AT least 3,000 women were treated to free health and wellness services by the Cebu City Government at the Plaza Sugbo yesterday in celebration of the International Women's Day.
From police personnel, government employees to housewives, the women were pampered with salon services, body massages, pneumonia vaccinations for females aged 45 years old and above, and livelihood orientations. These are all free of charge.
Cebu City Women and Family Affairs Commission chairperson Lea Japson said the activity aims to empower women, especially with the enactment of the Magna Carta for Women.
“We can now see that we are now slowly experiencing the equality women have always been fighting for. At least, this time, women will no longer be left behind,” she said.
A public official for almost two decades herself, Japson said she is happy that women are no longer denied the chance to speak their minds, be elected and pursue their advocacy to help the community grow.
Aside from yesterday's activity, the CCWFAC will also be hosting a variety of activities for the duration of the Women's Month celebration.
“We have an exhibit of advocates of women's rights. We also have a forum for elderly women. Next week, we will hold a seminar for livelihood and farming activities,” Japson said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 kicked off the National Women’s Month by performing the One Billion Rising dance during its flag-raising ceremony recently.
“As we anticipate the Women’s Month in March, we officially launch the month-long celebration through the One Billion Rising dance,” said Rosemarie Salazar, social welfare officer IV and focal person on women.
One Billion Rising is a global movement founded by Eve Ensler that seeks to end physical, rape and sexual violence against women.
The “billion” refers to the UN (United Nations) statistics, which showed that one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. With the world population at seven billion, this means that up to more than one billion women and girls may fall victims to abuses.