SOCIAL REALITIES AFFECTING RURAL WOMEN IN THE PHILIPPINES:
Issues on Business and Human Rights, Reproductive and Care Work
and Disaster and Crisis Situations
INTRODUCTION
The Commission on Human Rights works to protect the rights of every Filipino, especially the
most marginalized. Under the Magna Carta of Women, the Commission’s tasks likewise include
advocating for the protection and promotion of women’s human rights (CHR Gender Ombud
Guidelines). This report focuses on the issues affecting one of the most disadvantaged members
of the society – rural women.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) describes the
conditions of rural women in these terms: “Globally, and with few exceptions, on every gender
and development indicator for which data are available, rural women fare worse than rural men
and urban women and men, and rural women disproportionately experience poverty and
exclusion. They face systemic discrimination in accessing land and natural resources. They carry
most of the unpaid work burden due to stereotyped gender roles, intra-household inequality,
and lack of infrastructure and services, including with respect to food production and care work.
Even when formally employed, they are more often engaged in work that is insecure, hazardous,
poorly paid and not covered by social protection. They are less likely to be educated and are at
higher risk of being trafficked and forced into labour, as well as into child and/or forced marriage
and other harmful practices. They are more likely to become ill, suffer from malnutrition or die
from preventable causes, and are particularly disadvantaged with respect to access to health
care.” (CEDAW/C/GC/34).
Globalization and development aggression adds greater challenges to rural women who mostly
depend on nature and the environment for their daily economic activities and care work. The
arrival of international and local businesses in the countryside, particularly large-scale mining
corporations, has caused negative impacts on the environment that rural women are accustomed
to. Pollution and destruction of natural resources have reduced their access to food and potable
water and have affected the health of the rural community in general. Some communities have
been displaced, including indigenous peoples. Sources of livelihood were lost, which aggravated
the poverty situation in rural areas. Unfortunately, extreme poverty has also pushed some rural
women into prostitution.
Care work of rural women has been negatively affected by development aggression as well. For
instance, due to contaminated water from the spring or rivers in their vicinity, rural women now
have to travel farther to collect water for their families from another area or community. With
the numerous responsibilities in caring for the family that are prescribed to rural women, this
consequence is an added burden to them.
The burden and vulnerabilities of rural women are further increased in times of disasters and
crisis situations. Aside from the damages to the environment surrounding them, the safety and
welfare of their families, their shelter, household properties, crops and livestock become at risk
and any loss incurred will worsen their condition. The effects of natural calamities can also be
aggravated by changes brought about by development aggression, such as deforestation.
Based on these premises, and to be able to help protect the rights of rural women in the country,
the Commission on Human Rights finds it imperative to look further and determine the situation
of rural women in the areas of: 1) Business and Human Rights, 2) Reproductive and Care work,
and 3) Disaster and Crisis Situations. To find out the current situation and issues of the rural
women in these topics, the Commission organized a series of workshops/forums that were
1