CEDAW/C/PHI/4 English Page 20 (c) To affirm and protect the dignity of women amid increasing gender violence. 19. The Plan's chapter on women has the following objectives: (a) To recognize and promote women's rights as human rights and to have them manifested in national and legal instruments, and practice by people and society; and implement ameliorative measures to correct violations of these rights; (b) To develop gender-responsive policies and programmes that will correct biases in social institutions which conceal and justify the unequal relations of women and men; enhance equality in dignity, status and opportunities; and improve the welfare and conditions of women in all sectors; (c) To protect women's rights to legal equality, ownership of property, quality education, equal employment opportunities, political participation, adequate social, health and other support services and freedom from violence; (d) To eliminate women's discrimination in all aspects of their lives: economic, social, cultural and political. Gender and development planning and implementation processes and mechanisms 20. A pilot testing of gender and development processes and mechanisms for planning and implementation was undertaken. Pilot testing was done in three selected regions and one line agency. The accomplishments were: (a) review of regional development plans, key policies, programmes to determine the extent by which gender concerns are integrated; (b) assessment of the impact of gender and development initiatives since 1989; (c) the setting up of regional focal points for gender and development; (d) creation of a gender and development trainers pool in the Department of Agriculture and in region VIII; (e) formulation of guidelines towards integrating gender and development into regional and subregional development processes; (f) formulation of gender-responsive training modules adaptable to the regions; and (g) the holding of gender and development briefing and training for top officials, project implementors, and prospective gender and development advocates in the three regions and the Department of Agriculture. 21. While the above are positive developments, enforcement, implementation and monitoring of implementation need to be strengthened. The problems are many. The majority of the implementors are not aware that gender concerns and issues exist. They have difficulty in understanding and accepting the necessary changes with regard to women's subordinate situation. A continuing concern of NCRFW and the non-governmental organizations working along these areas is the need for continuing advocacy to translate these laws and policies into actual programmes and projects that will truly make a difference in women's lives. /...

Select target paragraph3