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Tuesday, March 7, 2017
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MARCH is not only Fire Prevention Month. It is also National Women’s Month. The Philippines has been consistently at the top tier in the gender equality index. In the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranks first in Asia, and always at the top 10 countries globally. Yes, the Philippines can lead the global effort to achieve gender equality and women empowerment.
We have crafted effective laws on gender equality and women empowerment, and the implementation of these policies are improving through the years. We know that there are still challenges and there are many Filipinas who are still victims of abuse and discrimination. But we are doing well compared to other nations, thus, we must build on our gains and continue to provide equal support to men and women.
The Philippines can lead efforts to achieve the goals under the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal No. 5 on gender equality, by the year 2030. We can share with other countries our best practices on women empowerment as well as our laws which can be used as guide by other nations in crafting policies on gender equality.
We have a multitude of laws on the protection of women’s rights, such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Discrimination Against Women Act, the Women in Development and Nation Building Act, the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act, and the Magna Carta of Women.
The Magna Carta of Women ensures women are protected from violence and other crisis situations, represented and given role in community decision-making, given equal access to education and employment, and provided with access to comprehensive health services, among other provisions.
Women should be engaged, too, in disaster resilience and climate adaptation efforts as these are among the world’s most pressing concerns today.
We must invest in women, make them part of decision-making, as their development role is crucial in adapting to climate change and building community resilience to disasters. From the quiet but steady work they perform at their communities, women should move into the frontlines of delivering decisive action towards a sustainable and resilient planet.
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