MODLUE 3:

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT AWARENESS

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the module, you are expected to:

 Know the correct systems and mechanisms that produce gender inequality;
 Be aware of the importance of gender equality;
 Promote equality and diversity; and
 Know the basics of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“Those who have less in life should have more in law.”

Pres. Ramon Magsaysay on “social justice”

Achieving GENDER parity has become a great concern for the

world today. It is considered as a part of development strategy in
many countries. When all people – both men and women have
equal access to services and resources, enjoy equal rights, and
get equal opportunity to develop capabilities without any bias or
preferences, then the development of the country would be
faster. It strengthens countries' abilities to grow, to reduce poverty, and to govern effectively.
Despite considerable efforts in advocacy, creation of awareness, different strategies and
programs, gender discrimination remains pervasive in many dimensions of life – worldwide.
Though the nature and magnitude of the discrimination vary from country to country, in no part
of the world gender parity is completely achieved in legal, social and economic fronts. Gender
gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, in power,
and political voice. Women are still exploited, discriminated, and subject to harassment and
violence. Again in the current years, the focus has been changed from women empowerment to
gender development. The former is a mean but not all for gender parity. In this perspective an
edited volume covering the various dimensions and strategies of gender development is highly
imperative. Rural women are mainly employed in agriculture – its allied activities and agro-
based enterprises. There exists a glaring gender bias in terms of ownership, nature of works
assigned, wages payment ,freedom in choice of work. Though the women contribute a
significant proportion of agricultural production, they are discriminated, ill-paid and their role is
largely neglected. There is a need for an appropriate legal-institutional frame work, change of
societal attitude, and supported mechanization of agriculture on the need of lessening drudgery
activities and work-stress for women, in reducing gender disparity in agriculture sector and
sustainable development. Similarly, the women, nearly half of the total population, are lagging
behind in access to the existing health care and educational opportunities in the country. A
proper level of awareness and conducive environment need to be developed for this. Promotion
of health, education and an appropriate level of awareness will largely contribute to women
development and facilitate them to enjoy their right. More over provision of employment and
economic empowerment of women can be considered as one of the important dimensions of
gender development. Formation of Self Help Group among poor women – those who are unable
to access market individually, on their own capacity and provision of micro credit financing to
them are great support and help them to start income generating micro enterprises and get rid
of poverty. This not only helps to empower women but also provides them economic and social
justice. This is an initiative to address these issues and draw the attention of the policy makers
and planners.

To achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, agencies need to know the basics.
This learning session described the basic gender-related concepts and identify how social
institutions contribute to the perpetuation of gender issues/biases. This session will also shed
light to the difference of sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and
appreciate the importance of GAD work and advocacy.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Gender and Development (GAD) – refers to the development perspective and process
that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence,
respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human
potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be
reflected in development choices and contends that women are active agents of
development, not just passive recipients of development.

 Gender– is a social and cultural construct, which distinguishes differences in the

attributes of men and women, girls and boys, and accordingly refers to the roles and
responsibilities of men and women. Gender-based roles and other attributes, therefore,
change over time and vary with different cultural contexts. The concept of gender
includes the expectations held about the characteristics, aptitudes and likely behaviors
of both women and men (femininity and masculinity). This concept is useful in analyzing
how commonly shared practices legitimize discrepancies between sexes.

 Sex –refers to the biological differences between males and females, such as the
genitalia and genetic differences.
Thus:
SEX is…
What makes one male or female
Biologically determined
Refers to physical characteristics
Constant across time
Constant/ same across different
societies and cultures
GENDER is…
What is masculine or feminine
Sociologically determined/ culturally
defined
REFERS TO LEARNED BEHAVIOR
Changes over time
May vary in different societies and
cultures

 Substantive equality –means full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms (in fact
and in law), and also equality in outcomes.

