Liberal Women Meet on Trade and Women’s Rights

Members of the CALD Women’s Caucus joined the International Network of Liberal Women in a joint meeting on free trade and women’s rights at the 2011 Liberal International 57th Congress in Manila, Philippines this past June. The meeting, entitled “Free and Fair Trade and Women’s Human Rights,” brought together liberal women policymakers and leaders from around the world to discuss both the positive and negative effects of free-trade on women at the local, national, and international levels. Liberal women members of the Philippine House of Representatives also attended the meeting. Speakers addressed best practices and policies to tackle the risks women may face when pursuing the breadth of economic opportunities afforded to them through the expansion of free trade.

The session consisted of four speeches by prominent liberal women. It was chaired by Hon. Beng Climaco, Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, who opened the discussion with a brief history, or “herstory” as she stated in her warm welcome remarks, of the role of liberal women in the struggle for a more liberal Philippines. For example, she shared the history of pioneers of the Filipino women’s suffrage movement with participants.

The first speaker and Vice President of INLW, Christine de Saint Genois, warned against differentiating women’s rights from the broader set of human rights, especially in the context of gender-based job and wage disparity. Even though she acknowledged the success of women around the world in the economic sphere, she said, “By definition, free trade doesn’t securitize human rights.” Equal opportunity in business and the workplace, according to her, is the key element to bolster a platform for women to experience true fair trade, human rights, and economic security for themselves and their families.

Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk-Groeneveld, Secretary General of INLW, spoke on behalf of Joaquima Alemany, current President of INLW. She addressed the tough economic challenges and the vulnerability of working women in the Asia-Pacific, Australia, and other countries around the world. In her discussion of women in the Asia-Pacific region, she stated, “The Asian economic miracle was largely due to the incorporation of women, especially young and unmarried women, who were paid wages lower than their male co-workers and who, after marrying, often left their jobs again.” Hon. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay, LP member of the Philippine House of Representatives, discussed the severe lack of opportunity provided to women in the developing world and explained the need to improve the economic status of those women in order for them to reap the financial benefits of free trade and economic globalization.

Jayanthi Devi Balaguru, Vice Chair of CALD Women’s Caucus and Secretary General of the PGRM (Malaysia), concluded the joint discussion between CALD and INLW by presenting possible national, regional, and global responses to the challenges faced by working women today. She directed participants to three primary areas of focus: 1) education, 2) social policies, and 3) legislation. Balaguru also pointed to several international agreements that must be upheld in order to guarantee the economic independence of women including the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

The joint meeting demonstrated the primary concerns of both CALD Women’s Caucus and INLW regarding the future of women across the globe. In a final proposal to meeting participants, Balaguru presented hopes for the development of an organization comprised of the members of both CALD Women’s Caucus and INLW to simultaneously promote women’s human dignity and economic empowerment globally. Shortly after the meeting, women delegates convened further to discuss areas of future cooperation between CALD Women’s Caucus and INLW.

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This post was written by CALD