List of Philippine Laws in Supportof Women's Welfare and RightsRA 6655(April 26, 1988)An Act Establishing and Providing for a Free Public Secondary Education and for Other PurposesRA 6657(June 10, 1988)An Act Instituting a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to Promote Social Justice and Industrialization, Providing the Mechanisms for its Implementation and for Other PurposesRA 6725(April 27, 1989)An Act Strengthening the Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women with Respect to Terms and Conditions of Employment, Amending for the Purpose Article One Hundred Thirty-Five of the Labor Code, As AmendedRA 6728(June 10, 1989)An Act Providing Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education and Appropriating Funds ThereforRA 6938(March 10, 1990)An Act to Ordain a Cooperative Code of the PhilippinesRA 6809(December 13, 1989)An Act Lowering the Age of Majority From Twenty-One to Eighteen Years, Amending for the Purpose EO No. 209, and for Other Purposes

RA 6949(April 10, 1990)An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women's DayRA 6955(June 13, 1990)An Act to Declare Unlawful the Practice of Matching for Marriage to Foreign Nationals on a Mail-Order Basis and For Other Similar Practices. Including the Advertisement, Publication, Printing or Distribution of Brochures, Fliers and Other Propaganda Materials in Furtherance Thereof and Providing Penalty ThereforRA 6972(November 23, 1990)An Act Establishing a Day Care Center in Every Barangay Instituting Therein a Total Development and Protection of Children Program, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other PurposesRA 7192(December 11, 1991)An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and Nation Building and for Other PurposesRA 7305(March 26, 1992)The Magna Carta of Public Health WorkersRA 7309(March 30, 1992)An Act Creating a Board of Claims Under the Department of Justice for Victims of Unjust Imprisonment or Detention and Victims of Violent Crimes and for Other PurposesRA 7322(March 30, 1992)An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sector, Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as Amended and for Other PurposesRA 7394(April 13, 1992)The Consumer Act of the PhilippinesRA 7432(April 23, 1992)An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other PurposesRA 7600(June 17, 1992)An Act Requiring All Government and Private Health Institutions with Obstetrical Services to Adopt Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Practices and for Other PurposesRA 7610(June 17, 1992)An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, Providing Penalties for its Violation, and for Other Purposes

RA 7655(August 19, 1993)An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage of Househelpers Amending for the Purpose Article 143 of Presidential Decree No. 142, as AmendedRA 7659(December 13, 1993)An Act to Impose the Death Penalty on Certain Heinous Crimes, Amending for the Purpose the Revised Penal Code, as Amended, Other Special Penal Laws, and for Other PurposesRA 7688(March 3, 1994)An Act Giving Representation to Women in Social Security Commission Amending for the Purpose Section 3(A) of Republic Act 1161, as AmendedRA 7877(February 8, 1995)An Act Declaring Sexual Harassment Unlawful in the Employment, Education or Training Environment, and for Other PurposesRA 7822(February 20, 1995)An Act Providing Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises, and for Other PurposesRA 7491(March 3, 1995)An Act Providing for the Election of Party-List Representatives Through the Party-list system, and Appropriating Funds ThereforRA 8042(February 20, 1995)An Act to Institute the Policies of Overseas Employment and Establish a Higher Standard of Protection and Promotion of the Welfare of the Migrant Workers, Their Families and Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and for Other PurposesRA 8171(October 23, 1995)An Act Providing for the Repatriation of Filipino Women Who Have Lost Their Philippine Citizenship by Marriage to Aliens and of Natural Born FilipinosRA 8187(June 11, 1996)An Act Granting Paternity Leave of Seven (7) Days with Full Pay to all Married Male Employees in the Private and Public Sectors for the First Four (4) Deliveries of the Legitimate Spouse with Whom he is Cohabiting and for Other PurposesRA 8353(September 30, 1997)An Act Expanding the Definition of the Crime of Rape, Reclassifying the Same as a Crime Against Persons, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code, and for Other PurposesRA 8369(October 28, 1997)An Act Establishing Family Courts, granting Them Exclusive Original Jurisdiction Over Child and Family Cases, Amending Batas Pambansa No. 192, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other PurposesRA 8505(February 13, 1998)An Act Providing Assistance and Protection for Rape Victims, Establishing for the Purpose a Rape Crisis Center in Every Province and City, Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds Therefor and for Other PurposesRA 9208(May 26, 2003)An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, Establishing the Necessary Institutional Mechanisms for the Protection and Support of Trafficked Persons, Providing Penalties for its Violations, and for Other PurposesRA 9262(March 8, 2004)An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing Protective Measures for Victims, Prescribing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes

