1.7. Closing session
The closing session was chaired by the ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Mitsuko Horiuchi. The session included statements from the spokespersons for governments, workers and employers represented by Ms. Champa Verma, Ms. Hinako Watanabe, and Ms. Barbara Burton.
The government representative, Ms. Verma, expressed positive recognition of the wide coverage of the consultation on gender issues in the world of work and of how these were covered in the technical themes in the workshop groups. Government interventions took the form of ratification of relevant ILO Conventions and application of these standards in the context of bilateral agreements and legislation, in consultation with the social partners. Government efforts, including funding support, should be undertaken in consultation with the social partners, in cognizance of the peculiarities of their situations. The representative put emphasis on women in the informal sector as the priority concern that should be addressed in ILO technical cooperation with member countries.
With regard to the concerns of women workers, Ms. Verma identified several points that need to be examined in tackling women's issues, namely: i) women are more vulnerable in the increasing globalization of economies; ii) there are more women in export processing zones in which there is a prevalent lack of protection for basic workers’ rights such as the right to organize, right to collective bargaining and safety in the work environment; iii) provision of maternity benefits is a human rights issue which should not be solely the concern of women but of society as a whole; and iv) the adverse effects on women are reinforced by the existing international economic structure and structural adjustment programmes. These can be addressed by incorporating gender perspectives in trade union participation within structural adjustment programmes, and by encouraging women's participation in international economic fora, governments and international organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF.
Ms. Burton, representing the employers’ group expressed appreciation for the opportunity to listen to the problems and experiences of other countries in the Asia Pacific region. National legislation promoting equality between men and women has been put in place in other countries; however, this should be accompanied by other measures to ensure movement towards this objective. Education and advocacy can be effective measures to promote equality and sharing of responsibilities between men and women during the early stages of schooling. At the workplace, employers can adopt and encourage family-friendly work policies and practices, appointments and promotions based on merit that are perceived to promote the advancement of working women. That gender equality makes good business sense is a notion that can be advocated and supported among employers. In the informal sector, ILO technical assistance, training and other interventions are valuable forms of assistance for women workers. More importantly, access to knowledge and information on the rights of women workers are critical interventions for governments, non-government organizations and concerned individuals.
Ms. Watanabe also made a statement on behalf of the workers’ group stating that there has been minimal advancement towards the goals specified in the Beijing Platform. Priority concerns for workers were identified, namely: i) implementation of ILO Conventions particularly those referring the basic rights of workers; ii) recognition of workers in the informal sector; iii) training and education for trade union women workers; and iv) social safety net and social justice measures. These last should in turn consider the following: i) shared responsibilities at home and in society at large; ii) health and work environment; and iii) poverty among women. In conclusion, she reaffirmed the agenda for women's empowerment in general, and women’s economic power and increased decision-making in tripartite consultations, in particular. She also emphasized that NGOs cannot replace trade unions and employers’ organizations as representative groups for workers and employers in the tripartite machinery. However, she clarified that NGOs can be partners in programmes and activities.
1.7.1 Closing remarks, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific
Ms. Horiuchi thanked the delegates for their participation and acknowledged the valuable support of the Government of the Philippines, in particular the Office of the President, DOLE and TESDA, and of the individuals whose assistance contributed to the success of the meeting. She also gave particular recognition to the relevant contributions of the Nairobi and Beijing Conferences which laid the groundwork for this consultative meeting – referring in particular to the participation of former Philippines Senator Ms. Leticia Shahani who served as the Secretary-General of the Nairobi Conference and the contribution of Dr. Patricia Licuanan who chaired the preparatory committee for the Beijing Conference. The Platform for Action arose from long-term commitment and continuous work of women. In view of this, she urged the participation and commitment of society as a whole to achieve meaningful changes and progress towards the goals set out in the Platform.
Ms Horiuchi said that women have always been aware of their problems but more often than not, such problems are forgotten or neglected. The Common Understanding – which covers a comprehensive set of both normative and concrete actions – can guide the governments, employers’ and workers’ groups as they steer the course of society towards gender equality. As a next step, Ms. Horicuhi observed that it would be useful to prioritize these broad-based actions. She then confirmed ILO support and commitment to these actions through providing services, knowledge, advocacy, technical assistance and capability building. Finally, she emphasized that although gains have been made since Beijing, it should be recognized that women still find themselves in difficult positions and situations. Concurring with Ms Shahani’s message at the Conference in Nairobi, she said political will was an important element that will urge members to work together in order to secure progress towards equity, security and human dignity for the next generation.
