MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc, and the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Monday, 9 June 2025, as partners in promoting gender equality in schools across the country.

The MOA signing is under PANTAY’s Project GEIS (Gender Equality Index for Schools), which seeks to promote safe and inclusive learning environments through the Rainbow Report Card and the Rainbow School Kit.

The Rainbow Report Card serves as a gender equality assessment tool for schools, helping them evaluate how inclusive and gender-sensitive their policies, programs, and practices are. Complementing this is the Rainbow School Kit, a practical guide that provides concrete steps schools can take to meet the indicators outlined in the report card.

“This partnership with PANTAY is aligned with the CHR’s mandate to uphold the rights and dignity of all, especially the youth and members of the LGBTQI community,” said Chairperson Palpal-latoc. “Through this initiative, we aim to help foster learning spaces where every student feels safe, respected, and empowered.”

For CHR Center for Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights Officer-in-Charge Atty. Twyla Rubin, the Commission plays a proactive role in supporting inclusive education and broader gender equality efforts.

“We are not just allies. We see ourselves as champions for gender equality, especially since the CHR is the Gender and Development Ombud. We are steadfast in our commitment to be with you and partner schools in the continuing struggle to make all Philippine schools inclusive, in the greater fight to pass the SOGIE Equality Bill, alongside all other equality programs, policies, and initiatives,” Atty. Rubin said.

Executive Director Rye Manuzon expressed hope for more partnerships that support life-saving programs like Project GEIS.

“Project GEIS and other initiatives towards gender equality are life-saving programs not just for queer people but every Filipino. We hope that partnering with institutions like CHR can open up more opportunities for more national government agencies and local and national government officials alike to be allies for a more inclusive, just, equitable, and equal Philippine society for all,” Manuzon said. ###