WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT?

Women’s evenhandedness to development has been termed a universal good but their understanding of this
right to development is tormented by the injustice tradition of the society toward women back then which
impregnated their lives and apparently affected their decision-making to participate in all societal movements and
acquiring the privileges meant for them. Right to development among women doesn’t merely about acknowledging
the factors behind global areas of concern such as income poverty, inequality, racism, unfairly being paid, human
trafficking, and sexual assaults; instead, the law/s discussing this issue should be comprehensively enacted and the
agencies governing it must always uphold integrity and impartiality. In this way, it can be said that the human rights
approach is advantageous to women’s development. The following are the context in how the human rights
approach recognizes women’s development:

 Women are given great protection by the approaches to human rights from any forms of unscrupulous
deeds because they are predominantly the subject of violence that have been existing ever since society
labeled them as to what they should be.
 Women are bestowed with copious opportunities such as making their way in nation-building by allowing
them to take part in executing strategic plans to make the country progress.
 Women are now granted the chance to pursue their education and get their bachelor’s degree to better land
jobs by providing them access to free education and scholarships.
 Women are now enjoying the privilege of acquiring valuable information and services concerning their
reproductive health which allows them to perform actions or systematic methods that would minimize the
risks on this matter.
 Women are now granted the space to fill in the spheres of economics and politics. In fact, women leaders
are undoubtedly great when it comes to governing their subordinates. As proof, there have been women
leaders across the globe such as the head state of Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, and Germany, who
made their names known especially on how they auspiciously withstood the adverse impact of the Covid-
19 pandemic and the effective approach they utilized. Furthermore, it’s now perceptible in our society the
recognition of women’s economic power and independence.

B. WHAT ARE SOME PHILIPPINE LAWS OR PROPOSED BILLS ADDRESSING WOMEN ISSUES?

105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law

Through the excellency of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Republic Act 11210, or the Expanded Maternity
Leave Law was ratified in February 2019 which aims to expand the preceding 60-day (78 days for caesarian section
delivery for women workers in the private sector) paid maternity leave to 105 days. It also included in the law the
choice to expand it with a supplemental 30 days of unpaid leave, and an additional 15 days of maternity leave ought
to be accorded to female solo parents.

Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women

Republic Act 6725 forbids discrimination concerning terms and conditions of employment merely based on
sex. Covered by this law is that any employer who leans on men over women with regards to promotion, training
opportunities, and other assets solely hinging on sex is one of the forms of discriminatory actions in the workplace.

Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004

Republic Act 9262 provides prime concern to women and their children by conceding the urge to safeguard
their existence including their rights and privileges and giving them the assistance to evade any forms of violence
and the forthcoming threats concerning their safety and security.
 In accordance with RA 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004”, the
violence against women (VAW) includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
• Physical violence or the act that includes bodily or physical harm
• Sexual violence or the act that is sexual in nature, committed against a woman or her child
• Psychological violence or the act or omission that causes or is likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the
victim
• Economic abuse or the act that makes or attempts to make a woman financially dependent

Assistance for small-scale women entrepreneurs

Republic Act 7882, or the act that asserts the Provision of Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and
Cottage Business Enterprises which was enacted in February 1995, strives to furnish all viable abetment to Filipino
women in the questing of obtaining, operating, and managing small business ventures.

Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995

Republic Act 7877 recognizes all the issues apropos of sexual violence carried out in the workplace,
academe, or training grounds. It was ratified into law on February 14, 1995.

If sexual favors are given or withheld as a condition of employment or for promotions or privileges; or if
the refusal of the favor results in limiting, segregating, or classifying the employee, the outcome in any way would
deprive, complicate, or undermine employment opportunities is proscribed by law.

The Anti-Rape Law of 1997

Republic Act 8353 penalizes every individual who is subjected to behaviors about fornication and coition
may it be compelling, a form of threat, intimidation, or utilizing deceitful schemes. One may be castigated of
reclusion Perpetua or life imprisonment depending on the austerity of the sexual violence committed.

Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998

Republic act 8505 promulgates the administration of the State to dispense assistance and protection
indispensable for victims of rape. This means that the government shall maximize its authority to make relations
with several agencies and organizations to work together in establishing and managing of rape crisis hub in each
province/city that will succor and secure victims of rape in any legal dispute of their cases and recovery.

Magna Carta of Women

Republic Act 9710 is an extensive human rights law concerning women that aims to eradicate any forms of
injustice by the acknowledgment, protection, execution, and promotion of Filipino women’s rights, particularly
those who are distinguished as part of the marginalized sector.

Thereunder this law is Executive Order 273 which enunciates the acquiescence and acquisition of the
Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development, 1995-2025.

National Women's Day

Republic Act 6949 declares the eighth day of March every year as National Women’s Day- a special
working holiday.
 All the supervisors of government organizations and agencies, employers of various private companies and
organizations shall not deprive their employees of the opportunities to take part in any ventures organized inside the
premises of their establishments in reliance on the celebration of National Women’s Day. This is to guarantee that
the special holiday is significantly observed.

