EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES
First Regular Session
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S E N AT
S. B. No.
of liji i i r c r ‘' t a r p
*19 JUL -2 AID --43
f 37
-B E u i— i_L
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF AGE, RACIAL OR
ETHNIC ORIGIN, RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR ACTIVITY, POLITICAL
INCLINATION OR CONVICTION, SOCIAL CLASS, SEX, GENDER, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSIONS, MARITAL OR
RELATIONSHIP STATUS, DISABILITY, HIV STATUS, HEALTH STATUS OR
MEDICAL HISTORY, LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL FEATURES, AND OTHER
STATUS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
"Profound social instability" remains to be one of the global risks according to
The Global Risks Report 2019 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) lists. In its 2016
Report, "profound social instability" is listed as one of the Top 5 Global Risks o f
Highest Concern for the next 10 years. It is rated as highly impactful or likely and
one of the most highly interconnected risks, and is gaining in prominence in
perceptions of likelihood and impact. The economic risks of unemployment and
underemployment have also increased in both likelihood and impact over the past
two years.
Any form of discrimination threatens social stability and economic progress in
the Philippines, making it imperative that discrimination — or any act th a t
establishes, promotes and perpetuates standing inequalities and disregards the right
to "equality of treatm ent" afforded by the 1987 Constitution — be reduced.
Moreover, the Philippines is a signatory to the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of the United Nations that guarantee broad respect
for the human rights of every individual, without discrimination based on race, skin