Summit tackles strategies to pursue gender equality

CEBU, Philippines – Challenges for every sector to help improve the situation of women with the use of strategies in putting the Millennium Development Goals to work for gender equality, and linking it to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, were discussed in yesterday’s Cebu City Women’s Summit 2009 at the Sinulog Hall of the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum along Osmeña Boulevard.

Emmeline Verzosa, chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women who was the guest speaker of the said summit, said that there is a need on strengthening the development goals to eliminate gender stereotyping.

She said that the Gender and Development program is the main strategy to ensure that the government pursues gender equality in all aspects of the development process to achieve the vision of a gender-responsive society where women and men equally contribute to and benefit from development.

City councilor Leah Ouano Japson, chairperson of the Cebu City Women and Family Affairs Commission which had initiated the summit, said that the gathering served as a platform for information dissemination on women’s rights.

Since women’s rights are human rights, these are necessary for every woman to achieve her humanity, this was learned. — Johanna T. Natavio/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)