SC 1325 Philippines Policies or Legislations that Manifest
Compliance
Condemnation of discrimination
against women in all forms
Participation of women in the
political and public life of the
country
Reinforce and support women’s
formal and informal conflict
prevention efforts
 The Magna Carta of Women (R.A 9710) is a comprehensive
women's human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination
through the recognition, protection, fulfilment and promotion of
the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging in the
marginalized sectors of the society. It conveys a framework of
rights for women based directly on international law.
 As a response to the need to address the violence women and
children experience due to unequal power relations, Republic Act
9262 was signed on May 8, 2004 by then President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, with full support of women’s rights and
feminist groups. Also known as the Anti-Violence Against
Women and their Children Act (VAWC) of 2004, RA 9262
charges tougher penalties for abusive husbands and men and marks
the declaration of the State’s valuation to “the dignity of women
and children and guarantees full respect for human rights” (Sec. 2).
 Republic Act 7192 (1991) is an act promoting the integration of
women as full and equal partners of men in development and
nation building. The law provides that a substantial portion of
government resources be utilized to support programs and
activities for women. The law also encourages the full
participation and involvement of women in the development
process and to remove gender bias in all government regulations
and procedures.
 The Magna Carta of Women (MCW, Republic Act 9710)
provides under Section 11 the undertaking of “temporary special
measures”  to accelerate the participation and equitable
representation of women in all spheres of society particularly in
the decision-making and policy-making processes in government
and private entities to fully realize their role as agents and
beneficiaries of development.”
 The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)- The Office of
the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP ) Joint
Memorandum Circular No. 2014-01: Integration of Women,
Peace and Security Programs, Activities and Projects (PAP)
should be able to properly identify women, peace and security
issues, concerned agencies shall conduct gender-sensitive conflict
analysis in conflict-affected/post-conflict areas and situations.
They shall also generate gender statistics and sex-disaggregated
data, as well as conflict and non-conflict differentiated information
and use such as basis for planning, programming and policy
formulation. In line with the main pillars of the NAPWPS,
concerned agencies shall give importance to PAPs that (1) address
emerging and/or continuing issues and concerns on the protection
of women and girls in conflict-affected areas, (2) respond to

Appropriate measures, including
legislations to suppress traffic of
women
Protection of internally displaced
and refugee women
conflict-related violence against women (VAW) and/or sexual and
gender-based violence (SGBV) and (3) promote women’s
participation in peacebuilding, peacemaking and conflict
prevention and resolution mechanisms.
 The Safe Spaces Act (R.A 11313) is an attempt to eradicate
gender-based harassment, enclosed under the umbrella of
Violence Against Women, because figures show that, despite the
existing laws protecting Juanas, VAW still persists, a
manifestation of gender inequality. The Safe Spaces Act defines
gender–based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online,
workplaces, and educational and training institutions. The law
penalizes all forms of sexual harassment in streets and public
spaces, as well as in online spaces.  It also strengthens the
administrative mechanisms against sexual harassment in
workplaces and in educational and training institutions.  Another
salient feature of the law is that it recognizes that sexual
harassment may be committed even between peers, or by a student
to a teacher, or a trainee to a trainer.
 Mail-Order Bride Law ( R.A 6955) prohibits the business of
organizing or facilitating marriages between Filipinas and foreign
men, or Mail-Order Brides. The Philippine congress enacted in
1990 as a result of stories in the local media about Filipinas being
abused by their foreign husbands. Because of this, Filipinas often
use "reverse publications", publications in which men advertise
themselves to contact foreign men for marriage to Filipina women.
Section 1 of R.A 6955 provides that it is the policy of the state to
ensure and guarantee the enjoyment of the people of a decent
standard of living. Towards this end, the State shall take measures
to protect Filipino women from being exploited in utter disregard
of human dignity in their pursuit of economic upliftment.
 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A 9208) institutes
policies to eliminate and punish human trafficking,
especially women and children, establishing the necessary
institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of
trafficked persons. It aims "to promote human dignity, protect the
people from any threat of violence and exploitation, and mitigate
pressures for involuntary migration and servitude of persons, not
only to support trafficked persons but more importantly, to ensure
their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the mainstream
of society."
 National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security
(NAPWPS) that the following shall be observed in the conflict
management, conflict resolution, and implementation of
humanitarian action in the crisis in Marawi City and the whole of
Mindanao should Ensure that all persons, especially women,
children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, affected and
displaced by armed conflict are protected from all forms of
gender-based violence, particularly rape, sexual abuse, sexual

