AUTHOR: Atty. Clarizze May P. Cajigal
Associate, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

“I need my safe space” is often dismissed as idle chatter of the woke. But for women, it may simply be a firm demand for respect and protection.

We often forget the generations it took for women to have a voice and to be allowed meaningful participation in society. For centuries, women were largely confined to the home expected to manage the household and raise children. Although these roles were essential for the family, women were undervalued and taken for granted. As a result, their voices were often ignored, leaving them excluded from decision-making in government, workplaces, and even their own homes.

Over time, women, and even men, fought for the former’s recognition, equality, and safety. What we see today did not happen overnight; rather, it was gradually built over time through the efforts of those who believed that society thrives when women are recognized, protected, and empowered to contribute beyond the home.

As we celebrate International Women’s Month, let’s re-visit the laws and measures enacted by the Philippine government to ensure that women’s rights are recognized, protected, and upheld.

The Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act [R.A.] No. 9710), enacted in 2009, is the country’s first comprehensive, gender-specific law protecting women’s rights. It aimed to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, promoting, and protecting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors. Women in Development and Nation Building Act (R.A. No. 7192) was earlier passed to ensure that women, together with men, play an active role in development and nation-building.

Several measures were passed to criminalize offenses that most of the time offend women. These include:

· Anti-Rape Law (R.A. No. 8353). Strengthened women’s rights by expanding the definition of rape, recognizing marital rape, and treating it as a crime against persons, ensuring better protection and justice for women.

· Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A. No. 9262). Enacted to provide legal protective measures and remedies for women and children against physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse.

· Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9208). Enacted in response to the prevalence of human trafficking, it aimed to prevent and eliminate human trafficking by establishing protection and support systems for victims and imposing penalties on offenders.

· Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (R.A. No. 7877). Passed to protect individuals, especially women, from sexual harassment in the workplace, schools, and training environments.

In addition, workplace protections have also evolved. Through laws such as the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law (R.A. No. 11210), women are given ample time and the support they need to recover from childbirth or miscarriage and to care for their newborns without compromising the security of their employment.

An Act Strengthening the Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women with Respect to Terms and Conditions of Employment (R.A. No. 6725) was likewise passed to prohibit discrimination against women in the workplace, ensuring equal opportunities, wages, and benefits regardless of gender.

A more recent enactment, the Safe Spaces Act or the “Bawal Bastos Law” (R.A. No. 11313), criminalizes gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces, online, workplaces, and educational institutions.

Based on the above listing alone, it is clear that the Philippines has made significant strides in institutionalizing women’s rights. Despite the challenges that women in the Philippines face, we have several pieces of legislation in place to advance women’s rights, increase women’s empowerment and eliminate gender inequality.

Yet while we have reason to celebrate, at least on paper, we must also recognize that despite existing laws, the sociocultural landscape has a lot of catching up to do. Ours is still a predominantly patriarchal society, which emphasize male dominance in family structures and significant social institutions. As International Women’s Month comes to a close, we should also take a moment to reflect.

Ultimately, there should be no need to protect women’s rights, no reason to advocate for its advancement, no urgency to legislate – these should be a given. Ironically, we can only truly celebrate when these are normalized, and we cease the need to “celebrate” International Women’s Month.

Author Clarizze May P. Cajigal is an Associate and currently a member of the Litigation, Labor, Intellectual Property and Real Property Departments of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra. Clarizze is involved in the Firm’s litigation practice, appearing in courts for the numerous civil, criminal, and administrative cases handled by the firm. Her practice also includes corporate secretarial matters, corporate restructuring, and protection of intellectual property rights.