● Difficulty to express their needs in times of armed conflict and natural disasters is a challenge for IPs. Language barrier mostly contributes to this. ● Due to their cultural practices, IPs are not able to access assistance during disaster response efforts. For instance, in the case of Mangyans from Mindoro, they are not comfortable in going to evacuation centers because they have their own indigenous houses made in times of typhoon/disaster. As a result, they are not provided relief packs. 4. Farmers and Fisherfolks ● Rural women, including women farmers and fisherfolks, lack control over productive assets. These assets include land, boats, equipment, etc. ● Rural farmers also suffer from lack of access to resilient crop varieties and livelihood. They also lack access and training on new and sustainable farming techniques/practices/methods and equipment. ● Many women farmers and fisherfolk also do not have access to social services. POLICIES THAT SUPPORT RURAL WOMEN AMIDST DISASTERS AND CRISIS SITUATIONS The following international instruments recognize the rights of rural women amidst disasters and crisis situations: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Article 14 of CEDAW recognizes rural women’s challenging situation and highlights specific obligations of States parties in recognizing, promoting and protecting their rights. The following obligations are stated: “​States parties should address specific threats posed to rural women by climate change, natural disasters, land and soil degradation, water pollution, droughts, floods, desertification, pesticides and agro-chemicals, extractive industries, monocultures, bio-piracy, and loss of biodiversity, particularly agro-biodiversity. They should alleviate and mitigate these threats and ensure that rural women enjoy a safe, clean and healthy environment. They should effectively address the impact of such risks on rural women in the planning and implementation of all policies concerning the environment, climate change, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and management, and should ensure full participation of rural women in designing, planning and implementing such policies. States parties should also ensure the protection and security of rural women and girls in all phases of disasters and other crises, ranging from early warning to relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction​” (CEDAW/C/GC/34). Magna Carta of Women - RA 9710 Under the Magna Carta of Women, “​the State affirms women’s rights as human rights and shall intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties under international and domestic law to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill, and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, especially marginalized women, in the economic, social, political, cultural, and other fields without distinction or discrimination on account of class, age, sex, gender, language, ethnicity, religion, ideology, disability, education, and status”​ (Section 2). 25