Former Senator Shahani receives recognition from Lower House, Senate
Former Senator and women’s rights champion Dr. Leticia Ramos-Shahani has been recognized by both houses of the Congress for her invaluable contributions in shaping women’s agenda.
On June 9, the House of Representatives adopted House Bill No. 2007, sponsored by Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, to commend the initiatives of Dr. Shahani in empowering Filipino women. The former legislator received a Certificate of Recognition from the Lower House handed by its Speaker Feliciano Belmonte along with other women leaders including former Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Aurora Javate-De Dios, PCW Board Member for Youth Ma. May-I Fabros and PCW Board Member for Health and Science Dr. Marita V. Reyes.
On June 10, the Senate adopted Resolution No. 1396 sponsored by Senator Loren Legarda to give same recognition to their former Senate President Pro-Tempore.
“It is incumbent upon the Senate to recognize one of the finest and most distinguished legislators to have ever graced its halls and acknowledge her untiring efforts in pushing for valuable legislation on matters of paramount national interests,” Legarda said in a statement posted in Senate’s official website.
Senate President Franklin Drilon and Legarda handed the Certificate of Recognition to Dr. Shahani.
A true champion of women’s rights
PCW Chairperson Remedios I. Rikken believes that Dr. Shahani’s care for Filipino women continues, even after she retired from the bureaucracy.
“Senator Shahani is a true champion of women’s rights. We are blessed to have a staunch advocate like her who brought women into the tables for she did not only represent the Philippines in the United Nations (UN), she authored the first draft of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). During her stint as senator, she pushed for landmark legislations which protect women from violence and discrimination.”
“Senator Shahani took time to be with the PCW last Women’s Month to share her expertise and experiences on being a woman leader. We really appreciate her loyalty to the Filipino women,” she added.
Dr. Shahani was the former Secretary-General of the UN Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1995 and was the head of the Philippine delegation to the UN Fourth World Conference in Beijing, China in 1995. She was the author of the Republic Act 6725 or the “Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace”; RA 8353 or the “Anti-Rape Law of 1997” and the RA 8505, “Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998.” She championed the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget Policy or the allocation of at least five percent of every government agency’s total budget for the advancing women’s rights and gender equality.
