MANILA – In celebration of the 2023 United Nations Month, the Institute for Labor Studies with the Department of Labor and Employment officials attend the Women’s Leadership and Democracy forum organized by the United Nations in the Philippines and sponsored by the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, and UN Women on October 17 at Westin Hotel, Manila.

The improved ranking of the Philippines in the 2023 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index Report was the forum's highlight. Discussions on gender inequality in political participation, the gaps and deficits, and the approaches political parties and social organizations extended to address these concerns were also discussed.

ILS representatives OIC-Executive Director III Jeanette T. Damo and Division Chief Miraluna S. Tacadao of the Workers’ Welfare Research Division joined DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique “Nikki” Tutay.

Hosted by journalist and anchor Karen Davila, the forum also invited a roster of panel discussants composed of distinguished policymakers and a labor union, namely: Senator Risa Hontiveros, District Representative Edcel Lagman, Ms. Froilyn Mendoza of the Bangsamoro Parliament and Joanna Bernice Coronacion of Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).