Events

Our chapter holds bi-annual meetings. This is a change for member to exchange experiences, share opportunities and updates. For more information contact - Elizabeth Roxas:

ebc(at)ebc.org.ph 

Elizabeth Roxas spends three days in Montreal learning the architecture of the website.

MANIILA, Philippines—The IAWRT Philippines Chapter had a great opportunity of showcasing the Magna Carta of Women, a landmark law for women ever legislated in the Philippines to thirteen (13) other IAWRT Member countries during its Regional Meeting in Asia held last 30th of August 2010 at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

The Magna Carta of Women is a comprehensive women's human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing and protecting women’s rights at home, at work and in all spheres of society. Among its salient features are increasing the number of women personnel in the government until half of the third level positions; setting-up of the violence against women’s desk in every barangay (village); providing incentives to local government units which would have women’s agenda; and prohibiting of the derogatory portrayal of women in media and film.

It took over a decade of struggle for women groups in the Philippines to finally get the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710) enacted. Congresswoman Josefina Joson, the principal author of the law delivered her keynote address by highlighting the process and struggles they went through in the legislative body. Discussions became more exhilarating when Rep. Joson was later joined in the panel by Ms. Emmeline Versoza, Executive Director of the Philippine Commission on Women, Ms. Irene Santiago, Chairperson and CEO of the Mindanao Commission on Women, Ms. Grace Padaca, former governor of Isabela and Ms. Aurora De Dios, Convenor of the CEDAW Watch. The panelists shared the idea that Magna Carta of Women is really a milestone for women in the Philippines as it sees a wider lens of looking at the needs and welfare of every Filipina.  The greater challenge now is its full   implementation and making sure that it benefits its own target beneficiaries. 

This concern was tackled in succeeding sessions on what media (and new media) groups including the academe and women NGOs can do to make this law work and become more meaningful for the Filipino women while the rest of the world are still busy advocating for a similar law to be legislated in their respective countries.