CEDAW/C/PHI/Q/6
been adopted, and if so, assess adherence in practice to this legislation and any
remedies available to and used by women to ensure full implementation of such
legislation.
18. The report notes the implementation of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act in the
late 1990s (para. 379) and states that the law is unclear as to which agency should
monitor private sector observance of the law (para. 422). Please indicate what
measures are in place for the effective enforcement and monitoring of this law in the
private sector. Please also provide information of measures taken to solve the
problem of women suffering from many forms of subtle and overt discrimination in
hiring and promotion and through sexual harassment.
19. In its previous concluding comments, the Committee urged the State party to
adopt a top priority policy to create safe and protected jobs for women as a viable
economic alternative to the current unemployment of women, their participation as
subcontractors and, in the informal sector, as workers in free-trade zones, as well as
prostitutes or overseas contract workers.3 Please indicate what legislative or other
measures have been taken to implement this recommendation and to promote equal
employment opportunities for women in both the formal and informal sectors.
20. The report states that the Labour Code prohibits night work for women, except
in specified circumstances. The report acknowledges that, while this might aim to
protect women workers, it discriminates against women, as it fails to address the
real issue of security for women working at night (para. 351). Does the Government
intend to change this provision of the legislation that discriminates against women?
Health
21. The report states that there are two bills pending in Congress that seek to
establish an Integrated National Policy and Programme on Reproductive Health that
recognizes women’s reproductive rights, gender equality and ensures universal
access to reproductive health, services, information and education (para. 450 (g)).
Please provide information as to whether the pending bills have been adopted and
have entered into force. If so, what effects can already be seen?
22. According to the report, the Health Department’s reproductive health
programme offers a range of contraceptive methods (modern methods of natural
family planning, pills, condom use, injections and sterilization) using a reproductive
health-care approach (para. 455 (b)). The report also notes, however, that the Health
Department has adopted the anti-artificial contraception position of the current
Administration, and states that some local governments are already banning the
dissemination of information about and sale of emergency contraception as well as
artificial contraception (para. 481). Please explain and describe any measures taken
to ensure availability of, information about and easy access to, contraceptives in
order to avoid unwanted pregnancies in accordance with the Committee’s
recommendations in its previous concluding comments and general recommendation
24 on article 12.
23. Please indicate the extent to which illegal abortions contribute to the maternal
mortality rate, which, according to the report, remains relatively high (para. 445).
Please also provide details on the content of the Reproductive Health Care Bill,
which “cites the need to remove legal barriers to abortion” (para. 481) and include
updated information on progress regarding its adoption.
3
4
Ibid., para. 296.