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The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) on 08 March 2024 by a dedicated discussion with the WTO senior gender expert on the gender-trade nexus.
Titled “Leaving No Woman Behind: Making Trade Rules and Policies Truly Gender-Responsive,” the discussion led by Ms. Anoush der Boghossian, Head of the WTO Gender and Trade Office, acknowledged that women should be at the center of trade strategies for economies to create equal opportunities and achieve women’s economic empowerment.
Ms. der Boghossian emphasized the importance of the following strategies that governments should focus on: creating opportunities for women to enter the workforce, addressing working conditions through trade policy, and addressing obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs and female farmers to access global markets. She stressed agriculture policies should also be enhanced through capacity building projects for women farmers, input subsidies for female farmers, green box subsidies, and intergovernmental collaboration when designing policies in agriculture.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Teehankee said the International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a “poignant reminder of the progress made and the challenges that persist,” encouraging personnel to support gender-inclusive policies and initiatives, create a more supportive environment for women in the trade sector, and implement the Abu Dhabi Declaration, particularly elements on inclusion related to women’s economic empowerment and MSME cooperation, which was adopted at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Abu Dhabi on 26 February to 01 March 2024. He expressed gratitude to the Philippine government’s efforts in promoting women’s participation in trade-related activities, advocating policies that ensure equal opportunities, and enhancing the visibility of women's contributions in the international trade arena.
“Our work not only empowers women but also strengthens the fabric of our societies by harnessing the full potential of every individual,” Ambassador Teehankee stressed. “As we celebrate IWD, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, recognize the invaluable contributions of women in shaping the global trade landscape. May the Philippines’ continued success in this area inspire positive change and serve as a beacon for others to follow.”
For his part, Mission GAD focal person First Secretary Oliver Delfin said IWD is not just about celebrations but making sure gender-trade issues are discussed, understood and addressed. The Philippine Mission and WTO Secretariat agreed to explore areas of collaboration on stakeholder engagement, including by including women’s business association and organization in future activities of the WTO’s Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. END
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The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) on 08 March 2024 by a dedicated discussion with the WTO senior gender expert on the gender-trade nexus.
Titled “Leaving No Woman Behind: Making Trade Rules and Policies Truly Gender-Responsive,” the discussion led by Ms. Anoush der Boghossian, Head of the WTO Gender and Trade Office, acknowledged that women should be at the center of trade strategies for economies to create equal opportunities and achieve women’s economic empowerment.
Ms. der Boghossian emphasized the importance of the following strategies that governments should focus on: creating opportunities for women to enter the workforce, addressing working conditions through trade policy, and addressing obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs and female farmers to access global markets. She stressed agriculture policies should also be enhanced through capacity building projects for women farmers, input subsidies for female farmers, green box subsidies, and intergovernmental collaboration when designing policies in agriculture.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Teehankee said the International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a “poignant reminder of the progress made and the challenges that persist,” encouraging personnel to support gender-inclusive policies and initiatives, create a more supportive environment for women in the trade sector, and implement the Abu Dhabi Declaration, particularly elements on inclusion related to women’s economic empowerment and MSME cooperation, which was adopted at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Abu Dhabi on 26 February to 01 March 2024. He expressed gratitude to the Philippine government’s efforts in promoting women’s participation in trade-related activities, advocating policies that ensure equal opportunities, and enhancing the visibility of women's contributions in the international trade arena.
“Our work not only empowers women but also strengthens the fabric of our societies by harnessing the full potential of every individual,” Ambassador Teehankee stressed. “As we celebrate IWD, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, recognize the invaluable contributions of women in shaping the global trade landscape. May the Philippines’ continued success in this area inspire positive change and serve as a beacon for others to follow.”
For his part, Mission GAD focal person First Secretary Oliver Delfin said IWD is not just about celebrations but making sure gender-trade issues are discussed, understood and addressed. The Philippine Mission and WTO Secretariat agreed to explore areas of collaboration on stakeholder engagement, including by including women’s business association and organization in future activities of the WTO’s Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. END
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Geneva, Switzerland- To advance gender equality and women empowerment and aquaint Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) members with the Philippine legal framework and procedures in handling sexual harassment cases, the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) organized a seminar-discussion on gender and development (GAD)-related laws and regulations on 27 October 2023.
The activity aimed to foster a deeper understanding of gender-related laws and regulations and their pivotal role in achieving sustainable development and global peace, said Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ambassador Manuel Teehankee in his opening remarks. He explained “it is crucial to recognize that gender equality is not only a matter of human rights but a fundamental component of sustainable development.” He further encouraged the participants, composed of officers and staff members of the Philippine Mission to WTO and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, to actively engage in open and respectful dialogue so that “we can collectively work towards a more equitable and inclusive world, where the potential of every individual is harnessed, where gender should never be a barrier to progress.”