 Gender equality– is the concept that women and men, girls and boys have equal
conditions, treatment and opportunities for realizing their full potential, human rights and
dignity, and for contributing to (and benefitting from) economic, social, cultural and
political development. Gender equality is, therefore, the equal valuing by society of the
similarities and the differences of men and women, and the roles they play. It is based
on women and men being full partners in the home, community and society. Equality
does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s
 rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male
or female. Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women
and men and girls and boys are taken into consideration, recognizing the diversity of
different groups and that all human beings are free to develop their personal abilities and
make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes and prejudices about gender
roles. Gender equality is a matter of human rights and is considered a precondition for,
and indicator of, sustainable people-centered development.

 Gender equity – is the process of being fair to men and women, boys and girls, and
importantly the equality of outcomes and results. Gender equity may involve the use of
temporary special measures to compensate for historical or systemic bias or
discrimination. It refers to differential treatment that is fair and positively addresses a
bias or disadvantage that is due to gender roles or norms or differences between the
sexes. Equity ensures that women and men and girls and boys have an equal chance,
not only at the starting point, but also when reaching the finishing line. It is about the fair
and just treatment of both sexes that takes into account the different needs of the men
and women, cultural barriers and (past) discrimination of the specific group.

 Women empowerment – is the provision, availability, and accessibility of opportunities,

services, and observance of human rights which enable women to:

- actively participate and contribute to the political, economic, social, and cultural
development of the nation, and
- provide them equal access to ownership, management, and control of production,
and of material and informational resources and benefits in the family, community,
and society

 Gender discrimination – is any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of

sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment
or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on the basis of equality of men
and women, of human rights and fundamentalfreedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural, civil or any other field” [United Nations, 1979. ‘Convention on the Elimination of
all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW),’ Article 1]. Discrimination can
stem from both law (de jure) or from practice (de facto).

The CEDAW Convention recognizes and addresses both forms of discrimination,

whether contained in laws, policies, procedures or practice.

- De jure discrimination e.g., in some countries, a woman is not allowed to leave the
country or hold a job without the consent of her husband.
- De facto discrimination e.g., a man and woman may hold the same job position and
perform the same duties, but their benefits may differ.

 Discrimination Against Women: any gender-based distinction, exclusion, or restriction

which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or
exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on the basis of equality of men
and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic,
social, cultural, civil, or any other field. It includes any act or omission, including by law,
policy, administrative measure, or practice, that directly or indirectly excludes or restricts
 women in the recognition and promotion of their rights and their access to and
enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges.
- Example: Nightwork prohibition against women (Labor Code, Arts. 130 to 131)
repealed in 2010 by RA No. 10151

 Gender-based violence– is an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated
against a person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences
between females and males. The nature and extent of specific types of GBV vary across
cultures, countries and regions. Examples include sexual violence, including sexual
exploitation/abuse and forced prostitution, domestic violence, trafficking, forced/early
marriage, harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, honor killings
and widow inheritance.

 Gender bias– is making decisions based on gender that result in favoring one gender
over the other which often results in contexts that are favoring men and/or boys over
women and/or girls.
 Marginalization: the condition where a whole category of people is excluded from useful
and meaningful participation in political, economic, social, and cultural life.

 Marginalized: basic, disadvantaged, or vulnerable persons or groups who are mostly

living in poverty and have little or no access to land and other resources, basic social
and economic services such as health care, education, water and sanitation,
employment and livelihood opportunities, housing, social security, physical
infrastructure; and the justice system
  Social Protection: policies and programs that seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability
to risks and enhance the social status and rights of all women, especially the
marginalized by promoting and protecting livelihood and employment, protecting against
hazards and sudden loss of income, and improving people’s capacity to manage risk. Its
components are labor market programs, social insurance, social welfare, and social
safety nets.