Q & A: Constitutional and Legislative Provisions on Violence Against WomenRelease Date:Monday, March 9, 20091. What are the specific constitutional and legislative provisions regarding Violence Against Women (VAW)?1.1The 1987 Philippine Constitution - The protection of the human rights of all Filipinos is contained in the Philippine Constitution. Among its salient provisions is Article II, Section 14 which provides that the state recognizes the role of women in nation building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.1.2 Anti-Mail Order Bride Law (Republic Act 6955) The law declares unlawful the matching of Filipino mail-order brides to foreigners. It penalizes the business of matching Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals either through personal introduction as well as through advertisement, publication, printing or distribution of brochure and flyers, through membership in clubs created for matching Filipinas to foreign nationals and, through the use of the postal service.1.3 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7877) The law makes incidents involving unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature, made directly or indirectly in the employment, education or training environment unlawful. Sexual harassment is about abusing power relations using ones power to extract sexual favors.1.4 Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (Republic Act 8353) The law reclassifies rape as a crime against persons, defining it as public rather than a private crime. It recognizes marital rape and questions the notion of sexual obligation in marriage. It also notes that rape happens even without penetration and the use of objects as constituting sexual assault, which is also considered as a form of rape. The law also increased the penalties against rape.1.5 Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (Republic Act 8505) The law provides assistance and protection to rape victims, establishes for the purpose a rape crisis center in every province and city and authorizes the appropriation of funds for the establishment and operation of the rape crisis center. Aside from the provision of services, capacity building/training is also mandated for the law enforcement officers, public prosecutors, lawyers, medico-legal officers, social workers and barangay officials on human rights and their responsibilities, gender sensitivity and legal management of rape cases.1.6 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208) The law defines trafficking in person in terms of the acts, means and purposes of trafficking. The trafficked person is considered as a victim thus, she/he should be provided protection and support services by the State. Government agencies are mandated to provide services to the trafficked persons at the international, national and local levels for his/her early recovery and reintegration.1.7 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act9262) The law defines violence against women and their children as a public crime.It provides for the security of the woman-complainant and her children through theavailment of the barangay, temporary or permanent protection orders. It alsoidentifies the duties of barangay officials, law enforces, prosecutors, court personnel,social welfare and health care providers and the LGUs to provide the necessaryprotection and support of VAWC victims.The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 is in keeping withthe fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the constitution, the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms ofDiscrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and otherinternational human rights instruments which the Philippines is a party. The forms ofVAW addressed are physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.1.8 Article 245 of the Revised Penal Code (Republic Act 3815) The law providesthat abuse against chastity is committed by any public officer who shall solicit ormake immoral advances to a woman interested in matters pending before such officefor decision, or with respect to which he is required to submit a report to or consult with a superior officer; or by any warden or other public officer directly charged withthe care and custody of prisoners or persons under arrest who shall solicit or makeimmoral or indecent advances to a woman under his custody. A penalty of prisoncorrectional in its medium and maximum periods and temporary specialdisqualification shall be imposed on the offender.2. What specific guidelines, protocols or manuals are providing advice on how toimplement the legislations?2.1 National Strategic Plan Against Trafficking in Persons (2004-2010)The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT), in coordination withother government agencies and non-government organizations and otherstakeholders, initiated the formulation of an integrated strategic plan of action againsttrafficking. The six-year (2004-2010) Strategic Plan of Action Against Trafficking isdivided into three major components of interventions;(a) prevention; (b) protection,including law enforcement and prosecution; and (c) repatriation, recovery andreintegration. The Strategic Plan serves as the blue print for action of all governmentagencies, local government units, NGOs and other sectors in combating trafficking inpersons. The National Strategic Plan Against Trafficking in Persons was approved bythe IACAT on November 4, 2004. 2.2 Strategic Plan of the IACVAWC (2007-2010)The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children(IACVAWC), composed of national government agencies tasked to formulate plans toaddress VAWC, developed its five-year Strategic Plan to intensify efforts to combatVAW. It includes strategies and mechanisms where concerned stakeholders are expected to participate. It serves as the blue print for VAWC prevention and theprotection and rehabilitation of victims-survivors of VAW in the next five years.2.3 Performance Standards and Assessment Tools for Services AddressingViolence Against Women in the Philippines. The performance standards proceed from legal mandates provided by national lawsas well as various international conventions and declarations. These legal mandatesand the existing services and operations of the agency relating to VAW are presentedin the baseline report as the context in which the performance standards weredeveloped. The standards were developed (1) as a tool for direct service providers torespond effectively to cases of VAW, (2) as a means to gauge the level of compliancewith national policies, (3) as basis for generating concrete data needed for programdevelopment and policy formulation, and (4) as advocacy tool for protecting womenshuman rights especially of VAW victims.Each set is introduced by an Overview, followed by the Performance Standards andan Assessment Tool to guide compliance with the standards as well as generate datafor monitoring and evaluation purposes. The data generated is also a tool forprioritization and planning particularly in the use of the GAD budget. A BaselineReport is also included to put the standards in context.The package consists of five sets of documents for each of the five service categories,represented by the government agency tasked primarily to render such type ofservice, as follows: Philippine National Police (PNP) for investigatory services or procedures Department of Health (DOH) for medical or hospital-based services Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for psychosocialservices Department of Justice (DOJ) for legal/prosecution services DILG and LGUs for anti-VAW services at the barangay, municipal, city andprovincial levels.3. What specific National Strategy or Action Plan addresses VAW?3.1 The Philippines has adopted several National Plans to address VAW starting with thePhilippine Development Plan for Women (PDPW), 1989-1992, which was approvedand adopted on February 17, 1989 through Executive Order 348. Chapter 12 of thePDPW specifically identifies programs and projects to address the following forms of VAW: domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, pornography, whiteslavery/prostitution, military rapes and sexual abuses and medical abuse (includingunnecessary abortion and caesareans).3.2 The PDPW was succeeded by the Philippine Plan for Gender-ResponsiveDevelopment (1995-2025), signed on September 8, 1995, through Executive Order273 by then president Fidel V. Ramos. The PPGD carries the long-term vision ofwomens empowerment and gender equality and translates the Beijing Platform foraction into policies and strategies and programs and projects for Filipino women.It includes a chapter (i.e., Chapter 19) on Violence Against Women which identifies,among others, the following common forms of VAW: domestic violence, marital rape,incest, reproductive rights violations, rape, sexual harassment, sex discrimination,lesbophobia/homophobia, medical abuse, abuse of women with physical or mentaldisabilities, culture-bound practices harmful to women, ritual abuse within religiouscults, sexual slavery, prostitution and international trafficking of women, pornographyand abuse of women in media, abuse of women in internal refugee or relocation camps,and custodial abuse 3.3 Framework Plan for Women (FPW) 2001-2004. The FPW is a time-slice of the PPGDand it was prepared by the NCRFW in collaboration with partner government agenciesin 2001. Following the direct instructions from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,FPW concretizes the priority goals of government towards the advancement of women.The development of the FPW was guided by the PPGD and the BPFA framework. Itadopts the gender and development approach which recognizes that the unequalgender relations between Filipino women and men impede the pursuit of nationaldevelopment goals. The FPW acknowledges the inter-relationship of VAW,reproductive health, and human rights and reflects this in its commitment to addressingthe structural roots of gender gaps. The FPW emphasizes human rights and situatesVAW in its goal to promote womens human rights committing to protect and advancewomens human rights through strengthened service and justice delivery system forsurvivors of VAW and an information, education campaign on womens rights. TheFPW outlines its thrusts along three areas of concern: Womens Human Rights,Womens Economic Empowerment, and Gender-Responsive Governance.Source: GAD Resource Kit, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, Manila.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Republic of the PhilippinesCongress of the PhilippinesMetro Manila

