PCW, HOR to hold legislators’ forum on gender-responsive legislation


Recognizing the important roles of legislators in formulating laws and prioritizing measures that will address prevailing gender issues, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in partnership with the House of Representatives (HOR) Committee on Women and Gender Equality (CWGE) will hold a legislators’ forum on November 25, 2014, 11am to 4pm at the De Venecia Conference Room, South Wing Annex, HOR, Quezon City.

Dubbed Moving Forward with Women’s Rights, the forum will highlight the role of legislators in gender-responsive policy making. According to PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa, “While the Philippines has good laws, some of them are still not gender-responsive, and even promote unfair and discriminatory practices against women. Given these, having gender lens in legislation is of prime importance in order to amend or repeal these discriminatory laws.

The forum also aims to generate support and commitment to prioritize the enactment of measures for gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) especially those identified in the Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda (WPLA). There will also be sharing of experiences of other women legislators in pushing for the enactment of GEWE-related laws.

Speakers of the said forum include Senator Pia Cayetano, PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa, Philippine Daily Inquirer Columnist and Women’s Rights Advocate Ms. Rina Jimenez-David, Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, Rep. Gina P. De Venecia and Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan.

The activity is in line with the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from November 25, which is the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children, until December 12, which is the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day.