Sunday, January 13, 2008 Cayetano pushes approval of Magna Carta for women By Grace L. Plata
GAINING equal treatment before the law would be the main benefit for women of the passage of Senate Bill No. 1701 or the proposed "Magna Carta for Women."
Senator Pia Cayetano, proponent of the measure said the bill is the country's response to the International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw).
"Its makes clear the rights of women which are not addressed or addresses in a limited ways," Cayetano said.
She cited cases of adultery and concubinage as examples, which are addressed under Section 11 that provides equal rights in all matters relating to marriage and family relations.
"Sa ganitong mga kaso, mas madaling i-prosecute and babae. The Magna Carta is aimed to change that," Cayetano said.
Aside from this, the Magna Carta assures equal access and elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships and training as well as provides for the protection of girl-children.
"Most education opportunities for women are limited. There is a need to encourage them to pursue science and technology as field of study -- a field, which is vastly dominated by men. The girl-child has to know that it is an option that is open for her," Cayetano said.
She added that having women in the fields of science and technology would surely benefit other women, too.
"It can only be a female scientist that could think of things like making pesticides that are not harmful for pregnant women. It is a woman's issue and largely different from that of the need of men. Men would not be able to relate to that, kaya there is a need to have more women in the scientific community," Cayetano said.
Women's reproductive health issues are also addressed under the Magna Carta provided under Section 10, which provides access to information and services relating to women.
"It is not a moral issue but a health issue. Women have to know how to take care of themselves. For example, diseases that are often fatal to women are breast and cervical cancer. Most women do not know that cervical cancer is caused by a virus that is sexually transmitted during unprotected sex. These are the things that a woman should know about," Cayetano said.
The Magna Carta also includes provisions on non-discriminatory portrayal of women in media and film; recognition of the contribution of women to food production therefore recognizing their right to food and right to resources for food production and recognition of women's right to housing, employment, livelihood, credit, capital and technology.
