CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 158. There is now a pool of prominent women journalists and media advocates who have been articulating gender issues and women’s concerns in their columns, and projecting gender sensitivity and fair reportage or handling of women’s issues and concerns in their crafting of sound bytes, messages in “advertorials/infomercials,” and television documentaries. Women have carved out for themselves a career in the media profession. A number have become chief executive officers (CEOs), editors-in-chief, film directors, movie producers, and other posts previously enjoyed only by men. As of December 2003, women headed McCann-Erickson (CEO), Campaigns and Grey (President), Ad Board (Chairperson), Philippine Daily Inquirer (President and CEO), Manila Standard (Editor-in-chief), Center for Press Freedom and Responsibility (Executive Director), and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (Executive Director). The following media organizations have woman vice presidents: Asian Institute for Journalism, and the leading broadcast networks, ABS-CBN and GMA-7. 159. However, the mass media continue to marginalize issues of gender inequality and discrimination, except for celebrated cases of women victims/survivors, and to portray women in limited, stereotyped and sexist roles. 160. Pornography remains a major problem with dire consequences in perpetuating sex stereotyping as well as rape and incest. Mail order bride continues despite the law (Republic Act 6955) banning it. 161. Some media practitioners are unaware that sexist language can significantly affect readers, viewers and listeners’ perceptions of women. Homophobia, especially targeting lesbians, is perpetuated by mass media’s treatment of homosexuality. B. ACTIONS TAKEN Laws, policies and other government initiatives 162. Combating pornography. The Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) issued Memorandum Circular No. 98-001 that aims to eradicate the showing of pornographic video of women in public transportation. Bills filed in the 12th Congress include Senate Bill 169, which explicitly prohibits advertising materials that degrade Filipino people, particularly women; and Senate Bills and House Bill 2037, which consider criminal the exploitation of women through pornography. 163. Eliminating the business of mail order brides. Various bills have been filed in the 12th Congress against the practice of advertising brides in the internet or email. These are intended to adapt RA 6955, or the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law, to the present internet age. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 strengthened the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law by including in the list of unlawful acts of trafficking in persons such acts of matchmaking of “any Filipino woman to a foreign national for marriage for the purpose of acquiring, buying, offering or trading her to engage in prostitution, pornography sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude and bondage.” 164. Improving children’s programming and other children’s rights issues in media. Moves to achieve this include the passage of RA 8370, or Children’s Television Act of 1997, which aims 55