GOVPH

Press Releases

• 24 JANUARY 2025 : AUSTRIAN ACADEMIC DISCOVERS MISLABELED 1887 LETTER FROM JOSE RIZAL AT VIENNA CITY LIBRARY
• 22 JANUARY 2025 : PH EMBASSY IN VIENNA SET TO REPATRIATE REMAINS OF MARVIL FACTURAN KOCJANČIČ
• 22 JANUARY 2025 : FILIPINO DIVING DESTINATIONS, TROPICAL WEATHER ARE CROWD FAVORITES AT AUSTRIA’S FERIEN MESSE 2025
• 19 JANUARY 2025 : BISHOP OF VIENNA CELEBRATES FEAST OF STO. NINO AND SINULOG WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY
• 15 JANUARY 2025 : CONSUL GENERAL ADMINISTERS OATH OF NEW COUNCIL OF FILIPINO ASSOCIATIONS IN AUSTRIA OFFICERS 

2024

PH Advocates for Sustainability in Realizing Benefits of the Blue Economy

H.E. Evangelina A. Bernas, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines, delivers remarks during the Asia-Pacific Breakout Session of the Expert Group Meeting on UNIDO’s Blue Industry Contribution to the Blue Economy Agenda on 3 December 2024 in Vienna, Austria.

5 December 2024, Vienna – The Philippines, as Chair of the Asia Pacific Group, highlighted the need for sustainability and climate action on oceans during the Asia-Pacific Breakout Session of the Expert Group Meeting on UNIDO’s Blue Industry Contribution to the Blue Economy Agenda on 3 December 2024.

In her remarks, Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas discussed the importance of the blue economy in the Asia Pacific region’s economic growth, including its contribution to the Philippine economy which accounted for 3.9% of the country’s GDP in 2022, and noted the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework which aims to develop an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable blue economy across the ASEAN region.  

Ambassador Bernas, however, stressed that the benefits of the blue economy cannot be fully realized without addressing sustainability and climate challenges, noting the decline of fisheries, degradation of marine ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change on ocean health. She emphasized that global efforts could not be incremental, or “the oceans and the economies reliant on them will collapse with catastrophic effects on the majority of the world’s population.”  END

PRESS RELEASE

PH ADVOCATES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT UNODC INITIATIVES ON PROMOTING QUALIFIED WOMEN 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, commends UNODC’s efforts benefitting women and their families at the Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) on 5 December 2024. Photo Credit: UNODC Secretariat of the Governing Bodies

Vienna, 9 December 2024 - The Philippines reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in achieving gender parity and women empowerment during the Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) at the Vienna International Center. 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, delivered a statement focusing on women empowerment in view of the Philippines’ strong advocacy for such issues and as Co-Chair of the UNODC’s Group of Friends on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. 

“The Philippines acknowledges UNODC’s efforts that benefit women and their families in the organization, including flexible working arrangements, parental and special leaves for childcare, and breastfeeding policies. We commend initiatives such as the Early Career Initiative for Women and gender-responsive leadership training programs. We hope that UNODC could further strengthen measures that support upward mobility in the organization,” the envoy stated. 

Ambassador Bernas also said, “We remain concerned that gender parity targets have not been met at all levels, as reflected in the report. The Philippines acknowledges the difficulty of this task

and encourages UNODC to double its efforts in order to reach its target.” 

The envoy also acknowledged UNODC’s expanded support and outreach activities aimed at preventing and eliminating sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment has no place in this organization or any other,” said Ambassador Bernas. END.

The Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) on 5 December 2024

Photo Credit: UNODC Secretariat of the Governing Bodies