C. HOW WOULD WOMEN, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BENEFIT FROM POLICIES OR LAWS
THAT PROTECT AND EMPOWER WOMEN?

Fundamentally, the public, particularly women can benefit from existing policies or laws that safeguard and
empower women by maximizing the privileges granted by the government to them. These ordinances should be
incorporated with impartiality so that a decision will not put both the justice system and the people into
confoundment. Once these laws and policies are implemented in conformity with equality, women can now have the
freedom to enjoy the same opportunities that men receive. They have now the safe space to unleash their full
potential in carrying out activities that contribute to nation-building, utilizing their economic power and
independence for instance. Furthermore, existing laws should not tolerate or use as an advantage to undermine
women’s capability the traditional norms about gender and sexuality that the society used to lean on back then.

To achieve equality among gender and for women to receive fair treatment as men, Women, and the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inducted the objectives that must be accomplished. The prime focus of
SDG 5 (Gender Equality) is the denouement of all the pervasive behaviors/actions that discriminate against women.
Other goals that must be achieved include the eradication of all forms of violence committed against women and
girls both in the public and private realms (trafficking, sexual assault, and exploitations), withdrawal of traditions of
some cultures that are deleterious for women to experience (early marriage, compelled sex, and female genital
mutilation). Furthermore, it aims to establish an equal opportunity for women to effectively participate at every level
of decision-making, politically, economically, and publicly. Also, it emphasizes the importance of universal access
to sexual and reproductive health and rights as concurred in obedience to the Programme of Action of the
International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action. Moreover, it
intensifies the utilization of technology to advocate women’s empowerment. Other objectives of the SDG focus on
attaining impartiality in all facets of life such as acquiring economic resources, authority to manage and own land
properties, and augmenting effective policies and statutory law enactment for the advancement of gender parity.

D. WHAT ARE THE STATED AIMS OF SOME PHILIPPINE WOMEN-SPECIFIC POLICIES AND
GUIDELINES MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER? WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?

Since the objectives of most Philippine women-specific policies are all interrelated with each other and
what they want to achieve is to eliminate all forms of violence against women, I’ll be focusing on which I think is a
representation of most women-related laws and that is “The Magna Carta of Women”. This law aims to bring off the
following:

 Safeguard women’s welfare from any forms of assault, even the unethical behaviors, and actions that the
State has committed.
 Safeguard from sexual exploitation and other gender-related violence, and assurance of their safety amid
disasters, and crises, particularly in the aspects of rehabilitation and recovery.
 Inclusion and delegation of women in consenting anti-discrimination programs that will expedite and
guarantee women’s even-handed engagement in various agencies of the government such as the
development and planning council, and involvement in political and economic matters.
 Fair treatment of women before justifying the law, commensurate access to free education, and eradication
of discrimination in scholarship granting, and training participation, giving equal privileges as men when
dealing with sports development.
 Eluding of injustices act in the field of military, police, and other services that are related to it, and the non-
disparaging showcasing of women in the media industry to raise awareness about acknowledging women’s
dignity and their significant contribution to various sectors of the society.
  Dispense women the access to comprehensive health information and services guarding their lives in all
stages, which addresses the concerns of deciphering the sources of women’s mortality and malaise.

These ideas are just some of the major targets that the law wants to achieve. Besides it, all, if not most of
the laws wanted to eliminate discrimination against women and encourage them to take part in nation-building
economically, politically, and socially.

The stated aims of some Philippine women-specific policies and guidelines are substantial because they
equipped women with the knowledge, they need to know to safeguard their rights and security from abuses when no
authority is present to protect them. Moreover, it is also important to be outlined and disclosed to the public so that
everyone will be informed regarding the limitations of their freedom and the consequences of their actions once they
infringed the laws. Furthermore, it is of utmost indispensable to relay these aims to all public officials and those who
work in the government to be elucidated the fact that it’s unethical to make use of their position as an advantage
over women who don’t have the fortitude to defend and speak up for themselves. Lastly, the publication of these
laws is a way to raise awareness among everyone that all forms of sexual and gender-based violence must not be
condoned as women deserve to be treated evenhandedly, and that they must have access to equal opportunities that
men do have.

REFERENCES

Cudis, C. (2019, March 5). List of laws protecting women in PH. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved from
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063739

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. (n.d.). UN Women. Retrieved from
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-equality

Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710). (2010, March 15). Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved from
https://psa.gov.ph/content/q-magna-carta-women-republic-act-no-9710

Banda, F. (n.d.). Women, human rights and development. Retrieved from

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Development/RTDBook/PartIIChapter11.pdf

2. Come up with a PowerPoint presentation to better organize and illustrate the shared insights/answers during the
brainstorming. 
3. Be prepared to present the output @ the Conference at the following meeting.

By the way, this will also serve as your Midterm Project.