CEDAW/C/SR.l79
English
Page 2
Ihe meeting was called to order at 10.10 a.m.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 18 OF THE
CONVENTION (continued) (CEDAW/C/CRP.7)
~Q.n.<J
periodic report of the Philippines (CEDAW/C/13/Add.l7 and Corr.l,
CEDAW/C/13/Add.l7/Amend.l)
1. · At the - invi~tion of the Chairperson. Ms. Licuanan_ffbilippines) took
at the Committee table.
~_pia~
2.
Ms__L-1lC!lANAN (Philippines) said that she would try to deal with the points
raised in annex IV to document CEDAW/C/CRP.7.
General questions
3.
Referring to the workshops on gender analysis mentioned in question 2 under
the heading "General questions", she said that the National Commission on the Role
of Filipino Women (NCRFW), which she represented, had held eight workshops and was
about to embark on the second phase relating to women in development, which would
include consciousness workshops at all levels, including government level. A focal
point, the Bureau of Women and Young Workers, had been created within the
Government and was now conducting its own workshops and educating people throughout
the Philippines on issues concerning women workers. In addition, a workers'
development institute was soon to be established to educate workers on legislation,
standards policies and the like. One of the main strategies of the entire campaign
was to make people aware of the double burden on working women.
Article 2
4.
All obvious discrimination was already outlawed ~~ULe, and the challenge
that remained was to analyse existing laws for more subtle and unintended
discrimination. A gender analysis of existing legislation had been initiated; the
first part had been completed, and a more in-depth analysis was shortly to be
started. The legal status of Philippine women was very good, and efforts were
being pursued to achieve de facto equality. Although many anti-discriminatory laws
had preceded the Convention, they reflected its spirit. In court cases, Philippine
law was invoked rather than the Convention, but all future legislation would be
consistent both with the fundamental laws of the Constitution and with the
Convention. The challenge was to make people, including people at government
level, aware of the Convention.
5.
With regard to question 3, only a few of the bills listed in the second
periodic report had become law, the legislative process being very slow. Senate
Bill No. 65 (see document CEDAW/C/13/Add.ll, p. 13) had become Republic Act 6725,
which strengthened the Labour Code. Republic Act 5667 guaranteed rural women
rights, inter alia, to ownership of land. Senate Bill No. 20 had become Republic
Act 6955.
6.
As far as question 4 was concerned, NCRFW had a mandate to involve itself in
that area, and worked very closely with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
At government level, the Civil Service Commission, whose Chairman was a very active
ally at NCRFW, had appointed "equality advocates" with central and regional offices
whose job was to examine allegations of discrimination against women, including
cases of sexual harassment. Two cases of discrimination and one case of sexual
harassment were currently under examination.
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