Real Talk
The WE for Women’s Month 2023
The Philippine Commission for Women announced it has adopted the theme WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society in celebration of Women’s Month 2023.
March is Women’s Month and from 2023 until 2028, organizations around the world have adopted a new theme: We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society. According to a statement from the Philippine Commission for Women, We for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society marks the results of the theme from 2016 to 2022 on WE Make CHANGE Work for Women.
“The new banner for this annual campaign is both a positive affirmation and a call to action. It is a testament to the milestones achieved in closing gender gaps in the country. And in gathering more support for the advocacy,” the statement read.
The story behind the theme
WE in the theme stands for Women and Everyone. It emphasizes the role women play in the pursuit of gender equality. It also stands for Women’s Empowerment, which can be used by agencies and other groups to “provide women equal rights and opportunities, and women take these opportunities to further themselves.”
Meanwhile, Gender Equality has been defined as “the first half of the GEWE advocacy. And it is the ultimate goal when we advance the rights of women. Thus, the theme bearing this is a call for urgent action to double the efforts toward this absolute aspiration.”
Citing figures from the Global Gender Gap Report at 68.1 %, the PCW mentioned it might take 132 years before gender equality is reached worldwide. This is compared to the 2020 period which was at 99.5 years.
“This means that none of us, or most likely many of our children, will see gender parity in our lifetimes. But not all hope is gone. Because our right for gender equality today is for a better and more inclusive tomorrow, albeit not in the next generations,” the PCW stated.
For Inclusive Society, its meaning also involves everyone. “A society that overrides differences in SOGIE, class, ability, generation, status, and culture. A society where every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play.”
Celebrating Women’s Month
Aside from adopting the theme, Women’s Month will also celebrate the UN Women International Women’s Day theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”
“The 2023 National Women’s Month Celebration will call for the empowerment of women and girls toward maximizing their benefit from innovation and technology and bridging the gender gap in ICT and connectivity,” they shared.
The theme coincides with hitting one of the goals of the Updated Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan 2019-2025 on the “Expanded opportunities for Women’s Participation, Leadership, and Benefits in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), ICT, Infrastructure, and Energy.”
Moreover, the PCW released its plans for the month. It includes several digital forums and the Pulso para sa Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran Report.
For more information, visit the website pcw.gov.ph
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