By FARAH G. DECANO
Women’s Rights Are Human Rights
Last March 12, I stood before a sea of 400 women in the Municipality of Talavera. It was a landmark moment because it was the town’s first-ever Women’s Forum, organized by Mayor Aries G. Lim, MSWD Officer Ma. Theresa Florencondia, and Executive Assistant Raqueliza Agapito. As I looked out at the crowd, I realized that while I was there to speak as a legal resource, the real power resided in the audience.
In the Philippines, we often hear the mantra: “Women’s rights are human rights.” But in the quiet corners of our homes and the busy aisles of our workplaces, do we truly appreciate what that means?
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Our legal framework is not a mere collection of ink on paper; it is a sword and a shield forged over decades. It began with the 1987 Constitution, which mandated the role of women in nation-building. Through the Doctrine of Incorporation, we didn’t just look inward; we adopted global standards—such as the UN Declaration of Human Rights, CEDAW and the 1995 Beijing Platform—making the international fight for dignity our own national policy.
However, the “Bible” of this movement was written through the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710). What makes this law revolutionary is its pursuit of substantive equality. It acknowledges a harsh truth: treating men and women exactly the same in an unequal world is not enough. To
achieve true justice, the State must proactively dismantle the structures that keep women at a disadvantage.
Congress has “put flesh” on these constitutional bones through a series of specialized laws that address the lived realities of being a woman:
On the Right to Health. From the RH Law (RA 10354) to the Expanded Maternity Leave (RA 11210) and the First 1,000 Days Law (RA 11148), the State has finally recognized that a woman’s health is a prerequisite for her freedom, quality of life and yes, productivity.
On the Right to Life, Security, and Dignity. To protect these entitlements, Congress passed the following critical legislations:
The Anti-VAWC Act (RA 9262): This law broke the silence on domestic abuse, providing immediate lifelines through Barangay, Temporary, and Permanent Protection Orders.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Law (RA 7877) and the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313): We have evolved from a law that required a workplace “superior” to one that follows us into the streets and the digital world. Whether it is a catcall on the sidewalk or a misogynistic slur on Facebook, the law now says: This is not okay.
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During my lecture, I felt that I should warn women in the audience. While we have an abundance of laws, there is a
lingering possibility that the State might foster a pabebe attitude among our women – an attitude that expects the wheel of justice to turn without their participation.
These laws are not trophies to be displayed or records to be archived. If we do not invoke the Safe Spaces Act when we are harassed, or seek a Protection Order when we are abused in a relationship, the law remains a ghost. We must keep these statutes alive through education, constant application, and the courage to demand what is rightfully ours.
The forum in Talavera was a beginning, not an end. As we celebrate Women’s Month, let us remember: the law provides the map and assistance, but it is the women who must walk the path.