WOMEN EMPOWERMENT SPEECH

(Ma’am Annie Ciabal)

A pleasant day to everyone!

Before I begin let me share to all of you a gist of an amazing

facts from India.

Indian culture gives women the utmost respect. Do you know

why? Because many of our gods are female and they have been
worshipped as a deity by many faithful people. The goddess of
wealth is Laxmi, the goddess of power and strength is Durga and
the goddess of wisdom is Saraswati. See? That is how great
women are! Isn’t it?

Women are the epitome of wealth and power. Women play

an important role in society and the whole family is dependent on
women for its daily activities. They play the role of mother, wife,
homemaker, cook, teacher, friend, Nurse all at the same time
while catering to every body’s needs.

The women who are in a job have to also fulfill the job
responsibilities while managing home & family. The life of
women is very hard, but she gets little or no appreciation. There
are a lot of women who are extremely talented & multitasker but
have no recognition in society.

But the society becomes aware of the need for protection and
that’s the reason a law has been enacted to protect women,
Republic Act 9262 of 2004 has been enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled
“An act defining violence against women and their children,
providing for protective measures for victims, prescribing
penalties therefore, and for other purposes”.
SECTION 5. Acts of Violence Against Women and Their
Children.- The crime of violence against women and their
children is committed through any of the following acts:
(a) Causing physical harm to the woman or her child;
(b) Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical
harm;
(c) Attempting to cause the woman or her child physical
harm;
(d) Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent
physical harm;
(e) Attempting to compel or compelling the woman or her
child to engage in conduct which the woman or her child
has the right to desist from or desist from conduct which
the woman or her child has the right to engage in, or
attempting to restrict or restricting the woman's or her
child's freedom of movement or conduct by force or threat
of force, physical or other harm or threat of physical or
other harm, or intimidation directed against the woman or
child. This shall include, but not limited to, the following
acts committed with the purpose or effect of controlling or
restricting the woman's or her child's movement or conduct:
(1) Threatening to deprive or actually depriving the
woman or her child of custody to her/his family;
(2) Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or
her children of financial support legally due her or her
family, or deliberately providing the woman's children
insufficient financial support;
(3) Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or
her child of a legal right;
(4) Preventing the woman in engaging in any
legitimate profession, occupation, business or activity
or controlling the victim's own mon4ey or properties,
or solely controlling the conjugal or common money,
or properties;
(f) Inflicting or threatening to inflict physical harm on
oneself for the purpose of controlling her actions or
decisions;
(g) Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child
to engage in any sexual activity which does not constitute
rape, by force or threat of force, physical harm, or through
intimidation directed against the woman or her child or
her/his immediate family;
(h) Engaging in purposeful, knowing, or reckless conduct,
personally or through another, that alarms or causes
substantial emotional or psychological distress to the
woman or her child. This shall include, but not be limited
to, the following acts:
(1) Stalking or following the woman or her child in
public or private places;
(2) Peering in the window or lingering outside the
residence of the woman or her child;
(3) Entering or remaining in the dwelling or on the
property of the woman or her child against her/his
will;
 (4) Destroying the property and personal belongings
or inflicting harm to animals or pets of the woman or
her child; and
(5) Engaging in any form of harassment or violence;
(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or
humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not
limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse, and denial
of financial support or custody of minor children of access
to the woman's child/children.

And in an International Humanitarian Laws, for the

protection of civilian population in circumstances of emergency
and armed conflict. It shall not force women, especially
indigenous people, to abandon their lands, territories and means
of subsistence, or relocate them in special centers for military
purposes under any discriminatory condition.

(c) All government personnel involved in the protection

and defense of women against gender-based violence shall
undergo a mandatory training on human rights and gender
sensitivity pursuant to this Act.
 One of the major hindrances in the growth and advancement
of women is gender inequality. This means that we treat males
and females unequally even for the same task. This is generally in
the case of rural societies. A male child is always encouraged by
family to go to school, while the female child is told to learn
household works.

If we wish to see a nation that develops economically on the

global front, then it’s very important to have “Women
empowerment”. The actual women empowerment will come by
making the women economically independent.

Quality Education is the key to women’s empowerment.

Slowly with the increase in literacy level and awareness, society
has started giving importance to education. Many parents today
want to educate their daughters equally as their son. Many women
today are scientists, lecturers, collectors, etc.

The women empowerment also means when the society will

also accept women as decision-makers for the economic and
financial decisions of the family. We shall encourage women
from all the sections of society to make their own decisions. They
need not take permission from men.

The government and several NGOs are making efforts to

empower women by creating awareness. The government is
running a large no. of projects for education and skill
development of women so that can get economic independence.

Thinking of society is also changing slowly. More and more

no. of women are getting a quality education. But the true
meaning of women empowerment will be achieved when gender
inequality will be eliminated. We need to give equal opportunities
to women for equal pay, equal respect as equal to men. We look
forward to such a nation.