 Violence against women – are acts of instilling fear and inflicting pain with the aim to
injure or abuse a person, usually women. Forms of violence may be verbal, physical, or
psychological:
- Jokes
- Wolf-whistles
- Peeking
- Chancing or making sexual passes
- Sexual harassment
- Domestic violence
- Rape
- Prostitution
- Commodification (treating women as commodity and not as a person)

LEGAL BASIS

As in the case of: Villavicencio vs. Lukban G.R. No. L-14639, March 25, 1919

Shall the judiciary permit a government of the men instead of a government of laws to be set up
in the Philippine Islands? … But one can search in vain for any law, order, or regulation, which
even hints at the right of the Mayor of the city of Manila or the chief of police of that city to force
citizens of the Philippine Islands — and these women despite their being in a sense lepers of
society are nevertheless not chattels but Philippine citizens protected by the same constitutional
guaranties as are other citizens — to change their domicile from Manila to another locality.

1975: International Women’s Year

 For the first time, UN to convene World Conference on Women between 19 June and 02
July 1975 in Mexico City, Mexico.
 International action program for women would be launched
 Membership
 Cabinet members from departments that directly or indirectly affect the
participation of women
 Heads of women’s organizations as President may designate
 Heads of chambers of commerce
 Government and private sector representatives who can help implement IWY’s
aims, as the President may designate

 Policy Declaration
 WHEREAS, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines recognizes the
significant contribution of Filipino women as citizens, homemakers, workers,
volunteers, as well as their increasing participation in the development of friendly
relations and cooperation among nations, and the promotion of world peace, and,
 WHEREAS, there is a need for a body to review, evaluate and recommend
measures, including priorities, to ensure the full integration of women for
economic, social, and cultural development at national, regional and international
levels and to ensure further equality between men and women;

 Background
 Often described as an international bill of rights for women
 Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979
 Philippines signed it on 15 July 1980, and ratified it on August 5, 1981
 Entered into force as an international treaty on September 3, 1981, after the 20th
country ratified it

 Content
 Defines discrimination against women
 Sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination
 Imposes state commitments on Policy Measures, Guarantee of Basic Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedom, Special Measures, Sex Role Stereotyping
and Prejudice, Prostitution, Political and Public Life, Representation, Nationality,
Education, Employment, Health, Economic and Social Benefits, Rural Women,
Law, Marriage and Family Life

 “Discrimination against women”

 ACTION: Any distinction, exclusion or restriction
 BASIS: made on the basis of sex
 EFFECT OR PURPOSE: impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or
exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of
men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms
 FIELD: in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field (Article 1)

 Obligations of State Parties

 States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures at the national level to
fully realize the rights recognized in the present Convention
 Submit report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures
adopted:
 one year after entry into force
  at least every four years thereafter

In the case of Halagueña vs. Philippine Airlines G.R. No. 172013, October 2, 2009

The said issue cannot be resolved solely by applying the Labor Code. Rather, it requires the
application of the Constitution, labor statutes, law on contracts and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the power to apply and interpret
the constitution and CEDAW is within the jurisdiction of trial courts, a court of general
jurisdiction.

1987 Constitution
 Reinforced the concepts of human dignity and equal protection of the laws as
fundamental human rights
 Introduced representation of marginalized sectors, including women, in the process of
legislation
 Recognized the role of women in nation building; fundamental equality before the law
between women and men
 Devoted a portion on social justice

 Role of Women in Nation Building

 “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the
fundamental equality before the law of women and men.” (Declaration of
Principles and State Policies, Article II, Sec. 14)

 Representation
 “The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total
number of representatives including those under the party list. For three
consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats
allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by
selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law,
except the religious sector.” (Legislative Department, Article VI, Section 5 (2)

 Social Justice
 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. There shall be
priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.
(Social Justice and Human Rights, Article XIII, Sec. 11)
 The State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working
conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and
opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full
potential in the service of the nation. (Social Justice and Human Rights, Article
XIII, Sec. 14)

 Policy Declaration
 Declaration of Policy: “The State recognizes the role of women in nation building
and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.
 The State shall provide women rights and opportunities equal to that of men.”
(Section 2)

