DFA chief Lazaro joins push for gender equality, climate action at UNGA

UNITED NATIONS — Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro led Manila’s delegation at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stepping in for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who opted to stay in the country amid mounting calls to address sweeping corruption allegations plaguing his administration’s infrastructure projects.

Lazaro’s busy week in New York has centered on the Philippines’ commitment to migration, gender equality and climate partnerships.

Addressing leaders at the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) high-level event, Lazaro reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, but called out rising divisiveness and xenophobia that threaten migrant protections worldwide.

Photo by Elton Lugay

“Solidarity is critical. Migration is being challenged by divisive, exclusionary and outright xenophobic tendencies,” Lazaro said, acknowledging both the diplomatic gains and persistent struggles Filipino migrants face. 

“You can always count on the Philippines’ commitment,” she added, emphasizing the country’s creation of a Department of Migrant Workers and its leadership in seafarer human rights policies.

Outside UN headquarters, Filipino and migrant organizations staged protests, condemning both IOM’s dialogue and Manila’s policies. 

A protest rally takes place outside United Nations headquarters in New York City on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, drawing attention to grievances over the Philippine government’s alleged neglect of migrants and calls for greater protection and accountability for overseas workers and disaster-impacted communities. CONTRIBUTED

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‘Neglect’ of Filipino migrants

Organizers labeled the global compact as “modern slavery” and pressed Lazaro to answer for the government’s alleged neglect of Filipino migrants amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

“How dare the UN say they care about gender equality when they are the ones setting up the stage for more and more women to be exploited!” said April Bautista of the International Women’s Alliance.

Protesters demanded Lazaro meet with affected families, calling for urgent action following repeated denials of their requests for dialogue. 

Jo Faralan of Anakbayan USA condemned the “Labor Export Policy” and called for accountability. 

Demonstrators plan to march to the UN during Lazaro’s General Assembly address to demand answers on corruption and migrant neglect.

Gender equality

In a separate high-level session marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Lazaro outlined Manila’s advances in women-led peacebuilding, national care policies and digital inclusion. 

“We reaffirm today our enduring commitment to the UN and to multilateralism,” Lazaro said. “You can count on the Philippines as a champion for advancing gender equality as a driving force for peace, justice and sustainable development.”

Lazaro’s UNGA schedule included a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where both officials discussed deepening cooperation in defense and maritime security, and recent state visits.

Lazaro also represented Manila at the high-profile session on scaling up finance and partnerships to address climate loss and damage, a key gathering Manila organized to push for funding commitments in the wake of climate disasters. 

The Philippines, host of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), urges world leaders to galvanize support for timely, needs-based financing for vulnerable communities, aiming to bridge the growing gap between climate impacts and global support.

Lazaro’s presence comes after Marcos, citing the “inflection point” of the corruption probe, canceled a planned trip to New York. 

“No one will be exempt” from the investigation into infrastructure anomalies, Marcos vowed, as anti-corruption rallies were held outside government offices in Manila and abroad.

Trump speech

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump delivered his first speech at UNGA 80, sharply criticizing the United Nations as ineffective, dismissing climate change as a “con job” and rebuking international migration policies. 

President Donald Trump delivers his first speech at United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. Photo by Garneth Lim

His address, filled with nationalist rhetoric and pointed remarks against European nations, climate action and globalism, drew sharp criticism from world leaders and protesters.

“Not only is the UN not solving the problems, it’s creating new problems for us to solve,” Trump insisted, as activists outside called for stronger global accountability on migration and human rights.

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