March marks Women’s Month Celebrations in the Philippines. This year the United Nations convened the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women[1], the principal global governmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
I participated as a member of the Philippine Government Delegation as National Human Rights Institutions have not yet been granted distinct participatory rights as independent state bodies in this UN Charter-based mechanism which holds sessions annually in New York since 1956.
In this global gathering, I spoke at a parallel event entitled, “Transforming Gender Stereotypes: Making the Uncomfortable Conversation Comfortable.”[2] The Philippine Government co-sponsored this event together with International Presentation Association.
In my message, I stressed that:
The Commission will not accept the notion that gender discriminatory norms are ingrained in Filipino culture. Culture is not static and the challenge to change it is a long struggle. As such, I wish to highlight the importance of gender-sensitive public communication, information, and education in various forms and platforms as an important first step towards gender socialization to promote and protect gender equality and women’s human rights.
It is with this conviction that I issue yet another reminder to our President about the culture of misogyny that has marked his administration for the past 5 years.
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Statement
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) strongly denounces the act of President Duterte where, in a video taken during his birthday celebration, he was seen attempting to touch the private part of their kasambahay.
We are saddened to be issuing a statement yet again to call out the President about his acts that demean and objectify women. Familiarity is not an excuse for such acts. In our previous statements, the Commission reminded him about State obligations pertaining to women’s rights and gender equality. As the President of the Republic, President Duterte should be the first to respect women to inspire compliance with these obligations.
We stress that our State obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) mandate us, particularly the government duty bearers, to eliminate violence against women, which is a form of discrimination against women. This includes sexual harassment. These acts are also penalized in our local laws, such as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and the Safe Spaces Act.
The Philippines is among the first countries to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention (International Labour Organization Convention No. 189), which provided that domestic workers have the right to a safe and healthy working environment. Our own Kasambahay Law states that kasambahays should not be subjected to any form of violence, harassment, or any act that tend to degrade the dignity of the domestic worker.
An attempt to touch the private part of a kasambahay or any woman degrades her inherent human dignity. This is not the new normal that our kasambahays deserve.
It bears emphasizing that the Safe Spaces Act was signed by the President himself. The Presidential Spokesperson, who considers himself a human rights lawyer, also tried to justify the acts of the President by portraying him as “palabiro” (playful).
The Commission reminds all public officials and the general public that violence against women is not a laughing matter and may constitute a criminal offense. It has no place in Philippine society. Ours is not a society that demeans women. We are not a people who disrespects women. We can do better.
As the Gender Ombud designated by the Magna Carta of Women, the Commission vows to continue ensuring that all women are safe from violence and harassment, even if it means calling out the person occupying the highest position in the land. Honoring women is not done by mere statements in events such as Women’s Month. Celebrating Women’s Month means guaranteeing that women’s rights and dignity are upheld and respected at all times. ###
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Related event
Transforming Discriminatory Gender Norms
Commissioner Karen S. Gomez-Dumpit
CSW65 Webinar – Transforming Gender Stereotypes: Making the Uncomfortable Conversation Comfortable
16 March 2021 | 1:30pm (EDT)
Good Day from Manila. In this brief intervention, allow me to share with you three points: 1. some factors that continue to contribute to gender stereotyping in the Philippines; 2. possibilities for transforming discriminatory gender norms; and 3. some gender equality-related initiatives of the Commission s as the Gender Ombud under the Magna Carta of Women.
The past years saw the reemergence of a misogynistic culture in the Philippines. Misogynistic remarks and verbal attacks laced with sexism are hurled against women leaders and public servants. Women leaders are often stereotyped as incapable of holding significant public positions and are morally discredited. Many of them face and continually experience public humiliation, vilification and political harassment and repression. All these stifle legitimate dissent, silence criticisms, and may ultimately discourage women from being active in politics.
While the Philippines has a rather robust set of laws aimed at addressing gender stereotyping and gender-based violence, access to justice remains a major issue. Data from 2017 show that only one-third of women who experienced physical or sexual violence sought help to stop the violence; however, 41% of the women never told anyone. This can be attributed to one or more of these factors: lack of confidence in State duty bearers; lack of awareness on the available services and existing protective mechanisms; fear of personal safety, ruining family reputation, political bias, and reprisal from public officials; and cultural and social expectations.
Gender sensitivity and education on gender equality and women’s rights remain to be most important starting points in transforming prevailing discriminatory gender norms. Towards the end of 2020, news about a learning module asking students to choose which toys are for boys and which ones are for girls went viral after a student’s answer that all toys are for both girls and boys. Modules like this are starting points of gender stereotyping and discrimination.
Apart from the Philippines’s State Obligation under CEDAW, our own Magna Carta requires the revision of gender stereotypes and images in educational materials and curricula. It likewise mandates the use of gender sensitive language and capacity building on gender and development and human rights for teachers and all personnel involved in the education sector. However, these State obligations, laws, policies, and programs cannot remain as nicely written words. Implementation is still key.
For our part, the Commission has instituted programs that seek to protect the rights of women and promote gender equality. We have adopted protocols in investigating human rights violations against women and persons with diverse SOGIE, and continue to provide legal and financial assistance, no matter how limited, to victims of these violations. We periodically monitor the situation of women and other vulnerable groups. Recently, we institutionalized the GBV Observatory that serves as a data hub for GBV cases and created the GBV reporting portal to address gaps in referral pathways for women during the pandemic. We have also mainstreamed empowerment of women in our programs such as the peer monitoring project by women with disabilities by organizing their collective to enable them to safeguard their rights in the community.
As Gender Ombud, the Commission regularly issues statements and advisories regarding pressing gender issues, ranging from positions on legislative measures, calling attention on misogynist remarks, to addressing women’s socioeconomic needs and ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and services in this health crisis.
The Commission will not accept the notion that gender discriminatory norms are ingrained in Filipino culture. Culture is not static and the challenge to change it is a long struggle. As such, I wish to highlight the importance of gender sensitive public communication, information, and education in various forms and platforms as an important first step towards gender socialization to promote and protect gender equality and women’s human rights.
Maraming Salamat po.
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[1] https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw65-2021
[2] https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/PZq4nyR2s3DqMT63J