Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaFourteenth Congress
Second Regular SessionBegun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the the twenty-eight day of July, two thousand eight.
Republic Act No. 9710 August 14, 2009
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Magna Carta of Women".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - Recognizing that the economic, political, and sociocultural realities affect women's current condition, the State affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men. It shall promote empowerment of women and pursue equal opportunities for women and men and ensure equal access to resources and to development results and outcome. Further, the State realizes that equality of men and women entails the abolition of the unequal structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. To realize this, the State shall endeavor...
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Republic Acts
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN
Republic Act No. 9710
Summary of the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710)
Principles and Policies
- Recognizes women's role in nation-building and ensures substantive equality of women and men (Section 2)
- Pursues elimination of discrimination against women in line with CEDAW (Section 2)
- Affirms women's rights as human rights and intensifies efforts to promote them (Section 2)
- Outlines principles of human rights of women, including universality, indivisibility, interdependence, equality, participation, and accountability (Section 3)
Definition of Terms (Section 4)
- Defines key terms such as women empowerment, discrimination against women, marginalization, marginalized sectors, substantive equality, gender equality, gender equity, gender and development, gender mainstreaming, temporary special measures, violence against women, women in the military, and social protection
Duties Related to Women's Human Rights (Sections 5-7)
- The State is the primary duty-bearer to respect, protect, and fulfill women's rights (Section 5)
- State agencies and instrumentalities have duties to implement the Act (Section 6)
- This chapter is integrated into other provisions of the Act (Section 7)
Rights and Empowerment (Sections 8-19)
- Guarantees all rights in the Constitution and international instruments (Section 8)
- Protection from violence, including in armed conflict situations (Section 9)
- Protection in disasters, calamities, and crisis situations (Section 10)
- Participation and representation, with at least 40% membership in development councils (Section 11)
- Equal treatment before the law, with review of discriminatory laws within 3 years (Section 12)
- Equal access and elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships, and training (Section 13)
- Promotion of women's participation in sports (Section 14)
- Equal opportunities for women in the military (Section 15)
- Non-discriminatory portrayal of women in media and film (Section 16)
- Comprehensive health services and information for women (Section 17)
- Special leave benefits of 2 months with full pay following gynecological surgery (Section 18)
- Equal rights in marriage and family relations (Section 19)
Rights and Empowerment of Marginalized Sectors (Sections 20-35)
- Right to food security and productive resources, including equal rights to land, fisheries, and agriculture (Section 20)
- Right to housing programs for women (Section 21)
- Right to decent work standards, support services, and protection for migrant workers (Section 22)
- Right to livelihood, credit, capital, and technology (Section 23)
- Right to education and training, including for migrant workers (Section 24)
- Right to representation and participation in policy-making bodies (Section 25)
- Right to information on policies affecting women (Section 26)
- Social protection schemes, including health insurance for senior citizens and indigents (Section 27)
- Recognition and preservation of cultural identity and integrity of Moro and indigenous women (Section 28)
- Increased women's participation in the peace process (Section 29)
- Services and interventions for women in especially difficult circumstances (Sections 30-31)
- Protection of girl-children from discrimination and abuse (Section 32)
- Protection of senior citizens from neglect, violence, and discrimination (Section 33)
- Prohibition of discrimination against women (Sections 34-35)
Institutional Mechanisms (Sections 36-44)
- Gender mainstreaming as a strategy, with at least 5% of agency budgets for GAD programs (Section 36)
- Gender focal point officers in Philippine embassies and consulates (Section 37)
- Renaming of NCRFW to Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as the primary policy-making and coordinating body (Section 38)
- Commission on Human Rights as the Gender and Development Ombud (Section 39)
