- President Marcos urges global leaders at the UN to prioritize girls’ education as a driver of development and equality.
- Emphasizes education’s ripple effects, empowering women to contribute to economic growth, civic life, and social progress.
- Calls for practical action to remove barriers, ensuring quality learning opportunities for girls worldwide as a key to inclusive prosperity.
At the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. delivered a compelling call to action for global leaders, urging them to place girls’ education at the heart of development agendas worldwide. Emphasizing that meaningful progress toward equality and inclusive growth cannot occur while barriers to learning persist, Marcos highlighted education as a transformative force capable of reshaping societies.
In his address, the President underscored that educating girls is not merely a matter of fairness or individual opportunity it is a powerful driver of social and economic advancement. “Education must remain at the center of all our efforts. When a girl is educated, the benefits extend far beyond the individual”, he said, pointing to the ripple effects of learning on families, communities, and nations. By providing girls with access to knowledge and skills, societies can cultivate a generation of empowered women who contribute to economic growth, civic life, and social cohesion.
Marcos also drew attention to the critical role of Filipino women in the nation’s development. He paid tribute to their contributions in shaping democratic institutions, driving social progress, and strengthening the resilience of families and communities. Highlighting their achievements, he framed women not as passive beneficiaries of development but as active agents of change whose participation is essential for building inclusive and prosperous societies.
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The President’s message resonated within a global context where gender disparities in education remain a persistent challenge. Around the world, millions of girls still face obstacles ranging from poverty and cultural expectations to inadequate school infrastructure that limit their access to quality learning. Marcos’ address reinforced the idea that closing these gaps is not only a moral imperative but also an economic and social necessity. Educated girls are more likely to enter the workforce, innovate in their communities, and contribute to broader societal advancement, creating a multiplier effect that benefits everyone.
By centering girls’ education in international development discussions, Marcos called on world leaders to move beyond policy statements and invest in practical measures that remove barriers, expand opportunities, and ensure that learning is accessible to all. His remarks reflected a vision of development in which education serves as both a foundation and a catalyst for equality, innovation, and shared prosperity.
Marcos’ advocacy at the UN Commission on the Status of Women sends a clear message: empowering girls through education is not a peripheral goal but a central strategy for building stronger, more inclusive societies. As nations grapple with complex challenges in economic growth, governance, and social cohesion, prioritizing education for girls emerges as one of the most effective ways to foster sustainable progress and transform potential into tangible outcomes, both for individuals and for society at large.
