Ensuring Women’s Equal Rights in Marriage and Family Relations Amending the Family Code of the Philippines to remove traces of inequality between spouses with respect to their ability: to provide parental consent to marry, to administer their community property or conjugal partnership, to exercise their parental authority over the person and legal partnership over the continue reading : Ensuring Women’s Equal Rights in Marriage and Family Relations

Enacting the Anti-Prostitution Law (Amending Articles 202 & 341 of the RPC) This policy brief provides the rationale for amending Articles 202 and 341 of the Revised Penal Code on Prostitution and White Slave Trade. It also presents recommendations on how to address the system of prostitution in the Philippines by providing legal protection and continue reading : Enacting the Anti-Prostitution Law (Amending Articles 202 & 341 of the RPC)

Enacting the Anti-Discrimination based on SOGIE Act This policy brief provides the rationale and recommendations for upholding the basic human rights of persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. WHAT IS THE ISSUE?  WHY IS THE ISSUE IMPORTANT? Despite significant strides in the advancement of gender equality in the Philippines, little progress has been continue reading : Enacting the Anti-Discrimination based on SOGIE Act

Amending the Family Code Provision on Legal Separation This policy brief provides the rationale for amending the Family Code provision on Legal Separation, focusing on the violence and abusive conduct as grounds for legal separation and recognizing sexual abuse. WHAT IS THE ISSUE? WHY IS THE ISSUE IMPORTANT? Legal separation is a remedy available to continue reading : Amending the Family Code Provision on Legal Separation

Amending the Anti-Rape Law This policy brief provides the rationale and recommendations for amending the Anti-Rape Law; redefining it by putting the element of lack of consent at its center, increasing the age of statutory rape, and  repealing the forgiveness clause WHAT IS THE ISSUE? WHY IS THE ISSUE IMPORTANT?Rape is an inherently violent crime continue reading : Amending the Anti-Rape Law

Adopting Divorce in the Family Code This policy brief provides the rationale for adopting divorce in the Family Code of the Philippines. WHAT IS THE ISSUE? / WHY IS THE ISSUE IMPORTANT? The Philippines remains to be the only country in the world apart from the Vatican, without a generally applicable divorce law. Spouses who continue reading : Adopting Divorce in the Family Code

PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2020-02: Guide for the 2020 Observance of the National Women’s Month To All Heads of Executive Departments, Agencies, Bureaus, Offices, State   Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Legislative and Judiciary Branches, Constitutional Bodies, Other Instrumentalities of  Subject Guide for the 2020 Observance of the National Women’s Month Date February continue reading : PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2020-02: Guide for the 2020 Observance of the National Women’s Month

PCW at 45: Going Beyond Limits The Philippine Commission on Women celebrated its 45th anniversary as it commits to continue going beyond limits in the pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment. PCW’s founding mothers and employees joined the current workforce of the Commission in the anniversary celebration held at the Philippine International Convention Center on continue reading : PCW at 45: Going Beyond Limits

“Babae, Pambihira Ka”: Generation Equality Caravan The Women’s Month Celebration goes National, at its core of the word. The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) will bring the celebration to Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The three legs will feature a “fireside chat” that cuts across generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. The continue reading : “Babae, Pambihira Ka”: Generation Equality Caravan

PCW condemns clothing line objectifying women, calls for measures against it The Philippine Commission on Women denounces the acts of clothing line, Kain Pepe (KNPP Clothing) and calls for appropriate measures to be taken against it. We condemn the explicit and obscene brand name and shirt designs that objectify and commodify women’s bodies. While the continue reading : PCW condemns clothing line objectifying women, calls for measures against it

PCW Memorandum Circular 2020-01: Submission of the FY 2019 GAD Accomplishment Report Date 30 January 2020 To Heads of Executive Departments, Agencies, Bureaus, Offices, State Universities and Colleges, Government Owned and/or Controlled Corporations, Legislative and Judiciary Branches, Constitutional Bodies, Other Instrumentalities of the National Government and All Others Concerned Subject Submission of the FY 2019 continue reading : PCW Memorandum Circular 2020-01: Submission of the FY 2019 GAD Accomplishment Report

Aiming for Gold: PCW Message on its 45th Founding Anniversary This 2020, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) marks its 45th founding anniversary and the beginning of our five-year journey to our 50th or golden year. We continue to work for a community where women, like gold, are valued; one where they are treated with continue reading : Aiming for Gold: PCW Message on its 45th Founding Anniversary