 Salient Features
 A substantial portion of official development assistance (ODA) funds shall be set
aside and utilized to support programs and activities for women
 All government departments shall ensure equal benefit and direct participation of
women in the development programs and projects
 All government departments and agencies shall remove gender bias in all their
regulations, circulars, issuances and procedures

 Other Provisions
 Capacity to act: Women of legal age shall have the same capacity to act as men
 Membership in clubs: Equal access to membership in all clubs, committees,
associations
 Admission to military schools: Equal opportunity for appointment, admission, training,
graduation, and commissioning in AFP and PNP schools
 Social protection: Home-based married persons entitled to voluntary coverage for
Pag-IBIG, SSS and GSIS with working spouse’s consent

In the case: Republic of the Philippines vs. Manalo G.R. No. 221029, April 24, 2018

Moreover, in protecting and strengthening the Filipino family as a basic autonomous social
institution, the Court must not lose sight of the constitutional mandate to value the dignity of
every human person, guarantee full respect for human rights, and ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men. A prohibitive view of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 would
do more harm than good. If We disallow a Filipino citizen who initiated and obtained a foreign
divorce from the coverage of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 and still require him or her to first avail of
the existing "mechanisms" under the Family Code, any subsequent relationship that he or she
would enter in the meantime shall be considered as illicit in the eyes of the Philippine law.

Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), 1995

Salient Features
 Presented a review of the status of women post-CEDAW
 disproportionate impact of development
 varying situations of women
 An “agenda for women’s empowerment”
 Identified 12 Critical Areas of Concern
 Identified “gender mainstreaming” as strategy for achieving gender equality
commitments
12 Critical Areas of Concern

Republic Act No. 9710 Magna Carta of Women 14 August 2009

Women’s Rights as Human Rights: Women are human beings. Human beings have human
rights. As human beings, women should be able to fully exercise their human rights.
Basic Human Rights (UN Declaration of Human Rights)

1. We are all born free and equal

2. Right against discrimination
3. Right to life, liberty and security of person
4. Right against slavery or servitude
5. Right against torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment
6. Right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law
7. Right to equal protection of the law
8. Right to seek legal protection of human rights
9. Right against unfair detainment
10. Right to trial
11. Right to be presumed innocent
12. Right to privacy
13. Freedom to move
14. Right to seek a safe place to live
15. Right to a nationality
16. Right to marry and have a family, if they want to
17. Right to property
18. Freedom of thought
19. Freedom of expression
20. Right to public assembly
21. Right to democracy
22. Right to social security
23. Worker’s rights
24. Right to rest and relax
25. Right to basic needs (FAWS)
26. Right to education
27. Copyright
 28. Right to a fair and free world
29. Responsibility to protects other’s rights and freedom
30. Right against destruction of human rights

Human Rights of Women

 All rights in the Constitution

 Those rights recognized under international instruments duly signed and ratified by the
Philippines, in consonance with Philippine law
 Protection from violence: The State shall ensure that all women shall be protected from
all forms of violence as provided for in existing laws. Agencies of government shall give
priority to the defense and protection of women against gender-based offenses and help
women attain justice and healing.
 Protection from violence

 Women have the right to protection and security in times of disasters, calamities, and
other crisis situations especially in all phases of relief, recovery, rehabilitation, and
construction efforts

 Participation and Representation

 Goal: Accelerate participation and equitable representation of women in all spheres

of society, particularly in the decision-making and policy-making processes
 State shall institute affirmative action mechanisms so that women can participate
meaningfully in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans,
and programs for national, regional, and local development

