WOMEN AND THE

LAW By: GROUP 5

Lesson Objectives: At the end of this
discussion, you should be able to:

• know about the various Philippine laws affecting

women;

• identify the various rights of women, and;

• understand the impact of these laws and rights to

the Filipino woman and society.
Introduction :

The 1987 Constitution

The Philippines is known for its very liberal and
progressive Constitution that was formulated during
the euphoria of People Power Revolution in 1986.
Gender equality is a key element of this Charter and as
enshrined in Article II Section 14 of the 1987
Constitution, " the State recognizes the role of women
in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men.
 Considering the unequal gender relations in the
country, the Constitution further provided for women
representation ( as one of the nine marginalized
sectors) in the legislature through the party - list
system ( which should cover 20% of the lower house.
 Finally, Article 13 Section 14 specifically
mentioned 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".
 Various Laws Promoting
Gender Equality
The legal framework provided for by the 1987
Constitution resulted to various legislations
promoting gender equality. These legislations
include the following:
• Local Government Code of 1991- Provides for the
election of sectoral representation, including women, in local
legislative councils.

• Party List Law- Provides for the creation of women -oriented

or women - based parties to compete under the party - list
system. Women is one of the nine sectors identified in the law.

•Labor Code (1989)- Covers issues, such as night work

prohibition, specifies that employers must provide special
facilities for women, prohibition of discrimination against women
in respect to terms and conditions of employment, and
prohibition of discrimination by reason of marriage of a woman
worker.
• Women in Nation Building Law- Republic Act
7192 (1991) is an act promoting the integration of women
as full and equal partners of men in development and
nation-building. The law provides that a substantial portion
of the government resources be utilized to support
programs and activities for women. The law also
encourages the full participation and involvement of
women in the development process and to remove gender
bias in all government regulations and procedures.

• 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law-

Gave Filipino women the right to own land that previously
reverted to sons and other male family members.
• Republic Act 7688 (1994)- An act giving
representation to women in social security commission.

• Anti- Sexual Harassment Law/ RA 7877

(1995)- An act declaring sexual harassment to be
unlawful in the employment, education, or training
environment.

• Republic Act 7822 (1995)- An act providing

assistance to women engaging in micro and cottage
business enterprises.
• Republic Act 8353 (1997)- An act expanding the
definition of the crime of rape, reclassifying the same as
a crime against persons.

NOTE:
These laws not only promote gender equality, but also
gives protection to women's rights and enhances
women empowerment. Women's rights and women
empowerment are very important to the Philippine
society as this ensures inclusive growth and
development of our country.
National Programs

Based on the Philippine laws stated, a

myriad of projects, initiatives, and processes
on the gender challenge arose. This includes
the following:
• Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive
Development (1995-2025)- The National Plan for
Women that consolidates the action commitments of the
Philippines during the Beijing World Conference on Women.
This is the overall frame that is also the point of reference for
the discussions and monitoring of gender mainstreaming.

•Gender and Development Budget (GAD)-

Integral to the national plan, it is aimed at "
institutionalizing gender concern in the mainstream
development process and agenda and not just
peripheral programs and projects of the government.
• Framework Plan for Women ( FPW)- this is part
of the Philippine Plan for Women developed to focus on
three thrusts, namely; promoting women's economic
empowerment; advance and protect women human
rights; and promote gender responsive governance.
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.
Women's Right to
Participate
Women's right to vote was granted in 1937. The Constitution
of 1935 stipulated that the right of suffrage would be extended to
women, only if 300,000 women voted in it's favor during a
national plebiscite. This consolidated the emerging women's
movement and " brought to the fore the activism of such women
as Conception Felix de Calderon who formed the Association
Feminista Filipina in June 1905, Rosa Sevilla de Alvero and a
young Trinidad Almeda, Miss Constancia Poblete, founder of Liga
Femenina de la Paz, Pura Villanueva Kalaw and Paz Mendoza
Guazon, Pilar Hidalgo Lim, President of the National Federation
of Women's Clubs and Josefa Llanes Escoda, president of the
Girl Scouts of the Philippines " (Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa
Pulitika 1998).
 The General Council of Women was then established
in Manila to direct the plebiscite campaign. Its aim was to
draw the support of the broadest number of women. As it
turned out, 447, 725 women voted yes in the 1937
plebiscite. Interestingly, 44,307 women voted against the
provision. What followed was a colorful history of
women's foray into the various levels of electoral
victories, but generally pushed by familial affiliation and
elite association.

At present, women's right to vote are maintained and

further protected by existing laws at hand.
Women's Involvement in Civil
Society
Women's involvement in civil society could be through
organizing along gender-specific issues and formation of
all-women groups within broad coalitions as power-
enhancing mechanisms. Groups such us PILIPINA
feminist movement, the militant GABRIELA women's
group, the Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pulitika (UKP-
Network of Women in Politics), the KILOS KABARO ( Act
Sisters Coalition), and SIBOL Legislative Network have
trail based women advocacies both in policies and in
legislations.
 There also exist a so-called " Philippine NGO Beijing
Score Board" which evolved from the National Steering
Committee (BSC) or NGOs for the United Nations
Fourth World Conference on Women, and this leads in
the national monitoring government's implementation in
the Beijing Platform of Actions.
 Along with other women groups and gender-oriented-
institutions, they have succeeded in raising gender-
specific issues such as domestic violence, prostitution,
reproductive health, sexual harassment, and rape.
Intense lobbying efforts by the women's groups resulted
in the passage of several landmark laws, among them is
the anti-sexual harassment law in 1995 and the anti-
rape act in 1997. The gains of the women's movement
are basically achieved through various partnerships with
the rest of the civil society.
Women And Education
The Philippine educational system is a combination of
public and private institutions with the State providing
free education for elementary and secondary levels. The
Constitution provides that without "...limiting the natural
rights of parents to rear their children, elementary
education is compulsory for all children of school age...
(Article VIX, Section 2).
 There is no general discrimination of girls in
education, thus, there is no marked differences
existing in the educational status of Filipino women
and men. One glaring issue is the gender
stereotyping of fields of study and specialization and
its onward translation into the world of work where
men generally occupy the highest occupational
ranks and the highest paying positions.

Women's larger responsibility for housework and

for the family impedes their ability to
use their educational training and skills for
remunerative work.
 SUMMARY
Laws on Filipino women are aplenty, from the fundamental law
of the land up to existing legislations. It can be projected that more
such legislations shall arise in the future. These laws are essential
as they can be springboards of various national programs, women
involveLaws on Filipino women are aplenty, from the fundamental
law of the land up to existing legislations. It can be projected that
more such legislations shall arise in the future. These laws are
essential as they can be springboards of various national programs,
women involvement, participation, and inclusion-all towards the
highest goal of empowering women.ment, participation, and
inclusion-all towards the highest goal of empowering women.
THANKS