Philippines nominates Manalo to UN committee on women

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has presented Ambassador Rosario Manalo, eminent champion of human rights in Southeast Asia and the global community, as the country’s candidate to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (UN CEDAW) 2021-2024.

CEDAW is a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Convention, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for action to end such discrimination.

Manalo is well known in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as a pioneer in the field of human rights, having been at the forefront in the development of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

She has served in the committee for a number of years. She served her first term in 1999-2002; second term in 2003-2006; and succeeded to a third non-consecutive term beginning her current term in 2017 until this year.

During Manalo’s second term in 2003-2006, she served as chairperson of the committee in 2005-2006. She was also rapporteur in 2017-2018.

The Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York said “Ambassador Manalo’s experience on the work of CEDAW and her steadfast advocacy for the promotion and protection of women’s rights and welfare have been her remarkable contributions, among others, to the international community.

“As such, she brings invaluable knowledge and vast expertise, which she has acquired during her years of service in various capacities both in ASEAN and the UN,” it said.

Manalo, one of the Philippines’ most accomplished diplomats, won a seat in CEDAW in elections held in June 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

She was among 25 candidates vying for 11 seats in the UN body on gender equality and women’s rights for the term 2017-2020.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines’ victory was a testament to the country’s active advocacy and leadership on women’s rights.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts in Public Administration; and Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned her Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, Manalo became the first Filipina to pass the Philippines’ career foreign service officers examinations.