HERstory: How did it start?

Focus for the 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration

The year 2025 marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Philippines and globally. This year commemorates:

• The 50th anniversary of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW);
• The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA);
• The 45th year of the Philippines’ signing of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
• Three decades since the introduction of the Gender and Development (GAD) budget policy under the 1995 General Appropriations Act (RA 7845); and
• The culmination of the 30-year Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD).

These milestones reaffirm the country’s long-standing commitment to advancing women’s rights and promoting inclusive development.

With the goal of fostering a society where all women have equal rights, power, and opportunities, the 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) carries the sub-theme: “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.” This reinforces the core objective of RA 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women—to empower women, promote gender equality, and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.

This year’s focus will continue to support the administration’s brand of governance and leadership, aligning with its rallying cry for an all-inclusive plan for economic and social transformation. We reaffirm our commitment to building a “Bagong Pilipinas”—a nation where women have equitable opportunities, free from gender biases and discriminatory stereotypes. The phrase “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas” embodies a sense of optimism and hope, symbolizing a future where women’s lives are truly uplifted. It reflects the commitment to translating gender equality efforts from policy into tangible, meaningful changes in the lives of women. This vision seeks to ensure that all women, particularly those from underserved communities and marginalized sectors, reap the benefits of gender equality in their daily lives. By prioritizing these groups, the 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration emphasizes the need for inclusive progress, ensuring that no woman is left behind in the journey toward equal opportunities and empowerment.

This vision calls for a multi-sectoral approach, engaging government agencies, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to:

• Strengthen legal frameworks;
• Improve access to essential services; and
• Create sustainable opportunities for women.

The NWMC provides a vital opportunity for everyone to reflect on and challenge the deeply rooted gender norms and biases, particularly those that contribute to the marginalization of women from underserved communities. This annual observance serves as a platform to identify and transform practices, beliefs, and societal expectations that reinforces gender inequality. By fostering discussions, advocating for policy changes, and promoting gender-fair practices, the celebration encourages a cultural shift that ensures that women from all sectors have equal access to opportunities, resources, and the full recognition of their rights. Through collective action, we can reexamine and reshape traditional norms that limit women’s roles and contributions, creating an environment where every woman’s potential is acknowledged, valued and fully supported, regardless of her background or circumstances.

The celebration also highlights the crucial role of men as allies in dismantling systemic barriers and fostering an inclusive society. Together, these efforts aim to make gender equality a reality for all women in the Bagong Pilipinas.

To download advocacy materials and digital collaterals, click here.

Source: Philippine Commission on Women