Tokyo holds first World Assembly for Women Today

TOKYO – Female political and business leaders from over 25 countries will gather here today for the first World Assembly for Women in Tokyo (WAW! Tokyo 2014) organized by the Japanese government to further promote women’s political and economic empowerment.

Among the participants will be International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie and Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Sen. Loren Legarda is the lone representative from the Philippines in the high level international symposium. She is expected to share the Philippine experience in fighting for women’s rights and closing the gender gap.

“It is a privilege to represent the Philippines in this assembly on women empowerment. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is known for advocating women’s rights. We support him in creating a ‘society where women shine’ and we are more than willing to share our country’s good practices and challenges with Japan and other nations to help improve the lives and secure the rights of women around the world,” Legarda said.

She will share the Philippines’ achievements and challenges in promoting women empowerment, especially in the area of disaster risk reduction and management.

Rui Matsukawa, director of the gender mainstreaming division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the issues to be discussed in the three-day assembly include the economic benefits achievable by promoting the active roles of women, diversity in working styles, the development of society, and the common issues relating to women throughout the world.                                       – With Christina Mendez