UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador Karen Davila
An award-winning Filipina broadcast journalist, television news anchor, radio presenter, and longstanding advocate for women’s and children’s rights, Karen Davila was appointed as a UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines in August 2023. In that position, she will amplify critical issues and inspire change, drawing attention to the role of women in development and nation-building, and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Davila is a widely known and respected public figure through her political, business, and daily news shows, aired in the Philippines and internationally. She also became a social media influencer through her Spotify podcasts and YouTube videos, started during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Davila has been recognized with numerous awards, including the UNICEF Child Rights Award, the 2021 Best National News Anchor title from the Asian Academy Creative Awards, and YouTube’s “Golden Button” award.
Since 2020, she has been an active volunteer and champion for UN Women in the Philippines, where she helped start the office’s first humanitarian response in the country, with a focus on supporting women and mothers through the Agapay Nanay (Supporting/Assisting Mothers) initiative, delivering crucial support to nearly 5,000 beneficiaries during Typhoon Ulysses.
Davila has been a consistent voice in UN Women events, moderating International Women’s Day celebrations and the Philippine Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards. She has also supported regional campaigns for women’s leadership in business and corporate settings, ending gender-based violence through online campaigns, and the importance of women in peacebuilding.