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Legal Basis On Gender and Development: Published by On August 19, 2019
Legal Basis On Gender and Development: Published by On August 19, 2019
Legal Basis On Gender and Development: Published by On August 19, 2019
Development
Published by admin on August 19, 2019
By Henrylito D. Tacio
“Women hold up half the sky,” so goes a Chinese proverb. So much so that in
development, gender equality plays a crucial role. And this term “gender” does
not allude simply to women or men but to the relationship between two sexes
and the way it is socially constructed.
In time, gender and development (GAD) came into existence. “GAD focuses
on the principle that development is for all,” explains an expert on the subject.
“Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal opportunities to
achieve a full and satisfying life. Women and men enjoy the same conditions
for realizing their full human rights and potentials to contribute to development
as well as benefit from the results.”
The 1987 Constitution states three prominent provisions. The Declaration of
Principles Article II Section 14 asserted that: “The State recognizes the role of
women in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the
law of women and men.”
Article XIII, Section 14 also stated that: “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.”
Finally, Article XIII, Section 11, also said that: “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.”
Following from constitutional provisions and the subsequent efforts to broaden
the its principles, numerous legislations were enacted that relates to the
various aspects of women and gender concerns. The list included the
following:
• Executive Order 227: The New Family Code of the Philippines
• Republic Act 6725: An Act Strengthening the Prohibition on Discrimination
against Women with Respect to Terms and Conditions of Employment,
Amending 135 of the Labor Code, as Amended.
• Joint Circular No. 2012-01 (GAD Plans and Budgets and Accomplishment
Report Implementing MCW)
• Republic Act 7877: Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, which declares sexual
harassment unlawful in the employment, education and training environment;
• Republic Act 6949: This declares March 8 of every year as a working holiday
to be known as National Women’s Day;
• Republic Act 6972: It mandates the establishment of day care centers in
every barangay;
• Republic Act 7322: It increases the maternity benefits of women in the
private sector;
• Republic Act 7655: It increases the minimum wage of domestic helpers;
from
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development/