Girls’ and women’s access to
education, health, and employment
Access to justice for gender-based
crimes
harassment, and trafficking, and all other forms of violence in
situations of armed conflict and Establish gender-responsive
mechanisms and facilities, which include Women- and Child-
Friendly Spaces (WCFS) and Women and Children Protection
Desks, in all evacuation areas and internally displaced persons
(IDP) camp,
 Section 9.b of the Magna Carta of Women provides that
“women shall have the right to protection and security in
situations of armed conflict and militarization. Towards this end,
they shall be protected from all forms of gender-based violence,
particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and all forms of
violence in situations of armed conflict. The State shall observe
international standards for the protection of civilian population in
circumstances of emergency and armed conflict.” Furthermore,
Section 10 states that “women have the right to protection and
security in times of xxx crisis situations especially in all phases of
relief, recovery, rehabilitation, and construction efforts. The State
shall provide for immediate humanitarian assistance, allocation of
resources, and early resettlement, if necessary.”
 Art. 130 – Art 138 of Labor Code (1989) covers issues such as
night work prohibition, specifies that employers must provide
special facilities for women, prohibition of discrimination against
women in respect to terms and conditions of employment,
prohibition of discrimination by reason of marriage of a woman
worker.
 Art. 1, Section 2 of National Health Insurance Act of 1995 (R.A
7875) with the guiding principle of Section 11, Article XIII of the
1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines declares
that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost. Priority for the needs of the
underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children shall
be recognized. Likewise, it shall be the policy of the State to
provide free medical care to paupers.
 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877) addresses the
issue of sexual harassment committed in employment, education
or training environment. It was signed into law on February 14,
1995, under former President Fidel Ramos' administration. Sexual
favors made as a condition in the employment or granting
promotions or privileges; or the refusal to grant the sexual favor
results in limiting, segregating or classifying the employee which
in any way would discriminate, deprive or diminish employment
opportunities or otherwise adversely affect is punishable by law.
 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004
(RA 9262) is An Act Defining Violence Against Women and
Their Children, Providing Protective Measures for Victims,
 Prescribing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes, recognizes
the need to protect the family and its members particularly women
and children, from violence and threats to their personal safety and
security. Under this law, the state also recognizes the need to
protect the family and its members particularly women and
children, from violence and threats to their personal safety and
security.

 Framework Plan for Women (FPW). This is part of the

All actors engaged in every stage
of conflict, peace negotiations and
post-conflict reconstruction protect
and respect women’s human rights
Philippine Plan for Women which is developed to focus on three
thrust namely: promoting women’s economic empowerment;
advance and protect women human rights; and promote gender
responsive governance. This plan identifies the concrete gender
issues that will be addressed, pinpoint targets and indicators, name
programs, formulates the implementation plan, and set-up tools for
monitoring and evaluation. It is obvious that the Philippines has a
well-developed legal framework for gender equality. This is even
reinforced by the ratification of international instruments on
women (e.g. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Women or CEDAW) and clear
commitments to the outputs of the UN Women Conferences. This
is already a good handle for gender equality but their
implementation and the “real politics” surrounding these legal
norms leave so much to be desired.

 The National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

(NAPWPS) serves as the response of the Philippines to various
international instruments on women, peace and security. It
supports the implementation of national mandates on women and
gender equality as well as peace and development. It is a product
of constructive engagement between the government and civil
society towards addressing sexual and gender-based violence in
the context of conflict and promoting women’s participation in
peacebuilding.
The NAPWPS anchors its vision to achieving the expansion of
women’s role in the various spaces for peace. In this regard, it
highlights women’s agency both as leaders and participants in the
peace process of the country. It seeks to continue the best practice
of women’s presence in formal peace tables as well as in other
informal spaces

Reflection:

After learning about Peace and Security Agenda, I realized that despite the efforts of different organizations to
empower and improve the situation of women in our society, societal trends on women’s low labor participation,
their increasing involvement in vulnerable employment, and non-declining rates of violence against women and
children still exist and violence arising from extremism worsens the situation as it results in women’s displacement
and increased vulnerability to human trafficking. As a student, I learned that we should encourage the women
around us and make them feel special and strong. Encourage them to speak up and make sure they know the value of
their opinions so that they’re never scared to use their voice. We should also lift women up by taking a stance
against negative comments online, at the office, in school, and wherever you go. Fight negativity by promoting
women’s body positivity, intelligence, and authenticity. Whatever career we choose, we should always remember to
take into consideration if that career would help improve the situation of women in our society, would this career
violate basic women’s right, and would this career affect my perspective on women.