WOMEN

AND THE
LAW
Introductio
n The Philippines is the only country in Asia to have closed the gender gap
on both education and health and is one of only six (6) in the world to have
done so. Moreover, the Philippines’ scores on political empowerment continue
to improve as its economic indicators such as estimated income, labour force
participation and income equality for similar work. The Philippines is the only
country in the world where women have parity to men in senior management
roles. However, despite the remarkable achievements, thousands of Filipino
women suffer from sex and other gender related abuses.
SITUATIONS OF
WOMEN IN
THE
PHILIPPINES
Teen Pregnancy
A November 2020 Social Weather
Stations (SWS) survey found that Filipinos
think teenage pregnancy is the “most
important problem of women” in the
Philippines. According to the research, 59
percent of Filipinos found that young
adolescent pregnancy is the most serious
problem, a huge margin over the next two
most serious issues: physical violence
(11%), and unexpected pregnancy (11%).
Sexual and emotional violence both
accounted for 7%. Meanwhile, 4% of
respondents believed that the most
pressing issue for women is their inability to
obtain family planning information and
services.
Photo source: Google Search
Filipino Women suffer the same Domestic
Violence, and Economic Disadvantages

All over the country, women in some

parts of Mindanao and other conflict affected
areas in the Philippines suffer more. Women
and children comprise the majority of the
displaced population in the Philippines, as
they do in most other countries affected by
war, and face additional possible
consequences. Occasional military conflicts
have a negative impact on women's
livelihoods, health, education, and family life,
among other things.
 OFW Women are being abused
by employer mostly in Saudi Arabia
(as well as in other countries like
Kuwait and Malaysia), with many
being treated as sex slave.

Photo source: Google Search

Situation of Women/Gender in Health
Another health-related issue affecting
women is the violence committed against them
and their children. Violence against women and
their children (VAWC) is an act or a series of act
committed by any person against his wife,
former wife, a woman with whom he has or had
a sexual dating relationship, or with whom he
has a child, or against the woman’s child.
I. Physical violence (bodily or physical harm)
II. Sexual violence
III. Psychological violence
IV. Economic abuse
Various Laws
Promoting
Gender Equality
 The Magna Carta of
Women (Republic Act
No. 9710) defines Gender
and Development - RA 9710 is a comprehensive women's
Program (GAD) 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.
 105-DAY
EXPANDED
MATERNITY
- Signed into law in February 2019 by
LEAVE LAW President Rodrigo Duterte, Republic Act
11210 or the Expanded Maternity Leave
Law extends the previous 60-day (78
days for caesarean section delivery for
women workers in the private sector) paid
maternity leave to 105 days.
PROHIBITION
ON
DISCRIMINATI
ON AGAINST
WOMEN - RA 6725 prohibits discrimination
with respect to terms and
conditions of employment solely
on the basis of sex.
 THE ANTI-
RAPE LAW OF
1997 - RA 8353 states that any person having
carnal knowledge of a woman through
force, threat, or intimidation or by means
of fraudulent machination or grave abuse
of authority will be punished.
 RAPE VICTIM
ASSISTANCE AND
PROTECTION ACT
OF 1998 - RA 8505 declares the policy of the State
to provide necessary assistance and
protection for rape victims.
NATIONAL - RA 6949 declares the eighth day of
WOMEN’S March every year as a special
working holiday.
DAY
This ensures meaningful observance of the holiday, where
all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities,
including government-owned and controlled corporations as well
as local government units, and employers in the private sector
shall encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for
their employees to engage and participate in any activity
conducted within the premises of their respective offices or
establishments to celebrate National Women's Day. (PNA)
National Programs
for Women in the
Philippines
 Gender and Development
Philippine Initiatives on Gender-Responsive Governance In the
Philippines, efforts to make governance gender responsive are promoted
through legislation, such as the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) also, the
Philippine Framework Plan for Women (FPW) indicated actions planned for
gender responsive governance to be undertaken by government agencies,
LGUs and civil society as follows:

a. Enhancing women’s leadership roles and

participation in decision-making
b. Strengthening women’s role in promoting gender-
responsive governance
c. Strengthening partnership with media in covering
various women issues
Framework Plan for Women
(FPW)
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.

