Philippine Alliance of Women With Disabilities
of all these, it is necessary to have policies, programs and services that are also multi-dimensional and
strategically formulated and monitored.
Despite the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women as the domestic translation of the CEDAW, there is
still non-implementation of a number of its disability-specific provisions (cf Special Measures). Furthermore, key barriers reflect fundamental inadequacies of the State in terms of awareness as well as the
provision of accessibility and reasonable accommodation. Service provision still has glaring gaps for
women and girls with disabilities, whether it be concerning mainstream gender quality, and/or, disability-specific programs, activities and projects. Compounding these is the lack of full and effective
participation by women and girls with disabilities and our organizations in all aspects of governance.
As a vicious cycle, this invisibility also results in a lack of disaggregated and comprehensive data
collection and statistics on women and girls with disabilities. Baseline data must be disaggregated
down to types of impairment, and capture the diversity of inequalities experienced within the sector (cf
CEDAW General Recommendation No. 18 on Disabled Women).
On Policy measures; Guarantee of Basic Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Re Issue para 174: “Provide information on the measures taken and envisaged to address discrimination and violence against women and girls with disabilities, ensure that they have effective access to
inclusive education, employment and vocational opportunities and social services, and can effectively
participate in political and public life"
Comments on para 18.2[sic], 18.4[sic] of State Reply5:
Regarding support services, programs and activities that the State cites as measures which address
discrimination and violence against women (para 18.2[sic]), and ensure access to opportunities and fair
treatment (para 18.4[sic]), no evidence of disseminated information, or actual details of these are provided in its Reply. On the ground, we encounter widespread and continuing lack of awareness, for instance toward deaf women and girl victims of violence (e.g., cases documented in La Union, Eastern Samar, and others)6. Women’s Desks are also very limited in the assistance they can offer because there is
no provision of sign language interpretation, and police officers themselves don’t know how to communicate with the deaf (e.g., cases documented in Quezon City, Legazpi City and others)7 (see Annex II1).
Information on recent developments
Various government agencies are still unable to effectively institute measures that address inequalities of women and girls with disabilities in terms of data collection, policy, budgeting, and monitoring.
1.
There is no evidence or disseminated information of any comprehensive program by the National
Council on Disability Affairs or other government agency on the advancement of women with
disabilities’ rights or accessibility for persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities.
In fact, within the six-year term of this administration, the Council still has yet to actually amend
the Accessibility Law (Batas Pambansa 344) to make it inclusive of all impairment groups.
2.
In the 2015 Philippine Data Summit8, current UN Undersecretary General for Oversight Services
Heidi Mendoza agreed with the need for transparency and open data for government spending on
persons with disabilities. This was raised specifically in relation to the mandatory 1% allocation by
4
5
6
7
8
CEDAW Committee List of Issues. CEDAW_C_PHL_Q_7-8_22448_E
State Reply to List of Issues. CEDAW_C_PHL_Q_7-8_Add-1_23670_E.
PDRC / Deaf Resources Philippines case notes.
Ibid.
Ombudsman with UNDP, World Bank, Center for Investigative Journalism. 7 December 2015, Metro Manila
2