Arroyo urged to sign Magna Carta of Women bill

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal on Thursday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to sign into law the newly-ratified Magna Carta of Women in time for the celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8. “Now that Congress has finished its role in crafting the Magna Carta of Women and making it into a reality, I urge the President to immediately sign into law the Magna Carta of Women," said Madrigal, chairman of the Committee on Youth, Women, and Family Relations. The Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday night ratified the bill that had been pending in the Congress for more than 10 years. In March 3, the Bicameral Conference Committee reconciled the disagreeing and contentious provisions of the bill. “After arduous struggle by women's rights advocates, the passage of the Magna Carta of Women marks a milestone in this country's history," Madrigal said. She said despite opposition from different groups and sectors to block this bill, “the final version has miraculously managed to address the concerns of women's rights advocates, the church and the marginalized women despite the strong and conflicting views earlier expressed." She said the bill was crafted to be an effective tool for the further protection and empowerment of women, particularly in the marginalized sector. “It is a pro-life, pro-Filipina, and pro-family measure. It is not a reproductive rights and same sex marriage bill that rabid religious groups and opponents of the measure have labeled it," Madrigal said. She said among the salient features of the bill are: • (It) defines discrimination against women pursuant to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); • (It) espouses a policy of gender mainstreaming; • (It) declares that the rights of women are human rights; • (It) requires review and, if necessary, amendment or repeal of laws that are discriminatory to women within a specified period; • (It) ensures women’s equitable participation and representation in government, political parties, international bodies, civil service and the private sector; • (It) affords equal opportunities to women in relation to education, employment, livelihood, social protection, and others including women in the military; • (It) mandates access to information and services pertaining to women’s health; • (It) pushes for the empowerment of the marginalized sectors; • (It) strengthens the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCTFW) as the new Philippine Commission on Women; • (It) creates a special agency under the Commission on Human Rights that will specifically handle women’s rights concerns; and • (It) provides penalties for the violation of the magna carta. - GMANews.TV