QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9710)
RA 9710 is titled the “Magna Carta of Women,” and it was enacted on August 14, 2009.
The State commits to substantive equality of women and men, promotes empowerment and equal opportunities/access to resources and development results, and pursues the abolition of unequal structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality.
It is any gender-based distinction, exclusion, or restriction that impairs or nullifies the recognition or enjoyment of rights and freedoms, whether direct or indirect, and includes acts or omissions by law, policy, administrative measures, or practices. It can be discrimination if general measures fail to offset gender-based disadvantages or have greater adverse effects on women.
When discrimination is compounded by or intersecting with other grounds/status/conditions such as ethnicity, age, poverty, or religion, it is considered discrimination against women under the Act.
Substantive equality is the full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms under the Act, encompassing both de jure and de facto equality, and equality in outcomes.
(1) Refrain from discriminating against women and violating their rights; (2) Protect women against discrimination and from violation of their rights by private corporations/entities/individuals; and (3) Promote and fulfill women’s rights in all spheres, including substantive equality and non-discrimination.
It requires agencies and LGUs to adopt gender mainstreaming, conduct gender audits/analyses, generate sex-disaggregated data, consult stakeholders, and fund GAD programs. The GAD budget must be at least 5% of the agency’s or LGU’s total budget appropriations.
All LGUs must establish a Violence Against Women’s Desk in every barangay to ensure violence-against-women cases are fully addressed in a gender-responsive manner.
There shall be an incremental increase in recruitment and training of women in the police force, forensics and medico-legal, legal services, and social work services for women victims, until women comprise 50% of personnel in those services.
Women have the right to protection and security against gender-based violence (including rape and sexual abuse) in armed conflict. The State must observe international standards and must not force women—especially indigenous peoples—to abandon lands or relocate them to special military centers under discriminatory conditions.
They are legislative/executive/administrative/regulatory instruments or practices aimed at accelerating de facto equality in specific areas. They are not considered discriminatory, must not maintain unequal or separate standards, and are to be discontinued once objectives are achieved.
It requires, among others: (1) incremental increase of women in third-level positions in government toward a 50-50 gender balance; (2) at least 40% women membership in development councils at all levels; (3) representation of women’s groups in special/decision-making bodies including international bodies; and incentives to political parties for women’s agenda and to private sector for women leadership.
It outlaws expulsion and non-readmission of women faculty due to pregnancy outside marriage; and provides that no school shall turn out or refuse admission to a female student solely because of pregnancy outside marriage during her term in school.
A woman employee with at least six months continuous aggregate employment service in the last twelve months is entitled to a special leave benefit of two months with full pay for surgery caused by gynecological disorders.
It requires gender stereotypes and images in educational materials and curricula to be revised, mandates use of gender-sensitive language, and requires capacity-building on gender and development, peace and human rights, and education for teachers and education sector personnel.