CEDAW/C/PHL/7-8 Introduction Report preparation 1. The combined 7th and 8th report of the Philippines on the implementation of the CEDAW went through a participatory formulation process. Information and updates were gathered and consolidated from concerned government agencies on their implementation of the CEDAW and supplemented with information from relevant studies, and statistics on the situation of women and me n in the country. Highlights of developments since the combined 5th and 6th report 2. The State Party, immediately after it received the concluding comments on the 5th and 6th report in 2006, disseminated the information to various groups, conducted workshops with government agencies, and with support from the UN Women CEDAW Southeast Asia Project and the UN Joint Program on CEDAW, both duty bearers and claimholders from CSOs were trained to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. 3. Taking its commitments seriously under the Convention, the State Party immediately worked on the passage of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) that would become the national translation of CEDAW. The MCW, which was enacted in 2009, is a result of the vigorous and collaborative effort of the government, civil society groups, academe and other stakeholders. 4. Changes in the domestic political landscape influenced the support to gender related laws and policies. In addition to the MCW, the Responsible Parent hood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law was passed in 2012 after contentious debates at the Philippine Congress and despite the strong resistance posed by other sectors of the society. After the law was signed by the Philippine President, opponents took their case to the Supreme Court for a status quo ante order, delaying its implementation. However, on 8 April 2014, the Supreme Court declared the law ‘not unconstitutional,’ save for a few provisions. 5. Earlier, another health-related law, the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, was enacted to provide incentives to government and private health institutions with rooming-in and breastfeeding practices. 6. The period covered by this combined report also saw the passage of other domestic laws addressing other gender related concerns, such as the Expanded Anti Trafficking in Persons Act which strengthened the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009. In 2013, the law declaring November 25 as the National Consciousness Day to Eliminate Violence against Women was enacted. It was during the same period that the ‘Batas Kasambahay’ or An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers was issued, which safeguards the working cond itions of household domestic workers, most of whom are women. Earlier, the “night work prohibition” provisions of the Labour Code of the Philippines were effectively repealed by enactment of the Act Allowing the Employment of Night Workers that allows women to work at night or be assigned to night duties. 7. Other equally important draft laws that will impact on women ’s rights are being considered by the legislative bodies of the State Party. 2/36 15-03079