News Releases

News Releases November 22, 1997 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Women To Be Held in Republic of the Philippines in 1998

VANCOUVER --The governments of Canada and the Republic of the Philippines welcome the decision reached today at the ninth APEC Ministerial Meeting that an APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women will be held in the Republic of the Philippines in October 1998.

The decision responds to the commitment made by APEC Leaders in 1996 to place special emphasis on encouraging the full participation of women in APEC’s economic and technical cooperation activities. The meeting will examine ways and means to advance gender perspectives in APEC, and will make recommendations on this issue to Leaders and Ministers in 1998.

"This meeting represents an opportunity to address issues of concern to women who live in APEC economies. I believe that change is better effected from within," said the Honourable Hedy Fry, Canada’s Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women). "We hope to build on the progress already made with our APEC partners to advance gender perspectives in the key areas of small- and medium-sized enterprises, science and technology and human resource development."

"We welcome the decision of Ministers to hold the first ever APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women in 1998 in Manila, with the goal to mainstream women in APEC’s economic development, thereby strengthening prospects for equitable growth, reduction of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development," said Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations and APEC Senior Official for the Philippines. "The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women is an important part of the Philippines’ legacy as host of the Leaders’ Meeting in 1996, to advance the integration of gender perspectives in the APEC agenda."

"Women’s concerns must be effectively addressed in APEC," said the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), Imelda M. Nicolas. Ambassador Manalo and Ms. Nicolas will co-chair the Philippines National Organizing Committee for the Ministerial Meeting. "The Philippines looks forward to bringing together Ministers whose responsibilities cut across women’s issues so that we can move closer to achieving this goal," Ms. Nicolas added.

The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women will chart new ground within the APEC forum, by enhancing the integration of women throughout the activities of APEC in a coordinated, effective and sustained manner.