Discussant Atty. Louie John Lood of ACCRA Law Offices-Cebu discussed Philippine legal frameworks and regulations that underpin gender and development initiatives, while reactants shared insights on root causes of gender-based sexual harassment and some practical steps that diplomats can take to promote gender equality within diplomatic missions. Specifically, Atty. Lood, who also teaches at the College of Law of the University of San Carlos, discussed the Philippine CODI system, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Safe Spaces Act, and related laws and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Former Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) chairperson Dr. Rhodora Bucoy, former PCW attorney Xyra Cuevas, Atty. Fred Pamaos, and Philippine Mission to the UN Attaché Atty. Neil Brillantes shared comments, insights and recommendations on the discussion, the Philippine laws, and data in the Philippines on sexual harassment cases.
Atty. Oliver Delfin, First Secretary and GAD Focal Person of the Philippine Mission to WTO, said the activity has increased the awareness of personnel on gender-related laws and regulations, fostered cooperation with civil society and the legal community on knowledge sharing, promoted practices for achieving gender equality, and encouraged diplomats to to integrate gender perspectives into their work.
In her closing remarks, Deputy Permanent Representative Kristine Leilani Salle of the Philippine Mission to the UN and Chairperson of the joint CODI of the two Philippine Missions in Geneva, stressed the importance of integrating gender and development principles in the daily work of diplomats especially in the areas of human rights, trade and development, environment and migration.
END
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The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) on 08 March 2024 by a dedicated discussion with the WTO senior gender expert on the gender-trade nexus.
Titled “Leaving No Woman Behind: Making Trade Rules and Policies Truly Gender-Responsive,” the discussion led by Ms. Anoush der Boghossian, Head of the WTO Gender and Trade Office, acknowledged that women should be at the center of trade strategies for economies to create equal opportunities and achieve women’s economic empowerment.
Ms. der Boghossian emphasized the importance of the following strategies that governments should focus on: creating opportunities for women to enter the workforce, addressing working conditions through trade policy, and addressing obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs and female farmers to access global markets. She stressed agriculture policies should also be enhanced through capacity building projects for women farmers, input subsidies for female farmers, green box subsidies, and intergovernmental collaboration when designing policies in agriculture.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Teehankee said the International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a “poignant reminder of the progress made and the challenges that persist,” encouraging personnel to support gender-inclusive policies and initiatives, create a more supportive environment for women in the trade sector, and implement the Abu Dhabi Declaration, particularly elements on inclusion related to women’s economic empowerment and MSME cooperation, which was adopted at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Abu Dhabi on 26 February to 01 March 2024. He expressed gratitude to the Philippine government’s efforts in promoting women’s participation in trade-related activities, advocating policies that ensure equal opportunities, and enhancing the visibility of women's contributions in the international trade arena.
“Our work not only empowers women but also strengthens the fabric of our societies by harnessing the full potential of every individual,” Ambassador Teehankee stressed. “As we celebrate IWD, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, recognize the invaluable contributions of women in shaping the global trade landscape. May the Philippines’ continued success in this area inspire positive change and serve as a beacon for others to follow.”
For his part, Mission GAD focal person First Secretary Oliver Delfin said IWD is not just about celebrations but making sure gender-trade issues are discussed, understood and addressed. The Philippine Mission and WTO Secretariat agreed to explore areas of collaboration on stakeholder engagement, including by including women’s business association and organization in future activities of the WTO’s Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. END
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Geneva, 11 October 2023 – In the recently held sixth Working Party on the Accession of Timor-Leste to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Philippines underscored its continued commitment and strong support for Timor-Leste's bid to become a WTO member. The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Rui Macieira of Portugal, took place exactly three years after its first meeting in October 2020.
Ambassador Macieira noted the exemplary speed of the proceedings, stating, "This is thanks to the hard work and determination of the Timorese negotiating team and the support and cooperation by all members." He confidently signaled that Timor-Leste is nearing its final stages of the accession process.
H.E. Mr. Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, representing Timor-Leste as its Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, emphasized the noteworthy progress achieved in bilateral market access negotiations with members. "I hope you will all agree with me that Timor-Leste is now in the very final stretch of joining the WTO," he declared.
Echoing this sentiment, Philippine Ambassador Manuel Teehankee expressed the Philippines' support on the advancements made and conveyed pride in the Philippines being one of the first members to sign a bilateral market access agreement with Timor-Leste.
Additionally, he commended Timor-Leste for its dedication towards harmonizing its legislative framework with WTO rules. Highlighting the significance of the steps taken, he noted, "Timor-Leste’s participation in the ITA demonstrates its commitment to create market conditions that would enable its economy to access global value chains."
The Working Party intends to convene its final meeting by the end of 2023. This critical session aims to adopt the draft Accession Package ad referendum, which will then be presented to MC13 for formal action.
With Timor-Leste poised for WTO membership, the Philippines stands firm in its support, envisioning an enriched ASEAN region and broader international collaborations.
About the Philippines in the WTO:
The Philippines, a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has consistently played an active role in promoting free trade and fostering economic cooperation. Its ongoing support for Timor-Leste's accession underscores its commitment to the principles of inclusivity and regional growth.