PCW condemns killing of woman OFW in Kuwait, calls for strengthening of government programs to provide local economic opportunities for women The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) condemns the killing of Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait. Villavende left the country in July 2019 to work as a household service worker continue reading : PCW condemns killing of woman OFW in Kuwait, calls for strengthening of government programs to provide local economic opportunities for women

PCW welcomes new Executive Director The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) enters a new era of leadership as its new Executive Director (ED), Atty. Kristine E. Yuzon-Chaves, assumed office on December 16, 2019. For her first official act as PCW’s ED, Atty. Yuzon-Chaves joined PCW Chairperson Rhodora M. Bucoy, the Management Committee and Supervising Officers continue reading : PCW welcomes new Executive Director

Philippines drops 8 places in gender equality, remains top in Asia The Philippines remains the top country in Asia in terms of closing the gender gap, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 of the World Economic Forum. The report shows that the Philippines has closed 78% of its overall gender gap, garnering a continue reading : Philippines drops 8 places in gender equality, remains top in Asia

Solidarity Walk Wraps Up 2019 18-Day Campaign to End VAW The 2019 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) ends in a high note with a Solidarity Walk led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Department of National Defense (DND), in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and continue reading : Solidarity Walk Wraps Up 2019 18-Day Campaign to End VAW

PCW gets nod of certifying body for certification to ISO 9001:2015 The Philippine Commission on Women welcomes the decision of the audit team from Socotec Certification Philippines, Inc., to recommend the immediate certification of the agency to ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems or QMS), noting zero non-compliance with the requirements of the standards. The PCW’s continue reading : PCW gets nod of certifying body for certification to ISO 9001:2015

PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2019-04: Encoding and Submission of FY 2020 Gender and Development (GAD) Plans and Budgets (GPB) of Pilot Agencies using the Revised Form and the Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS) Version 3 Date 6 December 2019 To: The Heads of the Department of Agriculture, Department of National Defense, Department of Social Welfare continue reading : PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2019-04: Encoding and Submission of FY 2020 Gender and Development (GAD) Plans and Budgets (GPB) of Pilot Agencies using the Revised Form and the Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS) Version 3

Learning about VAW through puppets, puzzles and games The Philippine Commission on Women makes learning about Violence Against Women (VAW) interactive and youth-friendly through the Anti-VAW Expo 2019, held from November 27 to 29, 2019 at the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. The 3-day expo is one of the continue reading : Learning about VAW through puppets, puzzles and games

Cine Juana: Promoting a VAW-free PH one film at a time Young filmmakers focus their lens on the issue of Violence Against Women (VAW) in the Cine Juana Digital Shorts Competition launched by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as part of the activities for the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW. The competition recognizes the continue reading : Cine Juana: Promoting a VAW-free PH one film at a time

PCW: VAW-free Community Starts with the Youth The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) encouraged the generation of today to fight Violence Against Women (VAW) in a Youth Forum, which kicked off the 2019 18-Day Campaign to End VAW on November 25, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Over 500 millennials and Generation Z members continue reading : PCW: VAW-free Community Starts with the Youth

PCW Statement for the 2019 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women A VAW-free community is built on equality, equity, respect for women’s rights, positive masculinity, and inclusiveness. On the surface, this community is ideal, or maybe impossible to achieve. Because numbers show that Violence Against Women (VAW) still exists in different forms, in all continue reading : PCW Statement for the 2019 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

Anti-VAW Expo 2019 The Anti-VAW Expo 2019 features interactive booths where participants shall be oriented on VAW and VAW laws, and on encouraging help-seeking behavior for victims. A digital national commitment website dubbed as “I Vow to End VAW” shall also be setup to give emphasis on everyone’s commitment and contributions in ending VAW and continue reading : Anti-VAW Expo 2019

Safe Spaces Act IRR Signed The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Technical Drafting Committee (TDC) members led the signing of the Safe Spaces Act’s Implementing Rules and Regulations in a ceremony held on October 28, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City. The IRR is a result of the collaborative efforts continue reading : Safe Spaces Act IRR signed

Executive Order No. 275: Creating a Committee for the Special Protection of Children from All Forms of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty, Exploitation, Discrimination and Other Conditions Prejudicial to their Development WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development continue reading : Executive Order No. 275: Creating a Committee for the Special Protection of Children from All Forms of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty, Exploitation, Discrimination and Other Conditions Prejudicial to their Development

What’s Next for the Safe Spaces Act? The Philippine Commission on Women leads the development of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11313 or the “Safe Spaces Act.” The IRR will guide not only government offices in enforcing the new law but also private entities with specific mandates under the law, and continue reading : What’s Next for the Safe Spaces Act?

