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Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women has been signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday. The new law prohibits discrimination against women and recognizes promotes and protect their rights. It also guards them against all forms of violence, including those committed by the state.

Myrna T. Yao, chairman of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women said, “The Magna Carta of Women seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting all human rights and fundamental freedoms of Filipino women, particularly those in the marginalized sector.”

Among the provisions of the RA 9710 is a directive to all local government units (LGUs) to put up a desk in every barangay to address cases on violence against women.  Said law also ensures the mandatory training on human rights and gender sensitivity by all government personnel who are involved in the protection and defense of women against gender-based violence.

“This is a landmark law because the Philippines will now have a national framework for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Form of Discrimination Against Women, considered as the national bill of rights for women,” Yao added.

Other provisions included in the new law are: the mandatory increasing within the next five years the number of women in third-level position in government to achieve 50-50 gender balance; the granting of a two-month leave benefit for employed women who undergo surgeries caused by gynecological disorders; and the non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal o women in media and film.

Leila de Lima, Commission on Human Rights commissioner said, the law acknowledged “women’s rights as human rights,” and adding that all principles of human rights, which are – non-discrimination, equality, self-determination, and non-exclusion, must apply to women.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), which is the new name of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, will monitor and oversee the implementation of the law.