Summary of the Opening Address by Hon. Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.
Hon. Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag, welcomed participants with pride, emphasizing that the rise of women in politics is not theoretical but a lived global reality shaped daily by women leaders. She highlighted today’s theme the political emergence of women and the new challenges of development and noted that more women are taking roles as legislators, negotiators, and heads of state. With this progress come critical questions: How are women reshaping leadership amid development challenges? Are political systems becoming truly inclusive? And how can women’s political participation translate into sustainable, equitable outcomes?
She encouraged participants to engage in a thoughtful, rigorous exchange on whether women’s emergence is essential to addressing issues such as climate resilience, education, inclusive governance, and social protection, and whether current political structures support or limit this progress.
As chair of the special session, she urged speakers to share their perspectives with clarity and respect, and called on leaders to listen for insight rather than agreement. She concluded that the question is no longer whether women should lead their presence proves that but how women’s political leadership can transform today’s development agenda.
