Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Article 14 of CEDAW recognizes rural women’s challenging situation and highlights specific obligations of States parties in recognizing, promoting and protecting their rights. The following obligations are stated: “States parties should address specific threats posed to rural women by climate change, natural disasters, land and soil degradation, water pollution, droughts, floods, desertification, pesticides and agro-chemicals, extractive industries, monocultures, biopiracy, and loss of biodiversity, particularly agro-biodiversity. They should alleviate and mitigate these threats and ensure that rural women enjoy a safe, clean and healthy environment. They should effectively address the impact of such risks on rural women in the planning and implementation of all policies concerning the environment, climate change, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and management, and should ensure full participation of rural women in designing, planning and implementing such policies. States parties should also ensure the protection and security of rural women and girls in all phases of disasters and other crises, ranging from early warning to relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction” (CEDAW/C/GC/34). Magna Carta of Women - RA 9710 Under the Magna Carta of Women, “the State affirms women’s rights as human rights and shall intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties under international and domestic law to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill, and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, especially marginalized women, in the economic, social, political, cultural, and other fields without distinction or discrimination on account of class, age, sex, gender, language, ethnicity, religion, ideology, disability, education, and status” (Section 2). The Magna Carta of Women has a specific provision for women affected by disasters, calamities and other crisis situations. Section 10 states that: “Women have the right to protection and security in times of disasters, calamities, and other crisis situations especially in all phases of relief, recovery, rehabilitation, and construction efforts. The State shall provide for immediate humanitarian assistance, allocation of resources, and early resettlement, if necessary. It shall also address the particular needs of women from a gender perspective to ensure their full protection from sexual exploitation and other sexual and gender-based violence committed against them. Responses to disaster situations shall include the provision of services, such as psychosocial support, livelihood support, education, psychological health, and comprehensive health services, including protection during pregnancy.” The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA Law) - RA 8371 The IPRA Law provides for protective measures for affected IPs during natural calamities. Section 7 (d) states that: “In case displacement occurs as a result of natural catastrophes, the State shall endeavor to resettle the displaced ICCs/IPs in suitable areas where they can have temporary life support systems: Provided, That the displaced ICCs/IPs shall have the right to return to their abandoned lands until such time that the normalcy and safety of such lands shall be determined: Provided, further, That should their ancestral domain cease to exist and normalcy and safety of the previous settlements are not possible, displaced ICCs/IPs shall enjoy security of tenure over lands to which they have been resettled: Provided, 26 Commented [a2]: Provide specific section