Eighth Congress

Republic Act No. 6955 June 13, 1990

AN ACT TO DECLARE UNLAWFUL THE PRACTICE OF MATCHING FILIPINO WOMEN FOR MARRIAGE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS ON A MAIL ORDER BASIS AND OTHER SIMILAR PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE ADVERTISEMENT, PUBLICATION, PRINTING OR DISTRIBUTION OF BROCHURES, FLIERS AND OTHER PROPAGANDA MATERIALS IN FURTHERANCE THEREOF AND PROVIDING PENALTY THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::

Section 1. It is the policy of the State to ensure and guarantee the enjoyment of the people of a decent standard of living. Towards this end, the State shall take measures to protect Filipino women from being exploited in utter disregard of human dignity in their pursuit of economic upliftment.

Section 2. Pursuant thereto, it is hereby declared unlawful:

(a)For a person, natural or juridical, association, club or any other entity to commit, directly or indirectly, any of the following acts:

(1)To establish or carry on a business which has for its purpose the matching of Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction;

(2)To advertise, publish, print or distribute or cause the advertisement, publication, printing or distribution of any brochure, flier, or any propaganda material calculated to promote the prohibited acts in the preceding subparagraph;

(3)To solicit, enlist or in any manner attract or induce any Filipino woman to become a member in any club or association whose objective is to match women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction for a fee;

(4)To use the postal service to promote the prohibited acts in subparagraph 1 hereof.1awphi1alf

(b)For the manager or officer-in-charge or advertising manager of any newspaper, magazine, television or radio station, or other media, or of an advertising agency, printing company or other similar entities, to knowingly allow, or consent to, the acts prohibited in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3. In case of violation of this Act by an association, club, partnership, corporation, or any other entity, the incumbent officers thereof who have knowingly participated in the violation of this Act shall be held liable.1awphila1f

Section 4. Any person found guilty by the court to have violated any of the acts herein prohibited shall suffer an imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than eight (8) years, and a fine of not less than Eight thousand pesos (P8,000) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000): Provided, That if the offender is a foreigner, he shall be immediately deported and barred forever from entering the country after serving his sentence and payment of fine.

Section 5. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as a restriction on the freedom of speech and of association for purposes not contrary to law as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Section 6. All laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7. This Act shall take effect upon its publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: June 13, 1990