Abra LGUs participate in Gender Budget Forum Over a hunded participants coming from the 27 municipalities and the Provincial Government of Abra participated in the two-day Gender and Development (GAD) Budget Forum held at the Provincial Capitol on October 2-3, 2019. Conducted by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Regional GAD Committee of continue reading : Abra LGUs participate in Gender Budget Forum

PCW launches priority agenda for 18th Congress “Bakit Mahalaga ang Agenda ni Juana?” This question was posed during the launching of the Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda (WPLA) for the 18th Congress on September 27, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. Organized by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the event was attended continue reading : PCW launches priority agenda for 18th Congress

PH concludes series of ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Confab with Political Security Officials Empowering women in politics and security takes the “ASEAN way” as senior officials from its ten member states conclude the Senior Officials Conference on Gender Mainstreaming in the ASEAN Political-Security Community Sectoral Bodies (APSC). The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), serving as the continue reading : PH concludes series of ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Confab with Political Security Officials

PCW Urges Government Agencies to Boost Programs for Empowering Women in National Gender Budget The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) urged government agencies to use their gender and development (GAD) budget to promote gender-responsive governance and finance programs, projects, and activities on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Speaking before 376 participants of the 7th National continue reading : PCW Urges Government Agencies to Boost Programs for Empowering Women in National Gender Budget

7th National GAD Budget Forum for National Government Agencies, Attached Offices, Bureaus, State Universities and Colleges and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is pleased to invite GAD Focal Point System Members and Budget Officers (maximum of two participants per agency) of national government agencies (NGAs), attached agencies, bureaus, state universities continue reading : 7th National GAD Budget Forum for National Government Agencies, Attached Offices, Bureaus, State Universities and Colleges and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations

7th National GAD Budget Forum for National Government Agencies (NGAs), Attached Offices, Bureaus, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is pleased to invite GAD Focal Point System Members and Budget Officers (maximum of two participants per agency) of national government agencies (NGAs),  attached agencies, continue reading : 7th National GAD Budget Forum for National Government Agencies (NGAs), Attached Offices, Bureaus, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs)

Quality technical GAD assistance pushed during the 4th GAD Resource Pool Assembly “Focus on providing quality technical assistance (TA) on Gender and Development (GAD) and not on the quantity of TA requests.” This is what the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) reiterated to its certified GAD Resource Pool (GR Pool) members during the 4th GR continue reading : Quality technical GAD assistance pushed during the 4th GAD Resource Pool Assembly

PCW to lawmakers: Pass the SOGIE Law The Philippine Commission on Women reiterates its call to end gender-based discrimination and uphold the basic human rights of persons with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE). The recent incident involving a transgender woman who was discriminated when she tried accessing a female toilet in continue reading : PCW to lawmakers: Pass the SOGIE Law

PCW underscores gains and challenges, awards accomplishments of agencies on Magna Carta of Women 10th Anniversary 2019 marks the first decade of the Magna Carta of Women in eliminating discrimination, upholding women’s rights and empowering every Juana. The Philippine Commission on Women headed its tenth anniversary celebration on August 14, 2019 at the Rizal Hall, continue reading : PCW underscores gains and challenges, awards accomplishments of agencies on Magna Carta of Women 10th Anniversary

PCW statement on the retirement of Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa and on the call for the new ED The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) expresses its most heartfelt gratitude to its retired Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa for her dynamic, passionate, and committed leadership for almost 18 years. Verzosa, who turned 65 on August continue reading : PCW statement on the retirement of Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa and on the call for the new ED

Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resource Program: Professionalizing the Neighborhood Sari-Sari for Women’s Poverty Alleviation Listen/watch to Tinig ng Kababaihan: Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resource (STAR) Program (2019)

Secondary National Roads Development Project: Empowering Women through Gender-Responsive Infrastructure Listen to Tinig ng Kababaihan: Secondary Roads Development Project (SNRDP) (2019)

National Housing Authority: Groundbreaking Gender in National Housing Development and Resettlement Initiatives Listen/watch to Tinig ng Kababaihan: Applying Gender and Development in Housing Production and Resettlement Efforts (2019)

National Economic Development Authority: Towards Gender-Responsive National Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting Listen/watch to Tinig ng Kababaihan: Applying Gender and Development in Socioeconomic Planning (2019)