O Women in Sports: The State shall develop, establish, and strengthen programs
for the participation of women and girl-children in competitive and noncompetitive
sports

o Women in the Military: The State shall pursue appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination of women in the military, police, and other similar services

o Portrayal of Women in Media and Film: Women shall not be portrayed in a

derogatory and discriminatory manner in media and film
 o Women’s Right to Health: Comprehensive Health Services: The State shall
provide for a comprehensive, culture-sensitive, and gender-responsive health
services and programs covering all stages of a woman's life cycle and which
addresses the major causes of women's mortality and morbidity
O Comprehensive Health Information and Education: The State shall provide
women in all sectors with appropriate, timely, complete, and accurate information
and education on all the above-stated aspects of women's health in government
education and training programs

o Special Leave Benefits

 Two (2) months special leave benefit with full pay based on gross monthly
compensation
 Woman employee
 Continuous aggregate employment of at least six (6) months for the last
twelve (12) months shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of two (2)
months
 She had surgery caused by gynecological disorders

O Marriage and family relations

o Marginalized sectors

1. Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances

- WEDC: Victims and survivors of sexual and physical abuse, illegal
recruitment, prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, women in detention,
 victims and survivors of rape and incest, and such other related
circumstances which have incapacitated them functionally
- Local government units are mandated to deliver the necessary services and
interventions to WEDC under their respective jurisdictions.
- Services and interventions for WEDCs
 Temporary and protective custody;
 Medical and dental services;
 Psychological evaluation;
 Counseling;
 Psychiatric evaluation;
 Legal services;
 Productivity skills capability building;
 Livelihood assistance;
 Job placement;
 Financial assistance; and
 Transportation assistance.

2. Girl-children

3. Senior Citizens: The State shall protect women senior citizens from neglect,
abandonment, domestic violence, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Towards this
end, the State shall ensure special protective mechanisms and support services against
violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, and discrimination of older women.

Institutional Mechanisms

Gender Mainstreaming as Strategy

 Gender Mainstreaming”: the strategy for making women's as well as men's concerns
and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation of policies and programs in all political, economic, and societal spheres so
that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated.
 It is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action,
including legislation, policies, or programs in all areas and at all levels.

Women Migrant Workers

 An officer duly trained on GAD shall be designated as the gender focal point in the
consular section of Philippine embassies or consulates
 Said officer shall be primarily responsible in handling gender concerns of women migrant
workers.
  Attached agencies shall cooperate in strengthening the Philippine foreign posts’
programs for the delivery of services to women migrant workers.

Roles
 Philippine Commission on Women: primary policymaking and coordinating body for
women and gender equality concerns under the Office of the President.
 Commission on Human Rights: act as the Gender and Development Ombud, consistent
with its mandate
 Commission on Audit: conduct annual audit on the use of the GAD budget for the
purpose of determining its judicious use and the efficiency

Penalties
 Government agency/GOCC/LGU
- Sanctions under administrative law, civil service, or other appropriate laws shall be
recommended to the Civil Service Commission and/or the Department of the Interior
and Local Government
- Person directly responsible/LCE/Head of agency shall be liable
 Private entity/individual: person directly responsible for the violation shall be liable to pay
damages.
 Filing a complaint under this Act shall not preclude the offended party from pursuing
other remedies available under the law
 If violence has been proven to be perpetrated by agents of the State, such shall be
considered aggravating offenses

Incentives
 There shall be established an incentives and awards system which shall be administered
by a board under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the PCW to
deserving entities, government agencies, and local government units for their
outstanding performance in upholding the rights of women and effective implementation
of gender-responsive programs.

VAWC
REPUBLIC ACT #9262
ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT
MARCH 8, 2004

 A special law protecting women and their childrenfrom all forms of abuse

 Criminal statute

 Civil action – temporary and permanent protection order

 With remedy of barangay (protection order)

 Offender: any person

 Victim:
 - Woman who is:
O Offender’s wife or former wife
O Or with whom offender has had a sexual or dating relationship
O Or with whom offender has a common child
- Woman’s child or child under her care
 Mode of committing: any act or series of acts; or threats of such acts

 Which result or likely to result in:

- Physical: acts that include bodily or physical harm

O Causing physical harm to the woman or her child
O Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical harm
O Attempting to cause the woman or her child physical harm
O Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent physical harm

