CEDAW/C/PHI/4 English Page 12 Part Two PROGRESS REPORT ON EACH ARTICLE OF THE CONVENTION I. ARTICLES 2-4 General policy of non-discrimination as reflected in the Constitution etc.; adoption of positive measures; establishment of legal protection of women; refraining from engaging in any discriminatory activities; repeal or modification of laws, customs etc.; adoption of social, political, economic and cultural measures to ensure advancement of women; adoption of temporary special measures to accelerate de facto equality, including measures aimed at protecting maternity 1. The present report covers initiatives by government and non-governmental organizations in response to provisions of the first three articles of the Convention. These initiatives are categorized into three: policy developments, institutional developments, and programme and project developments. The policy developments include legislation (i.e. republic acts, bills, presidential directives and memoranda, circulars etc.) and other operational policies and strategies. For the institutional developments, mechanisms that facilitate gender equality are discussed (i.e. the strengthening of NCRFW, women in development/gender and development focal points, women's desks, crisis centres, the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Bureau of Women's Welfare etc.). The programme project developments include specific initiatives with regard to the following: preparation of gender and development guidelines, formation of project groups, training and advocacy, information and education campaign, statistics programme, etc. Policy developments Legislation and other policy issuances 2. The period 1992-1995 saw the passage of laws on women that reflected the Philippines' adherence to the Convention's policy of non-discrimination and adoption of positive measures for the advancement of women. The passage of Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-building Act, in 1992, ushered in more legislative initiatives, among which are the following: (1) Republic Act 8042, known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinas Act of 1995. This law institutes the policies for overseas employment and establishes a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress. This law was hailed as significant to women considering the increasing feminization of Philippine migration for overseas employment where women become highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. /...