Vice President Leni Robredo (Screengrab from The Office of the Vice President website)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday called on women to “answer the calls to leadership” and “face the trials of our time with resolve” in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Robredo said that while there have been gains in empowering women in the past years, “the road remains long.”
“Today is a reminder of the imperative: We need to band together to continue the work. We need as many women and allies as possible banging against the glass ceiling and creating spaces where all genders can flourish and contribute to society,” Robredo said in a statement.
“So as we honor the victories of those who came before, let us blaze new trails for others to follow. Let us answer the calls to leadership, face the trials of our time with resolve, and strive towards a fairer, kinder, more humane world, where no one is left behind,” the Vice President added.
Robredo likewise gave recognition to “the years of tireless struggle that our foremothers went through so that the women of today have wider pathways to empowerment.”
This includes the fight for women’s right to vote, improved economic and political participation, and stronger legislation protecting women’s rights.
“Despite these gains however, the road remains long. The realities on the ground paint a picture that remains far from ideal,” Robredo said.
The Vice President said cases of domestic violence continue to rise while reproductive health services have been hampered by the pandemic.
She also said that there are still areas where women are denied education and forced into marriages.
“And even in spheres where women participation has improved, gaps in gender balance at the highest levels of leadership still need to be filled to truly create a more inclusive, holistic climate of change,” Robredo said.
“So as we honor the victories of those who came before, let us blaze new trails for others to follow,” she added.