NCRFW urges Congress to expedite passage of Magna Carta of Women

More than 27 years after the ratification of an international treaty for women, the Philippine government has yet to pass a legislation that will protect women against all forms of gender discrimination. The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the government’s machinery for women’s advancement, is urging both houses of Congress to expedite the passage of a landmark bill “Magna Carta of Women” that aims to address gender biases in the country and promote women’s empowerment.

The “Magna Carta of Women bill” pending in both houses of Congress aims to respond to the situation and needs of half of the Philippine population.It fulfills the country’s obligations spelled out in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Philippine government is duty-bound to implement the provisions of CEDAW specifically the UN CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Comments that urges government to enact a comprehensive legal framework for the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment,” NCRFW Chair Myrna T. Yao explained.

She noted 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.

As signatory to CEDAW, the Philippines is compelled to give life to the provisions of the Convention by incorporating into its legal system laws that recognize gender equality, define and prohibit gender discrimination, and put forth a national agenda that would end all forms of discrimination against women in its society. Twenty seven years after the ratification of the Convention, the Philippine Government has been remiss in complying with its State obligations under the Convention. As signatory to CEDAW, the Philippines is compelled to give life to the provisions of the Convention by incorporating into its legal system laws that recognize gender equality, define and prohibit gender discrimination, and put forth a national agenda that would end all forms of discrimination against women in its society. Twenty seven years after the ratification of the Convention, the Philippine Government has been remiss in complying with its State obligations under the Convention.

Chair Yao added that while Filipino women do not suffer from the more glaring practices of gender inequality in other countries, they nevertheless are victims of a host of interrelated and interpenetrating factors which produce and reinforce inequality. Such unequal and even oppressive relations which spring from the society’s gender bias are manifested in various interpenetrating levels.

The NCRFW head is urging members of the Upper and Lower Chambers in Congress to immediately pass the proposed legislation in order for women to be accorded the same legal status as men in civil, social, economic and political matters.

She noted that it is high time for the Philippine government to have a legal framework that recognizes the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men.

“The passage of a legal framework for women will affirm the Philippine government’s commitment on UN CEDAW. The Philippines should intensify its efforts to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women especially in the marginalized sectors of society to guarantee their economic, social and cultural well-being without distinction or discrimination on account of class, age, sex, gender, language, ethnicity, religion, ideology, disability, education and status,” Chair Yao noted.

The proposed Magna Carta of Women bill pending before both houses of Congress seeks to recognize the right of women in all sectors to participate in policy formulation, planning, organization, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of all programs and projects. It likewise hopes to support policies, researches, technology and training programs, and other support services such as financing, production and marketing to encourage active participation of women in national development.