AsPac women leaders cited for fostering peace

Senate President Vicente Sotto III cited women leaders in the Asia-Pacific for their contributions in fostering peace and cultural understanding in the region.

During the lunch hosted by the Senate on Sept. 28 for the 60th founding anniversary of the Federation of Asia Pacific Women’s Association (FAWA), Sotto extolled women leaders for their efforts in “the promotion of cultural understanding, harmony and peace in the region.”

The women’s organization “further proved the heights that women can scale when given the opportunity, recognition and respect due them, ” he said, adding he was proud that the chamber has a record of six women out of 24 senators, and in the forthcoming 2019 midterm elections, women candidates topped in the recent Pulse Asia survey.

In the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Poe also topped the list, followed by Villar, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano, Binay and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos was also in the winning circle at 8th place.

“I will not mind if I am called an honorary woman like the late Senator Raul Roco who was my buddy in the Senate during the 10th, 11th, and 12th Congresses,” Sotto said in addressing the FAWA members at the Senate.

FAWA became an effective platform of unity, cooperation and collaboration for women’s organizations and its success “will only have an enduring effect if they can be repeated and replicated,” he said.

“The legacy of FAWA will depend on its ability to continue producing in the future the same excellent output that has been its hallmark through the past years,” Sotto added.

During the luncheon, Poe, Legarda, Villar and Hontiveros were also awarded Sen. Geronima T. Pecson statuettes.

Pecson, the country’s first female senator, initiated the formation of FAWA in June 1959.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo called on men to respect women.

In her address before FAWA members on Thursday in Pasay City, she said Pecson would be among the first ones to condemn rape as well as jokes about women.

She expressed alarm that rape was widespread in the Asia-Pacific region that a quarter of men surveyed in six countries admitted to have committed this.

“Men should make it their business to respect us, this is why we also know that creating a heritage of lasting peace and sustainable development is impossible if we do not include women as part of the solution,” she said.