Magna Carta of Women signed

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo signed into law yesterday Republic Act 9710 banning discrimination against women, and recognizing and protecting their rights.

The Magna Carta of Women ensures the equitable participation and representation of women in government, political parties, the civil service and the private sector.

Under RA 9710, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women is renamed the Philippine Commission for Women, the primary policy-making and coordinating body for women and gender equality concerns.

It mandates the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to strengthen the delivery of services to women migrant workers abroad.

As the gender and development ombudsman, the Commission on Human Rights has the major role of helping government agencies monitor compliance with the law’s provisions.

The law also tasked the government to ensure that women are protected from all forms of violence.

It is the right of women to seek protection and security in situations of armed conflict and militarization, according to the law.

“Towards this end, they shall be protected from all forms of gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse,” read the law.

“It (government) shall not force women, especially indigenous peoples, to abandon their lands, territories and means of subsistence or relocate them in special centers for military purposes under any discriminatory condition.”

Equal opportunity for women is emphasized under the law in all fields and endeavors.

The law states that the number of women in third level or supervisory positions in government must be increased within the next five years to achieve a 50-50 gender balance.

It also provides for an increase in the recruitment and training of women in the police force and forensics and medico-legal services until women make up 50 percent of their personnel.

The law mandates the establishment of violence against women’s desks in every barangay.

Political parties are encouraged to integrate women in their roster of leaders and the government to provide them incentives for this purpose.

In education, the law requires that all educational materials and curriculums that tend to stereotype women be revised.

No educational institution will be allowed to expel or refuse readmission to women faculty members due to pregnancy outside of wedlock.

In the same manner, no school would be allowed to expel or refuse admission to a female student solely on the account of her getting pregnant outside of marriage.

In the military and police force, the law states that women should no longer be confined to administrative tasks and should be allowed to avail of combat and non-combat training.

“Women in military shall be accorded the same promotional privileges and opportunities as men, including pay increases, additional remunerations and benefits and awards based on their competency and quality of performance,” read the law.

In the workplace, women employees would be allowed to avail of a special leave benefit of two months with full pay after undergoing surgery caused by gynecological disorders, provided that she has rendered at least six months of continuous aggregate employment.

In family relations, the law grants women equal weight in all decision making processes such as number and spacing of children and even nationality.

Women in marginalized sectors are guaranteed all civil, political, social and economic rights recognized, promoted and protected under existing laws.

The law mandates the government to ensure the protection and promotion of migrant women’s rights and welfare, regardless of work status, and protect them against discrimination in wages, conditions of work and employment opportunities.

Joining Mrs. Arroyo in the signing ceremony were Speaker Prospero Nograles, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and several other lawmakers who worked for the passage of the law.

Jamby, Pia hail new law

Two female senators welcomed yesterday Mrs. Arroyo’s signing into law of RA 9710.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal, the law’s principal author and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations, said the law is a victory for all women who fought, and continue to fight, for recognition, protection, and equality.

“After languishing for more than a decade in Congress and after several attempts to sabotage its passage into law, the dream of having a comprehensive legislation for the rights of women is finally a reality,” she said.

“I congratulate my fellow women, and those enlightened men, who tirelessly fought for this cause and urge them to never stop breaking barriers.”

Sen. Pia Cayetano, principal sponsor of RA 9710, hailed as “a triumph for Filipino women” the enactment of the landmark Magna Carta of Women.

“This long-overdue law is an omnibus declaration of women’s rights,” she said.

“It seeks to eliminate various forms of gender-based discrimination and promote their fundamental rights and freedoms.

“It will be the legacy of the 14th Congress to Filipino women today and for generations to come. I hope this paves the way for greater women participation in the nation’s political system and governance.”

The magna carta was first filed in the 12th Congress, but was only approved at the Senate and House of Representatives during the 14th Congress in May 2009.

RA 9710 will also give way to the creation of the Gender Ombudsman under the Commission on Human Rights that will specifically handle women’s rights concerns.

The law will also provide penalties for the violation of the provisions of the magna carta.

Other salient features:

• The review and, if necessary, amendment or repeal of laws that are discriminatory to women.

• Ensures women’s equitable participation and representation in government, political parties, international bodies, civil service, and the private sector.

• Affords equal opportunities to women in relation to education, employment, livelihood, social protection, and others, and including women in the military.

• Mandates access to information and services pertaining to women’s health.

Cabral lauds pro-women law

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, a women’s rights advocate, said passage into law of the Magna Carta for Women will promote gender equality and women empowerment in the country.

“We join all Filipinos not just the women in celebrating the enactment of the Magna Carta for Women,” she said.

“It is an important law that promotes gender equality and empowerment of women and increases opportunity for women to contribute to nation building.”

A women’s group also welcomed the enactment of the Magna Carta for Women as a means to improve the country’s global ranking in protecting and promoting women’s rights.

Clara Rita Padilla, EnGendeRights, Inc. executive director, said while the Philippines is known for having laws protecting women’s rights, it lacks a “strong record of prosecution of discrimination against women.”

“We need successful prosecution of cases of violence against women to ensure protection of women. This law will help improve our world ranking in protecting and promoting women’s rights,” she said. —Marvin Sy (philstar.com), with Christina Mendez, Helen Flores