NCRFW eyes immediate Senate approval of Magna Carta of Women

The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the government machinery for women’s advancement, is pushing for the immediate Senate approval of the proposed Magna Carta of Women bill, a landmark legislation that seeks to protect Filipino women from all forms of gender discrimination.

The House of Representatives approved its version of the bill while the proposed legislation has already been passed during the second reading at the Senate.

“The Magna Carta of Women bill is envisioned as the omnibus law to eliminate discrimination against women and to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, particularly the poor and the marginalized,” NCRFW Chairperson Myrna T. Yao said.

The Legislative and Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) has prioritized the swift passage of the proposed Magna Carta of Women to enable the Philippine government to strictly comply with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

As signatory to CEDAW, the Philippines is compelled to give life to the provisions of the Convention by incorporating them into its legal system.

The proposed bill seeks to further intensify the Philippine government’s commitment to uphold human rights of women particularly, small farmers and rural workers, fisherfolk, urban poor, workers in both formal and informal economy, women in the military, migrant workers, indigenous peoples, Muslim women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and solo parents. It also provides protection to girl-children by eliminating all forms of discrimination in education, health and nutrition and skills development.

Under the bill, there will be an incremental increase in the recruitment and training of women in the next five years in the police force, forensics and medico-legal, and legal services and other services availed by women who are victims of gender-related offenses.

The Magna Carta of Women bill likewise proposes for an increase in the number of women occupying third level positions in government within the next five years to achieve a gender balance in the bureaucracy.