Former President and current member of the Philippine House of Representatives H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in the Republic of Korea from 20-23 November 2024 in her capacity as a member of the board of the Boao Forum for Asia. She served as the speaker during the forum’s session for women and youth.
26 November 2024, Seoul. Former President and current member of the Philippine House of Representatives H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in the Republic of Korea from 21-23 November 2024 in her capacity as a member of the board of the Boao Forum for Asia.
A team from the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, formed part of the delegation to the conference. Inaugurated in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is committed to promoting regional economic integration and common development of Asian countries.
The 2024 Boao Forum for Asia in Seoul conference convened political, business, diplomatic, and academic leaders from all over the globe to discuss shared concerns such as geopolitical challenges and opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, the attainment of sustainable development goals, artificial intelligence, and the role of women and youth in the future of the world.
Former President and representative Macapagal Arroyo served as the speaker during the forum’s session for women and youth, where she spoke extensively on equitable education in the Philippines. According to the Former President and Representative, this equity in education regardless of gender that has been present in the Philippines since the colonial times has paved the way for social acceptance of gender equality and participation of women in leadership roles and specialized fields.
She likewise stressed that legislation for equal treatment of women is important for development. The Former President recalled that it was during her tenure as Philippine President that the Republic Act 9710 (the Magna Carta of Women) was signed into law. The Magna Carta of Women contains extensive provisions which promote women’s rights, including the right to non-discrimination. It is based on a substantive notion of gender equality and aims at real empowerment of women. As Senator (1992-1998), the former President was also instrumental in the signing Republic Act 8044 or the "Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1995", paving the way for the National Youth Commission.
Former President and Representative Macapagal-Arroyo also underscored the importance of having substantive discussions on global trends in gender development, and suggested taking stock of what has worked and what has not in the almost thirty years that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 1995 has been effect and use these recommendations to move critical areas of concern forward.
The Boao Forum for Asia was attended by notable figures, including Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia Zhang Jun, former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Vice Chairman of Yibin Wuliangye Group Zhang Yu, and various former leaders, foreign ministers, and influential figures from East Asia’s political and business sectors.
Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul hosted a welcome dinner for the Boao board members where he sought their support for the Republic of Korea’s 2025 hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
While in Seoul, the former President and Representative also engaged members of civil society and esteemed advocates for human rights and sustainable development such as H.E. Ban Ki Moon in her capacity as a Commissioner of the International Commission on the Death Penalty. END
The Boao Forum for Asia was attended by notable figures, including Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia Ban Ki-moon (former UN Secretary-General), Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia Zhang Jun (former Ambassador of China to the UN), former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Vice Chairman of Yibin Wuliangye Group Zhang Yu, and various former leaders and influential figures from East Asia’s political and business sectors.
While in Seoul, the former President and Representative also engaged members of civil society and esteemed advocates for human rights and sustainable development such as H.E. Ban Ki Moon in her capacity as a Commissioner of the International Commission on the Death Penalty.
A team from the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, formed part of the delegation to the conference. Inaugurated in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is committed to promoting regional economic integration and common development of Asian countries.
