CEDAW/C/PHI/CO/6 understanding do not exist with all countries and regions to which Filipino women migrate, and that women workers who migrate to other countries and regions in search of work opportunities through informal channels remain vulnerable to becoming victims of various forms of exploitation, violence and trafficking. 22. The Committee urges the State party to continue conducting bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding with countries and regions to which Filipino women migrate in search of work. In addition, it requests the State party to develop policies and measures to protect women migrant workers who go abroad through informal channels from all forms of violations of their rights. The Committee also encourages the State party to take a coherent and comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of women’s migration, including through the creation of conditions necessary for sustainable development and of safe and protected jobs for women as a viable economic alternative to migration or unemployment. 23. While acknowledging that the President, five Supreme Court justices, 17 appellate court justices and two justices in the Court of Tax Appeals in the Philippines are women, the Committee is concerned about the low level of participation of women in elected and public bodies. 24. The Committee calls upon the State party to establish concrete goals and timetables and to take sustained measures, including temporary special measures, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 25 on temporary special measures, to accelerate women’s equal participation in political and public life and ensure that the representation of women in political and public bodies reflects the full diversity of the population, particularly indigenous women and Muslim women. The Committee recommends that the State party implement training programmes and awareness-raising campaigns to highlight the importance to society as a whole of women’s full and equal participation in leadership positions at all levels of decision-making. It also calls on the State party to monitor the impact of measures taken, track trends over time, take necessary corrective measures and provide in its next report detailed information about results achieved. 25. The Committee expresses its concern about the possible adverse impact that trade liberalization may have on the living and working conditions of Filipino women, especially in rural areas. The Committee notes with concern the high unemployment rate among women and the gender wage gap. It is also concerned at the overrepresentation of women in the informal economy, which negatively affects their eligibility for social security and health care. 26. The Committee requests the State party to evaluate the impact of the free trade agreements on the socio-economic conditions of women and to address the high unemployment rate of women by creating new sustainable employment opportunities for those affected. The Committee urges the State party to adopt effective measures in the formal labour market to eliminate occupational segregation, both horizontal and vertical, and to narrow and close the wage gap between women and men. It also encourages the State party to take measures that enhance the situation of women in the informal economy. It invites the State party to monitor the impact of measures taken and trends over time and to report to the Committee on results achieved in its next report. 06-48052 5