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POSITION PAPER
ON THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL WOMEN'S MUSBUM
INTRODUCTION
The Commission on Human Rights lauds the filing of this bill and commits
support its passing and eventual implementation. The Commission believes
to
that the time for the creation of a National Women's Museum is now, not
sometime in the future.
Consistent with the Commission's Constitutional mandate to recommend
to Congress effective measures which aims for the protection and promotion of
human rightsl and monitor the Philippine Government's compliance with the
international treaty obligations on human rights', the Commission on Human
Rights, hereinafter (the'Commission') and by the strength of the Magna Carta of
Women Act of 2oo93 which delegates to the Commission, the powers of Gender
Ombud, the Philippines being" a State Party to the United Nations' Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CfOaW)+,
therefore, submits this position paper on House Bill No. g7z 'oArt Act To
Create A National Women's Museum, and for Other Puryroses".
Humanity, honesty and human experience is to be found in museums.
They connect us to the past, to collective and individual experiences, and in doing
so, ensure our future. While the Philippines have some existing museums, in
need of resources and manpower to protect, safeguard and retrieve its artifacts
and works of art, it is in dearth of a national women's museum.
Women's Museums are now a worldwide phenomenon which developed
independently, although most are oblivious about each other's existence. The
Women's Museums in America and Europe have originated mainly from the
second wave feminism and from the understanding and belief of history as a
gender historys. The museums of the other continents are based on the roots of
modern feminism: Gender inequality, the material disadvantage of women and
the ideological discrimination of the females being the all uniting subject.
In the country, as anywhere in the world, women have made contributions
to civilization, for the development of the nation and its people. Such
contributions should not go unvalued and unnoted leaving a gap in our country's
historical record. Out there, unaccounted and untold, unrecorded and untaught
to the youth are Filipino heroines' lives whose stories could complement,
complete and enrich Philippine history with "herstory" to close the gender gap.
'
purr. corrrsr. anr. Xlll, E 18(5).
'pnrL. coNsr. anr. Xlll, n 18{6). ARTICLE Xlll, Srcrron 18(7).
3
Republic Act No. 9710, Magna Carta of Women Act of 2009
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Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women,
www. un.org/wome nwatchldawlcedaw
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https://en.wikipedia.orglwiki/Second-wave-feminism
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