1.7.2 Closing speech by former Senator, Ms. Leticia Shahani
The closing speech for the Consultation was delivered by former Senator Leticia Shahani of the Philippines. Ms Shahani began by thanking Ms. Horiuchi for her invitation to the meeting and Mr. Szal for the assistance consistently given by the ILO office in Manila to the people and Government of the Philippines. She then reminded the audience that time has gone by rapidly since Beijing 1995 and that we must all redouble our efforts to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and monitor its enforcement. Despite our most intense efforts we can easily feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of work that remains to be done in the field of women’s rights, and to address related problems of poverty, unemployment and discrimination. Still, we should not lose hope nor despair, and we must continue to recognize and remember that changes in attitudes and structural reforms move slowly. In this respect a sense of historical perspective can help. But mere verbal activity, debate and analysis cannot provide the solutions we need. And even the best legislation is inadequate. Likewise, a purely sectoral approach towards women will not suffice.
At the start of the 21st century we have entered the era of integrated development and social solidarity. There is an urgent need for value-based sustainable national and global development, if concrete results are to be achieved. The scientific and technical approach, so basic to human progress, by itself will be sterile unless balanced by the exercise of moral and spiritual values accompanied by political will that is committed to the good of the majority, and is also underpinned by a sense of social solidarity on the part of the population and civil society. The challenge of the 21st century will be to develop these conditions while giving the highest priority to the security as well as to the empowerment of people. In this respect Ms. Shahani praised ILO Director-General Juan Somavia for his statement that we must, "move from the more limited notion of a welfare state to a larger vision of a state of equity".
She also recalled specific parts of the vision of the World Summit on Social Development – also held in 1995 – chaired by Ambassador Somavia: "We are deeply convinced that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people … in both economic and social terms the most productive policies and investments are those that empower people to maximize their capacities, resources and opportunities. We acknowledge that social and economic development cannot be secured in a sustainable way without the full participation of women and that equality and equity between women and men is a priority for the international community and as such must be at the centre of economic and social development."
Ms. Shahani pointed out that in relating the Declaration of Copenhagen on Social Development to the Beijing Platform for Action, it was not her intention to subsume or subordinate the rights and responsibilities of women, but rather to demonstrate that women are at the very centre of the development process because they constitute half of the world’s population and their potential has not yet been fully appreciated or utilized.
Moreover, women also should not accept roles as mere subjects or objects in the ongoing globalization process; they must be proactive in shaping it in order to provide a woman’s ethical and spiritual orientation, thereby humanizing globalization. But before women can transform the world they must simultaneously transform themselves. Ms. Shahani called on women to exemplify through their lifestyles and daily behaviour the very values on which we should build this new world. The self-transformation should be on a moral and spiritual basis, otherwise it cannot be sustained over the long term or acquire its own power. And it should further demonstrate the values of sharing with and caring for one another, of being accountable and self-reliant and of being tolerant of cultural diversity.
Finally, Ms. Shahani indicated that although governments have legal and financial power, we cannot rely solely on governments, whether at the national, regional or local levels, to achieve gender objectives. Private enterprise is already proving that it can be more powerful than governments. And what the 21st century really requires to achieve development is the solidarity of civil society as well as the exercise of good governance. This means the cooperation of all social actors – government, private industry, NGOs, churches, academe, people's organizations of farmers, workers, etc. Indeed, all sectors of society with common cause must act together to survive and prosper. Within these emerging trends, women can and should play a major role. And they must help remove the scourges of poverty, unemployment and social exclusion not only as these relate to women but also to oppressed groups and individuals within their communities.
Ms. Shahani complemented these views by indicating that the Beijing Platform for Action is already strong on the subject of women and economy. It recognizes that employment policies should integrate the gender perspective more fully. Indeed, the economic independence of women is the beginning of true equality between men and women since without her own income, a woman too easily remains a victim and a subject of men and of society in general. She indicated that the ILO technical report for this consultation, Towards Gender Equality in the World of Work in Asia and the Pacific, also deals with both old and new problems relating to the employment of women: i) the negative and positive effects of the globalization process on the employment of women; ii) the booming sex industry; iii) the unprotected status of migrant women; iv) the unrecognized status of domestic and home workers; v) the continuing neglect of employment of women in the agricultural sector; and vi) the non-implementation by governments of the ILO Conventions which they have ratified coupled with the weak enforcement of labour laws at the national level.
She also shared a number of more specific insights and lessons learned through experience centred round the successes and obstacles that, as a former Senator and legislator in the Philippines, she had encountered while trying to bring about improvements in a series of issues. These issues included: equal pay for work of equal value; remuneration for work performed by housewives; improvement of the employment of women in agriculture, fishing and in the formal and informal sectors; combating violence against women and trafficking; and improving budgetary allocations in women’s programmes in government and non-government organizations.
Ms. Shahani concluded her presentation by indicating that the implementation and enforcement of laws are grave shortcomings in many countries in the region and that it is her hope that the ILO through its regional and national offices can assist, at the request of the governments in Asia and the Pacific, with the implementation of important legislation dealing with women and related areas. Ms Shahani concluded by again thanking Ms. Horiuchi and the ILO for inviting her to participate in this important consultation.
Updated by TN. Approved by BKL. Last update: 5 June 2000.