7 years in the making; legislative debates

started in 2002 (12

th
Congress)
Merger of 2 bills:
Magna Carta for Women
Magna Carta of Women in Rural Development
Landmark legislation on womens rights,
passed in the 13
th
Congress
Goal: To ensure the equitable representation
of women in all spheres of society

R.A. 9710
14 August 2009
Recognizing and protecting womens rights,
and banning discrimination against women
Recognizes and protects womens rights
At home
At work
In all spheres of society
Toward developing all aspects of womens well-being
Ensures the equitable participation and
representation of women in
Government
political parties
the civil service and
private sector
Guarantees the civil, political, social and
economic rights of women in marginalized sector

NCRFW: MCW seeks to eliminate all forms of
discrimination against women by
Recognizing
Protecting
Fulfilling and
Promoting
All human rights and fundamental freedoms of
Filipino women, particularly those in the
marginalized sector.
Equal opportunity for women is emphasized
under the law in all fields and endeavors


Ensures womens rights to:
Health
Food security
Housing
Decent work
Livelihood
Social protection
Preservation of cultural identy
Spells out equal rights in marriage and
family, including joint decision on the
number and spacing of children
Sec. 8 All rights in the Constitution and
those rights recognized under international
instruments duly signed and ratified by the
Philippines, in consonance with Philippine
law shall be rights of women under this Act
to be enjoyed without discrimination.
MCW is the national bill of rights of women
just as CEDAW (Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women) is the international bill of
rights of women
Increases the number of women personnel until they
fill half of third-level positions in the government
Sets up in every barangay a violence against
womens (VAW) desk
Provides incentives to parties with womens agenda
Bars the derogatory portrayal of women in media and
film
Ensures womens equal access to education and
sports
Mandates the government to eliminate discrimination
against women in the military and police
Mandates an incremental increase in the
recruitment and training of women in the police
force, forensics and medico-legal, legal services
and social work services in the next 5 years until
they make up half of the number of the
personnel
Provides for the incremental increase of women
personnel in third-level government positions in
the next 5 years to achieve a 50-50 gender
balance
Mandates that 40% of members of development
councils in all government levels should be
women, incentives to be provided to political
parties with womens agenda
Section 12: the State should amend or repeal
within 3 years any law discriminatory to women
Grants women the right to:
security in armed conflict
protection from all forms of gender-based violence
such as rape
Prohibits the State from forcing women,
especially indigenous women, to abandon their
land or relocating them in special centers for
military purposes under any discriminatory
condition
Mandates government personnel involved in the
protection and defense of women to training in
human rights and gender sensitivity
Chief Supt. Yolanda Tanigue, chief of the
WCPC: MCW will pave the way for better
enforcement of laws banning abuse of and
discrimination against women
MCW empowers civilians to arrest anyone
caught in the act of abusing a woman
NCRFW is now the Philippine Commission on
Women (PCW), the primary policy-making
and coordinating body for women and gender
equality concerns.
Designates the CHR as the Gender and
Development (GAD) Ombudsman to ensure
the promotion and protection of womens
rights (monitors compliance with the laws provisions)
CHR Chair Leila de Lima: The principles of
Human Rights are therenon-discrimination,
equality, participation, self-determination,
non-exclusion...


Mandates the DOLE and DSWD 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

All educational materials and curriculums
that tend to stereotype women should be
revised.
No educational institution will be allowed to
expel or refuse readmission to women
faculty members due to pregnancy outside of
wedlock.
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.

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.

The law mandates the government to ensure
the protection and promotion of migrant
womens rights and welfare, regardless of
work status, and protect them against
discrimination in wages, conditions of work
and employment opportunities.
Mandates access to information and services
pertaining to womens health.
Sen. Jamby Madrigal, chairperson of the
Senate Committee on Youth, Women and
Family Relations-- principal author
Sen. Pia Cayetano -- principal sponsor
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 August 2009
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?article
Id=496127&publicationSubCategoryId=63