- Monitoring and reporting on implementation progress and impact (Section 40)
- Penalties for violations, including administrative sanctions and damages (Section 41)
- Incentives and awards system for outstanding performance (Section 42)
- Funding from agency appropriations and GAD budgets (Section 43)
- Implementing rules and regulations to be formulated by PCW within 180 days (Section 44)
Other Provisions
- Separability clause (Section 45)
- Repealing clause for inconsistent laws (Section 46)
- Effectivity clause 15 days after publication (Section 47)
Principles and Policies
- Recognizes women's role in nation-building and ensures substantive equality of women and men (Section 2)
- Pursues elimination of discrimination against women in line with CEDAW (Section 2)
- Affirms women's rights as human rights and intensifies efforts to promote them (Section 2)
- Outlines principles of human rights of women, including universality, indivisibility, interdependence, equality, participation, and accountability (Section 3)
Definition of Terms (Section 4)
- Defines key terms such as women empowerment, discrimination against women, marginalization, marginalized sectors, substantive equality, gender equality, gender equity, gender and development, gender mainstreaming, temporary special measures, violence against women, women in the military, and social protection
Duties Related to Women's Human Rights (Sections 5-7)
- The State is the primary duty-bearer to respect, protect, and fulfill women's rights (Section 5)
- State agencies and instrumentalities have duties to implement the Act (Section 6)
- This chapter is integrated into other provisions of the Act (Section 7)
Rights and Empowerment (Sections 8-19)
- Guarantees all rights in the Constitution and international instruments (Section 8)
- Protection from violence, including in armed conflict situations (Section 9)
- Protection in disasters, calamities, and crisis situations (Section 10)
- Participation and representation, with at least 40% membership in development councils (Section 11)
- Equal treatment before the law, with review of discriminatory laws within 3 years (Section 12)
- Equal access and elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships, and training (Section 13)
- Promotion of women's participation in sports (Section 14)
- Equal opportunities for women in the military (Section 15)
- Non-discriminatory portrayal of women in media and film (Section 16)
- Comprehensive health services and information for women (Section 17)
- Special leave benefits of 2 months with full pay following gynecological surgery (Section 18)
- Equal rights in marriage and family relations (Section 19)
Rights and Empowerment of Marginalized Sectors (Sections 20-35)
- Right to food security and productive resources, including equal rights to land, fisheries, and agriculture (Section 20)
- Right to housing programs for women (Section 21)
- Right to decent work standards, support services, and protection for migrant workers (Section 22)
- Right to livelihood, credit, capital, and technology (Section 23)
- Right to education and training, including for migrant workers (Section 24)
- Right to representation and participation in policy-making bodies (Section 25)
- Right to information on policies affecting women (Section 26)
- Social protection schemes, including health insurance for senior citizens and indigents (Section 27)
- Recognition and preservation of cultural identity and integrity of Moro and indigenous women (Section 28)
- Increased women's participation in the peace process (Section 29)
- Services and interventions for women in especially difficult circumstances (Sections 30-31)
- Protection of girl-children from discrimination and abuse (Section 32)
- Protection of senior citizens from neglect, violence, and discrimination (Section 33)
- Prohibition of discrimination against women (Sections 34-35)
Institutional Mechanisms (Sections 36-44)
- Gender mainstreaming as a strategy, with at least 5% of agency budgets for GAD programs (Section 36)
- Gender focal point officers in Philippine embassies and consulates (Section 37)
- Renaming of NCRFW to Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as the primary policy-making and coordinating body (Section 38)
- Commission on Human Rights as the Gender and Development Ombud (Section 39)
- Monitoring and reporting on implementation progress and impact (Section 40)
- Penalties for violations, including administrative sanctions and damages (Section 41)
- Incentives and awards system for outstanding performance (Section 42)
- Funding from agency appropriations and GAD budgets (Section 43)
- Implementing rules and regulations to be formulated by PCW within 180 days (Section 44)
Other Provisions
- Separability clause (Section 45)
- Repealing clause for inconsistent laws (Section 46)
- Effectivity clause 15 days after publication (Section 47)