gender and society

MC JEFFERSON ABON
Magna carta for

women's right
Republic Act 9710: Magna

Carta of Women
The Magna Carta of Women (MCW) is a
comprehensive women’s human rights law that
seeks to eliminate discrimination through the
recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion
of the rights of Filipino women, especially those
belonging in the marginalized sectors of the society.
It conveys a framework of rights for women based
directly on international law.
What is discrimination against women?
The Magna Carta of Women defines discrimination against women as:
any gender-based distinction, exclusion, or restriction which has the
effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or
exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of
equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms
in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field;
any act or omission, including by law, policy, administrative measure, or
practice, that directly or indirectly excludes or restricts women in the
recognition and promotion of their rights and their access to and
enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges;
a measure or practice of general application that fails to provide for
mechanisms to offset or address sex or gender-based disadvantages or
limitations of women, as a result of which women are denied or restricted
in the recognition and protection of their rights and in their access to and
enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges; or women, more than
men are shown to have suffered the greater adverse effects of those
measures or practices; and
discrimination compounded by or intersecting with other grounds, status,
or condition, such as ethnicity, age, poverty, or religion.
What are the rights of women guaranteed

under the Magna Carta of Women?

All rights in the Philippine Constitution and those rights recognized under
international instruments duly signed and ratified by the Philippines, in consonance
with Philippine laws shall be rights of women under the Magna Carta of Women.
These rights shall be enjoyed without discrimination since the law prohibits
discrimination against women, whether done by public and private entities or
individuals.
Gender education or

equality law
 DO 32, S. 2017 – GENDER-

RESPONSIVE BASIC EDUCATION

POLICY
The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed
Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy in line with its
Gender and Development (GAD) mandate as stipulated in the
1987 Philippine Constitution, Republic Act (RA) No. 9710 or the
Magna Carta of Women (MCW), RA 10533 or the Enhanced Basic
Education Act of 2013, and the Philippines’ International Human
Rights Commitments to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC) among others.
 Issue or Problem Being

Addressed by the Policy

The Department of Education seeks to address emerging gender equality
and discrimination issues against Filipino women through the Gender -
Responsive Basic Education. (Department of Education, 2017). As gender
inequality is highly evident in the provision of basic education, the policy
aims to provide equal access to quality education in a safe and nurturing
environment to ensure the holistic development of the students. It
promotes inclusive education wherein both men and women are given
equal opportunities and resources throughout the learning process.
Furthermore, it also aims to alleviate gender inequality. especially those
experienced by marginalized groups, by reducing gender gaps in education
and in the workplace where gender discrimination is overlooket. This is
done to ensure that the rights of women and those marginalized are
protected. Aside from these, the policy also aims to protect children from
bullying, abuse, and discrimination in schools brought about by gender
differences
 Benefits of the Policy
The Gender-Responsive Basic Education (GRBE) aims to ensure that equal access to
education and other learning opportunities is given to men and women by eliminating
gender-based barriers like gender based discrimination and gender-based violence.
Moreover, this policy emphasizes that by addressing the gender disparities in the learning
process, gender equality not only in academic institutions, but also in the workplace and
community can be attained. Equal and fair gender treatment as a result of gender equality
in educational outcomes is the goal of this policy (Llego, 2017).
 Violence against

women's and children's

Republic Act 9262: the Anti-

Violence Against Women and

their Children Act of 2004

It is a law the seeks to address the prevalence of violence
against women and their children (VAWC) by their
intimate partners like their husband or ex-husband, live-
in partner or former live-in partner, boyfriend/girlfriend
or ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, dating partner or former
dating partner.
 What is Violence Against Women
and Their Children under RA9262?
It refers to any act or a series of acts committed by an intimate
partner (husband, ex-husband, live-in partner,
boyfriend/girlfriend, fiance, who the woman had sexual/dating
relationship):
against a woman who is his wife, former wife;
against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual
or dating relationship,
against a women with whom he has a common child;
against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate within or
without the family abode,
Of which results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual,
psychological harm or suffering or economic abuse including
threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
 Who are the persons protected by R.A. 9262?
The law recognizes the unequal relations between a man and a woman in an abusive relationship
where the woman is usually at a disadvantage.
The following are the persons who are protected by R.A. 9262:
Wife
Former Wife
A woman with whom the offender has or had sexual relations with
A woman with whom the offender has a common child with
The legitimate or illegitimate child of the woman within or without the family abode

What is a protection order?

A protection order is an order issued under this act for the purpose of preventing further acts of
violence against women or her child. And granting other relief as may be needed. The relief granted
under a protection order serve the purpose of safeguarding the victim from further harm, minimizing
any disruption in the victim’s daily life, and facilitating the opportunity and ability of the victim to
independently regain control of her life. The provisions of the protection order shall be enforced by law
enforcement agencies.
 Childs

Marriage
 Republic Act 11596: An Act Prohibiting the

Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing Penalties

for Violations Thereof

The Philippines has approved Republic Act No. 11596 or the “Prohibition of Child
Marriage Law.” RA 11596 defines child marriage as “any marriage entered into where
one or both parties are children (persons below 18 years old) and solemnised in civil or
church proceedings, or any recognised traditional, cultural or customary manner.”
Why Ending Child Marriage is a Must?
A law prohibiting child marriage is a significant stride in the
Philippines, where one in six Filipino girls get married before
reaching the age of 18. Currently, the country ranks 12th
worldwide in terms of absolute number of child marriages and
unions.

In the Philippines, the legal age of marriage under the Family

Code is eighteen years old. However, in some religions and
cultures, child marriage is practiced. Some allow the marriage
of a female at the age of puberty, which is presumed upon
reaching the age of fifteen. However, many children’s rights
advocates argue that early child marriage has adverse long-
term physical, psychological, and emotional effects and will
curtail the development and attainment of a child’s full
potential, among others.
 Implementation and transitory

provisions
The law mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development to
prepare its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within 60 days from
its effectivity, in coordination with the Department of Health, the
Department of Education, the Council for the Welfare of Children, the
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), the National
Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and one Civil Society
Organization representative from each of the following sectors: women,
children, Muslim Filipinos, and indigenous cultural
communities/indigenous peoples. The IRR shall also be crafted in
consultation with other concerned government agencies and
stakeholders.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Law seeks to protect children by prohibiting the
practice of child marriage and declaring child marriage as illegal and imposing
penalties for violations. The measure mandates the government to implement
enabling policies and programmes towards an environment where child marriage shall
not thrive. This includes girls’ empowerment programmes, increased access to quality
education, economic support for children and their families, and the application of
interventions to empower parents and community leaders against the practice.

Child marriage is still prevalent in the country. Globally, the Philippines ranks 12th in
the absolute number of child marriages, and 1 in 6 Filipino girls get married before
they turn 18. The passing of this law is a step towards eradicating child marriage in the
Philippines.
Thank you