This leads to the point of power relations being the central idea of gender equality and,
consequentially, gender justice: gender equality is about women’s having equal power in all
her relationships – with her family, partner, community, environment – and thus, gender
justice is when the existing power imbalance is addressed. Simply put, it is about women’s
self-determination: when all women are able to define for herself the life she lives, and
assert and exercise her human rights without fear of violence or reprisal, then it can be said
that women are empowered, and there is gender equality.
Power is also a central concept to politics and political participation: who decides what?
which issues are put on the table and which are set aside or never get to the table at all?
whose voices are loudest at the table, and whose interests are given more weight in the
final instance? In the formal public decision-making spheres, women have very limited
power, whether one looks at it in terms of number of women in electoral posts, the bills
filed addressing women-specific issues, or the extent gender equality outcomes are
considered in legislative discussions in general.
Bills filed in the House of Representatives under its Women and Gender
Equality Committee, and Population and Family Relations Committee
Subject / Theme
Number of
bills filed
18
8
Percentage
Amendments to R.A. 9262 (inclusion of e-VAWC, etc.)
7
10.61
Divorce; recognition of church annulment
Teen pregnancy
Support to families (resource center, incentive for 2
children, anti-divorce)
Women deprived of liberty (rights, support programs,
etc)
Strengthening RA 8505 (Rape Victims Assistance Act)
5
5
5
7.58
7.58
7.58
2
3.03
2
3.03
Maternity support for low income mothers (financial,
subsidy, etc.)
Conditional cash grant to low income, stay-at-home
mothers
Compensation for comfort women
Recognition of civil unions
2
3.03
2
3.03
2
2
3.03
3.03
Strengthening anti-abortion law
Capital assistance and loans to women entrepreneurs
2
1
3.03
1.52
Sexual representation of women in ads and media
Gender quota in elective positions
1
1
1.52
1.52
Establishment of a National Women's Museum
1
67
1.52
100
Related to anti-discrimination on the basis of SOGIE
Family Code revisions (property relations, decisionmaking, etc)
Total
27.27
12.12
Source: http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/ (as of 23 January 2020)
Barnachea Janier of I-Defend (“Shrinking Space #HumanRights”), and Judy Pasimio of Lilak (“Sharing on
Community Lobbying and Advocacy”)