Lawmaker underscores role of women in nation-building

MANILA, Philippines –  Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia stressed the role of women in nation-building and interfaith dialogue and achieving world peace during the Global Peace Convention in Nairobi, Kenya last week.

“World peace can be achieved only on an understanding between the great civilizations,” De Venecia said in her address before the gathering of world leaders last Nov. 18 and 19.

She said “to build lasting peace, nations must continue the global, regional and interfaith dialogues that the Philippines, Iran, and 33 other states had proposed to the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. Today, more than 70 nations are co-architects in these global, regional and interfaith dialogues.”

The gathering of global leaders in the fields of politics, business and social entrepreneurship was organized by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon of the Global Peace Foundation, and supported by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to promote peace in all cultures.

The other leaders who graced the two-day peace convention at the Kenyatta International Convention Center were Sir James Mancham, founding President of Seychelles; Paraguay Senator Lillian Samaniego; former Philippine Speaker Joe de Venecia; Congressman Manuel Ferreira of Brazil; Young Sun Song, member of the Korean National Assembly; Ambassador Oscar Alvarez Araya of Costa Rica; Douglas Johnson, president of International Center for Religion and Diplomacy in Washington D.C; Markandey Rai, global parliamentarian chair of the UN Habitat; Eva Latham, president of the Netherlands’ Human Rights Teaching International; Manu Chandria, founding chairman of the East Africa Business Council; Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala; and American evangelist and writer Dr. Robert Schuller.

“We the women of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas must be vigilant in uplifting and guaranteeing women’s rights, written in every constitution of the world, that men and women are equal, that we are co-builders of our nations,“ De Venecia said.

Citing strong maternal tendencies among Filipinos, the lawmaker cited legislations that provide for the protection of women in the Philippines, particularly the Magna Carta for Women that seeks to eliminate discrimination by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women.

“The affirmative impact of this law was reflected in the 2006-2007 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor that stated the Philippines is the only country where women are found to be more active in starting businesses than men.” she said.

De Venecia is the founder of four nationwide projects that directly address the problems of abused women and other marginalized sectors. These are Haven for Women and its 15 regional centers that rehabilitate women-in-crisis; Haven for Children with four regional centers that shelter street children; Haven for the Elderly that serves as a refuge for abandoned senior citizens; and the INA Healing Center, a therapeutic center for orphaned mothers.

She was also instrumental in the setting up of women’s desks in all police precincts in 1997, together with then interior secretary, the late Sen. Robert Barbers. – With Eva Visperas