Left to right: (1) Ms. Cindy Bishop, Regional UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific; (2) H.E. Ms. Millicent Cruz Paredes, Ambassador of the Philippines; (3) H.E. Ms. Sarah Taylor, Ambassador of Canada; (4) Ms. Christina Aguilar, Special Celebrity Guest; (5) H.E. Ms. Itzel Karina Chen Chan, Ambassador of Panama; and (6) H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Prieto Abad, Ambassador of Colombia (photo credit: ESCAP Secretariat)

Group photo of speakers and participants at the ESCAP Hall (photo credit: ESCAP Secretariat)

09 March 2022, Bangkok – Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP), joined the regional commemoration of International Women’s Day at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok on 08 March 2022.

Ambassador Paredes joined the annual gathering of ESCAP member states, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of UN agencies in Bangkok in celebration of women as agents of change and social justice despite the barriers they face and glass ceilings they must break.

This year, International Women’s Day takes on the theme of “Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” which brings to the fore the mutually reinforcing intersections of gender equality and climate action.

Speakers of the day, which included female Ministers from across the Asia-Pacific region, youth environmental activists, and other women for women, all highlighted the role of women and girls as active change agents in climate action. Noting the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls and other marginalized groups, the speakers reiterated the call for a gender-sensitive climate response. This includes empowering women through accessible, quality education to find the solutions that would work best for their communities. “We need equality for a sustainable future,” summarized UN Women Officer-in-Charge Ms. Sarah Knibbs.

Ambassador Paredes also participated in the complementary initiative of the female Ambassadors in Bangkok called the “Ambassadors for a Day” program, which recognizes the seen and unseen contributions of young people in Thailand on issues affecting women and girls in their communities.

In its second year, the “Ambassadors for a Day” program again lent the voices of distinguished women who have reached the top of their field to amplify young women’s voices, as well as inspire them to break through the “glass ceiling” that society has placed in certain roles or careers.

Ambassador Paredes spent the day with “Ambassadors” Ms. Jiratchaya Sritaksinakul and Ms. Paphasorn Chotjinda, exchanging personal experiences and insights on the challenges women in the Philippines and Thailand continue to face, as well as their respective roles in creating a future where women and girls will always feel safe and empowered. END

Left to right: (1) Ms. Jiratchaya Sritaksinakul; (2) Ms. Lilly Ralyn Satidnasarn, 14 yrs.old, Speaker and Youth Environmental Activist who started her movement against plastic pollution and climate change at only 8 years old and was instrumental to the passage in 2020 of Thailand’s ban of the use of single-use plastic; (3) Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes; and (4) Ms. Paphasorn Chotjinda (photo credit: Bea Davila)