- Sexual: act which is sexual in nature

O Rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating a women or her child
as a sex object, making demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks
O Acts causing or attempting to cause the victim to engage in any sexual activity by
force, threat of force, physical or other harm, or coercion
O Prostituting the woman or child

- Psychological harm or suffering: acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental

or emotional suffering of the victim
O Intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, public ridicule or
humiliation, repeated verbal abuse, and marital infidelity
O Causing or allowing the victim to witness abuse a member of the family, to
witness pornography in any form, or to witness abusive injury to pets
O Unlawful or unwanted deprivation of right to custody and/or visitation of common
children

- Economic abuse: acts that make or attempt to make a woman financially dependent
O Withdrawal of financial support or preventing the victim from engaging in any
legitimate profession, occupation, business, or activity
O Deprivation or threat of deprivation of financial resources and right to property
O Destroying household property
O Controlling money or properties

 Examples: battery, assault, coercion, harassment, arbitrary deprivation of liberty

 Penalties:
O Lightest:1 month and 1 day (aresto mayor)
O Heaviest: reclusion perpetua (permanent imprisonment)

 Purposes of a protection order:

O Prevents further acts of violence against a woman or her child
O Safeguard the victim from further harm
O Minimize disruption in victim’s daily life
O Give her the opportunity and the ability to regain control over her life
 O Offender is barred from threatening or committing any of punishable acts
O Offender is removed from residence regardless of ownership, temporarily or
permanently
O Offender is ordered to stay away from the victim, any designated family or household
member
O Victim is granted temporary or permanent custody of the child
O Offender is ordered to provide support – automatic remittance of salary or income by
employer
O DSWD provides shelter and social services

THE FOLLOWING MAY FILE PROTECTION ORDER

O Offended party
O Parents or guardians
O Ascendants, descendants, collateral relatives within 4th degree of consanguinity or
affinity
O DSWD or LGU social workers
O Police officers
O Punong barangay or kagawad
O Lawyer, counselor, therapist, healthcare provider
O At least, 2 citizens of the city or municipality who have personal knowledge of the
offense

 Rights of victims
O Right to be treated with respect and dignity
O Legal assistance; support from DSWD or LGUs
O Privacy and confidentiality of records

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT IN PHILIPPINES

Philippine Plan for Gender and Development, 1995-2025, is a National Plan that addresses,
provides and pursues full equality and development for men and women. Approved and
adopted by former President Fidel V. Ramos as Executive No. 273, on September 8, 1995, it is
the successor of the Philippine Development Plan for Women, 1989-1992 adopted by Executive
No.  348 of February 17, 1989.

Three years after, DENR Administrative Order No. 98 – 15 dated May 27, 1998 came up as the
Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) Activities in the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in order to strengthen the DENR
GAD Focal Point System and accomplishing the GAD vision “Partnership of Empowered Men
and Women for Sustainable Development”.

Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women was approved on
August 14, 2009 which mandates non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity
measures to enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of
policies and plan for national, regional and local development.

A Memorandum Circular No. 2011 – 01 dated October 21, 2011 was released addressing to all
Government Departments including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, State
Universalities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs)
and all other government instrumentalities as their guidelines and procedures for the
establishment, strengthening and institutionalization of the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS).

WHY GENDER IS A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE:

 Women form 50% of the world’s population.

 Women perform 2/3 of the world’s work.
 Women make up 2/3 of the world’s illiterate population.
 Women earn 1/10 of the world’s work income.
 Women earn less than 1/100 of the world property.
 Women constitute 70% of the world’s poor living on less than P50.00/day.

PREMISE OF GENDER SENSITIVITY

 It is not pitying.
 It is not male-bashing.
 It is not anti-male.
 It is not a war of sexes.
 Both men and women are victims of gender inequality, although women are more of the
victims than men.
 Both men and women have a stake in the struggle for gender equality.