use and conservation of the nation’s abundant biodiversity, in addition to fostering economic success. These efforts are significantly improving society and the environment through their creative ideas. The development and prosperity of biodiversity-friendly enterprises (BDFEs) in the Philippines are visible and represented during the exhibit. The forum provided collaboration towards sustainability and further enhancement of resources in which the community will have an increased appreciation of biodiversity.
Overall, through policy advocacy, funding, research and knowledge sharing, capacity building, collaboration, mainstreaming biodiversity considerations, and sustainable livelihoods, everyone made a substantial contribution to biodiversity conservation. Their proactive participation made the future more resilient and sustainable for communities that depend on biodiversity as well as for biodiversity itself.
With 101 females and 37 males in attendance, let this be a testament to our collective dedication towards building a more equitable and sustainable future!