CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 Article 8 International Representation and Participation Equal opportunity to represent governments at the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations A. SITUATION OF WOMEN Women in the diplomatic service 262. In September 2002, there were 80 Philippine embassies and consulates around the world. Women headed 22 (or 28 percent) of these, with 12 holding the rank of Ambassador and 10, Consul-General. In November 2003, only 17 out of the total 61 Ambassadors and Charge d’ Affaires were females (or 28 percent), while 10 of the 19 Consuls (53 percent) were female. 263. In December 2001, there were 51 women serving the world as attachés. By December 2003, the number of women attachés declined to 49, holding trade, labor, tourism, agriculture, or welfare portfolios. Participation in international organizations and activities 264. Filipino women easily attend international activities or represent the country in international bodies including the ASEAN Committee on Women. They have been designated as lead representative to international organizations, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), where a woman served as the country senior official representative from 1997 to 2002, and the APEC Business Advisory Council, where one of the three-member representatives of the Philippines is a woman. Women invariably served as head of the Philippine delegation to all regional and global conferences on women. 265. Filipino women have been elected to head such UN bodies as the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (incumbent Chair) and the UN Commission on the Status of Women (three times Chair). They have also served other UN bodies and international and regional organizations, such as CEDAW, UN Committee on Human Rights, UNIFEM and the International Labor Organization. 266. In coordination with other APEC member economies, women business leaders, government officials and gender experts from the Philippines led the organizing of the first APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women in Manila in October 1998. This was in response to the APEC Leaders’ call for the integration of women and youth made in 1996 when Philippines chaired APEC and led the advocacy for gender mainstreaming. The APEC Ministerial Meeting focused on the role and contributions of women in the economy, particularly in small and medium enterprises, industrial science and technology, and human resource development. The Philippines also co-chaired the task force for the integration of women in APEC. 78