Robredo on promoting gender equality: We can do more

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo is challenging people to do more in terms of promoting gender equality.

Robredo, speaking at the Toronto Global Forum in Ontario, Canada on Thursday night (Manila Time), said there are still “subtle acts” of discrimination that should be highlighted in order to attain true equality.

“Since the #MeToo Movement, and due to the watchfulness of the “woke” generation, so many things have already happened to generate awareness of overt biases and outright abuses committed against women,” she said.

“But we need to do more and shine a spotlight, especially on the more subtle acts of discrimination, because they are more insidious. If we commit to this goal today, we have a fighting chance,” she added.

Robredo, an advocate of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) equality bill, stressed thaty attaining equality is not easy in some societies where favoring masculinity is entrenched in the culture.

“This is not an easy advocacy. We go against deep-seated cultural and societal biases, and now, studies have found that even artificial intelligence has serious pro-male biases,” she claimed.

“But we need to commit to it because gender inclusion is not just about advancing women’s rights and empowering half of the world. Gender inclusion is, at its very core, about sustaining the whole world. When women survive, and find their path to a truly great life, the world thrives. And the ultimate expression of that is how economies are strengthened when women are empowered,” she added.

 READ: Robredo pushes for passage of SOGIE Equality bill 

Robredo clarified though that women empowerment should not equate to a battle of the sexes, where females are pitted against men, and even members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are perceived to gain the most from the SOGIE bill.

“It’s about creating real partnerships. It’s about acknowledging each gender’s strengths, and creating a synergy where both genders build each other, rather than put each other down.  It is about bringing everyone together, starting with the people in this hall, so we can create a better world,” she explained. /gsg