CEBU CITY, 12 September 2018—Cebuanos added their voices to a nationwide call for gender equality at the Cebu City Legislative Building September 12 for the regional run of #inFAIRness, a campaign that seeks to normalize the role of men at home and encourage women’s economic empowerment.
Local government, advocacy group and civil society leaders turned up for the event, which is first in a series of regional roadshows for the campaign supported by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government.
The #inFAIRness campaign was launched at the Senate of the Philippines in August, introduced by Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, as its national host.
“Society has always placed women in convenient boxes, but we are so much more than this, especially now that women have the potential to be a transformative force in society,” Poe said at the launch also attended by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The campaign comes amid a backdrop of guarded optimism for gender equality in the Philippines, brought about by its recent slip to 10th place last year from 7th place previously in a global ranking of countries in terms of gender equality.
Although the Philippines retained the top spot in Asia in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2017, the rankings noted widening gaps in the country’s economic participation and opportunity indicators.
“We’re working to overcome some of the social norms that limit the way women operate within our economies and the opportunities they have,” Poe said.
“Together with the #inFAIRness movement, our work is based on the understanding that when women and men have the same opportunities within our economies, our economies will grow more rapidly and provide opportunities for everyone,” the senator added.
SPARK! Philippines Executive Director Mikaela Teves, for her part, highlighted the need to break stereotypes and challenge assumptions for gender equality. “We are working on promoting shared tasks at home and recognizing the importance of women’s economic role,” she said.
The #inFAIRness campaign will employ both traditional and digital approaches to drive public awareness around the gender equality agenda.
In partnership with the Department of Transportation and the Cebu City Government through Cebu City Woman and Family Affairs Commission, stickers bearing messages of gender equality will be posted in public utility vehicles throughout Cebu.
This will be accompanied by a social media campaign, all in the hope of encouraging Cebuanos to “take up the advocacy and become part of a nationwide community that believes in a fair and equal Philippines,” Mr. Click President Romeo Sustiguer, Jr. said.
The #inFAIRness launch also seeks to engage marketing and advertising practitioners through gender and advocacy training sessions in Cebu City right after the regional launch. A similar set of events is slated in Davao City on September 17.
To learn more about the movement, follow #inFAIRness on social media:
Facebook: @inFAIRnessmovement
Instagram: @inFAIRnessmovement
Twitter: @inFAIRnessPH
For more information, please contact:
Romeo Sustiguer Jr.
President
romeo.sustiguerjr@mrgroupchi.com