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Gov’t, NGOs address women’s issues

BAGUIO CITY (Mar. 29) — As the Women’s Month (March) ends, several government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) gathered today at SM Baguio City Atrium to update issues the women sector realized during the “Kababaihan Festival” held here.

Baguio City Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez said the Festival aimed to improve and recognize gender equality issues. She explained women only want to be equal with men and not dominate them.

Rondez also stressed that Baguio women seem somehow empowered. However, she emphasized women’s issues (marginalization, violence against women (VAW), discrimination, multiple burdens and stereotypes) should still be addressed in appropriate government agencies with the initiative of NGOs.

Atty. Mia Cawed, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), shared that their group held a conference last year regarding the Republic Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law (Anti-VAWC Act of 2004). The Act aims to clarify kinds of VAWC (physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse); give protection order (barangay, temporary or permanent protection orders); and give sanction against proven violators.

The same conference for RA 9262 information dissemination was held last March 26 at the University of the Cordilleras (UC), as initiated by the group Igorota Foundation, Inc.

INNABUYOG-Gabriela spokesperson Vernie Yocogan-Diano discussed women’s issues as disclosed from the Convention on the Elimination and Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Yocogan pointed out, “The alarming reality is that women’s situation is worsening instead of improving, noting that this is the 25th year since the Philippine Govern-ment signed CEDAW (1980). Cases of violence against women increased by 7th-fold from 1996-2004; female labor participation rate consistently lags behind; access to social services (health, education and housing, etc.) is deteriorating.”

Cristina Mabalot, representing the physically-challenged women, appealed to the media, NGOs and government agencies to recognize their plight of “double burden being a woman and a ‘challenged’ person”.

Moreover, Cawed highlighted the advertisers and TV station owners’ liability to be conscious how they “package women as mere housewives and sex symbols”.

Yocogan agreed saying that, “Women should be vigilant against the feudal-patriarchal society and human rights’ violators.” # Pink-Jean Fangon Melegrito for NORDIS

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