Women’s Day remembered, Magna Carta needed

Senator Richard Gordon noted that the 36th session of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in August 2006 had raised as a principal concern the Philippines' lack of progress in enacting a comprehensive legal framework on gender equality. He added that this concern was raised 25 years after the Philippines had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW.

"The Magna Carta of Women aims to address this concern," Gordon said.

The measure defines discrimination, addresses gender issues in health, education, training, livelihood, employment, political participation, media, marriage and family relations and property ownership.

Gordon added, "It also provides for the adoption of special measures to protect women's human rights and allow women to realize their full human potentials alongside men."