Magna Carta for Women

Many Filipino women may not be aware of an impending bill in the Philippine legislature entitled, "Magna Carta of Women." The first version of the bill, initially called "Magna Carta for Women," was filed during the 13th Congress with Rep. Josefina Joson as principal author. The bill was enhanced through the concerted efforts of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the House Committee on Women, in consultation with Fr. Romeo Intengan, S.J. It was further developed to incorporate the essential provisions of UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination and Women (CEDAW), through a study and action core group composed of PILIPINA, a national women's organization, NCRFW, Supreme Court and other women's organizations.

Senator Jamby Madrigal, chair of the Committee on Women, called a technical working group meeting in the last months of the 13th Congress to discuss the bill. Senator Sergio Osmeña filed the Magna Carta for Women bill neat the close of the 13th Congress. For the 14th Congress, two (2) Magna Carta for Women bills have been filed in the House of Representatives - HB 164 authored by Rep. Mary Ann Susano and HB 797 authored by Rep. Isabelle Climaco.

The Philippines has committed to CEDAW and therefore we are duty-bound to implement the Convention's stipulations. Among others, the provisions urge our government to the following: (1) enact a comprehensive legal framework for the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, specifically to ensure the Convention's applicability and/or translation into the national legal system; and (2) strengthen the national machinery for the advancement of women and provide it with the authority, decision-making power and human and financial resources necessary to work effectively to promote gender equality (Grace Bernabe, 2008).

The NCRFW strongly supports the passage of the Magna Carta of Women bill, a landmark legislation that seeks to eliminate all forms discrimination against women. The bill is envisioned to be the omnibus law to respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, particularly the poor and the marginalized. NCRFW Chair Myrna Yao said that it is high time for the Philippine government to have a legal framework that recognizes the role of women in nation-building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men (NCRFW, 2009).