Promoting women’s economic empowerment; advancing

and protecting women human rights; and promoting gender
responsive governance.
Women’s
Right to
Participate
 Women’s Political Participation
and Representation
What is the issue and why is it important?

Despite the fact that women make about half of the country's population, women
only represent around one of government elected seats. When it comes to leadership
and decision-making, women in top government roles have proven that they are just
as competent and effective as their male colleagues. While men can and do help
establish gender-responsive laws and programs, they cannot always or completely
represent women's concerns, challenges, socialization, or experiences.

Women are stereotyped as weak, emotional, and indecisive, all of which are
attributes that are unfavorable in dealing and decision-making. As a result, these
stereotypes discourage voters from voting for female candidates.
 Women Empowerment in
the Philippines
In 2009, the Philippine government implemented the Magna Carta of
Women (MCW) to promote female empowerment. Its goal is to end all types
of gender discrimination while also committing the Philippines to the
principles of the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights.
However, the Philippines continues to face difficulties. Rural and
indigenous women's poverty and vulnerability are still a major problem.
Every day, 11 women die as a result of difficulties related to pregnancy and
childbirth, yet many women continue to be unemployed.
 Women’s Rights under the leadership of
President Rodrigo Duterte
The president, Rodrigo Duterte, stated, "They said there are many rape cases in Davao."
"There will be more rape cases as long as there are many beautiful women.“ Duterte has
made previous comments that looked to be insulting to women. During his presidential campaign,
he made light of an Australian missionary's gang rape during a jail riot, implying that as mayor, he
should have been allowed first crack at assaulting the woman.

• He called his own daughter, Sara Duterte, a “drama queen” when she confessed that she had
been a victim of sexual assault.
• He also ordered soldiers last year to shoot female communist guerrillas in their vaginas to
discourage them from joining the New People’s Army, a communist rebel force that has been
waging an insurgency since 1969.
• The president has also claimed to have seen a sex tape of one of his leading critics, Senator
Leila De Lima, who is serving a prison sentence for what she says is a trumped-up charge of
protecting drug lords.
 Women’s Rights under the leadership of
President Rodrigo Duterte
“This country does not deserve a president who will fully breaks our laws and encourages
others to do the same, because his notion of power stops at coercive force,” #BabaeAko,
the women’s group, said. “We call on all Filipinos to rise up against a president who spits on
everything our ancestors fought and died for,” it added.

The annual Women's Day march is a movement that is done worldwide for the promotion of
gender equality. In the Philippines however, it doubles as an anti-Duterte rally. Joms Salvador, a
Secretary General of a women's rights group said that Toxic masculinity and misogyny has gotten
worse. According to her, the statistics show that there is an increase in abuse against women
during the past three years that Duterte has been in charge. Many factors can lead to this
increase, but it just shows how powerful the words of a leader can have on its country.
 Women’s Rights under the leadership of
President Rodrigo Duterte

Some women are still vocal supporters of Duterte and those women said that we
should just accept that it is part of the President's personality.

Secretary Joms Salvador retorted "If you say looking down on women,
insulting women is okay, then you fall into the very concept that women are
worth every humiliation, every violence, every discrimination that the women in
the Philippines and the world over are experiencing. We don't want oppressing
women to be the new normal."
RESOURC
ES
 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063739#:~:text=RA%209710%20is%20a%20comprehensive,marginalized%20sec
tors%20of%20the%20society
.

 https://pcw.gov.ph/womens-political-participation-and-representation/#:~:text=From%201998%20to%202016%2C
%20the,of%20the%20candidates%20were%20female

 https://psa.gov.ph/content/q-magna-carta-women-republic-act-no-9710

 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/08/14/republic-act-no-9710/

 https://peacemaker.un.org/wps/womens-participation

 https://borgenproject.org/womens-empowerment-in-the-philippines

 https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-bohol/bs-psychology/gender-and-society-lesson-17/881773
1

 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/world/asia/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-rape-joke.html
THANKS
FOR
LISTENING!