Cover Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila was first appointed to the position in September 2023
Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila was first appointed to the position in September 2023
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The internationally recognised organisation lays down its plans and priorities for 2024 and introduces Karen Davila as the first Filipina UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
Ensuring that women take full advantage of their human rights is no mundane task, but thanks to the United Nations’ (UN) efforts, the dream is within arm’s reach. Local and regional representatives of UN Women held a luncheon last January 18 at the Westin Manila, where they discussed steps to realise equal opportunities for women in the Philippines in 2024.
At the event, the organisation finally introduced veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila as the National Goodwill Ambassador of UN Women—the first Filipino woman to accomplish this feat. Davila, a longtime advocate for women’s and children’s rights, was appointed in September 2023.
She has been a volunteer for UN Women in the Philippines since 2020, focusing her attention on critical issues and working to support the livelihood of women and mothers through initiatives such as Agapay Nanay.
Read more: Stop violence against women and children through support and cooperation, says Karen Davila
Above (From left) Australian ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM, Hon Loren Legarda, Karen Davila
(From left) Australian ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM, Hon Loren Legarda, Karen Davila
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The organisation envisions a world where women can dream, decide without compromise, and enjoy the benefits of their labour. UN Women believes this could be manifested into reality through their triple mandate of normative support, coordination, and the implementation of programmes.
According to a presentation by Amaryllis T Torres, social sciences professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines, there are more Filipino women than men who are unpaid family workers. Many have unmet needs concerning contraceptives and access to reproductive healthcare. Women also earn about 18 per cent less than men in digital jobs.
“[Filipina] women stand at a crossroads of tradition and the digital age, continuing subordination because of patriarchy on one hand and increased instability in economy and politics on the other,” Torres states.
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Above (From left) Anton San Diego, Karen Davila, Bea Zobel de Ayala
(From left) Anton San Diego, Karen Davila, Bea Zobel de Ayala
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Rosalyn “Lenlen” Mesina, the country’s programme coordinator, introduced key projects for the year 2024 to aid the participation of women in leadership and decision-making and improve their overall living conditions. These include supporting community-based organisations, establishing gender-responsive and climate-resilient communities, ending violence against women, and promoting safe spaces in the private sector.
Mesina states, “We believe that if women are given the platform and the spaces where voices matter, and we have built their capacities and enhanced their capabilities, they’d be able to participate, represent, and lead.”
Above (From left) Rosalyn Mesina, HK Yu PSM, Loren Legarda, Sarah Knibbs, Karen Davila
(From left) Rosalyn Mesina, HK Yu PSM, Loren Legarda, Sarah Knibbs, Karen Davila
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Davila announced two projects as part of her platform as Goodwill Ambassador: the SHEstems Scholarship Awards, which will grant a minimum of PhP120,000 a year for 12 women who aspire to establish careers in STEMS, and the Women Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Program, a mentoring programme that will allow engagement among women from different career sectors across the Philippines.
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Credits
Images: Courtesy of UN Women Philippines
About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
