Section 3 - Educating and Partnering for CEDAW

The forum questions were CEDAW-themed, though they were structured in a way
that didn’t explicitly mention the treaty by its name. Instead, they were placed
in the proper context and given a CEDAW spin. The substantive quality of the
questions posted in the message boards may have been overwhelming to casual
message board goers who are used to straight-up Q&A formats, but it certainly
attracted those who were ever so inclined to discuss the issues at hand.
OWN! Blog
“OWN!” is an intergenerational blog hosted on the WFS website. It’s a space
where women of all ages and backgrounds can jump into the current discussion
on everything that has to do with women’s rights.
The word OWN! is not an acronym; rather, it’s a punctuated three letter word that
encourages people to own up to their ideas and opinions on the issues addressed
on the blog.
Blog entries on CEDAW were being posted mid-2006, with CEDAW 101. Other
CEDAW topics that were given a youthful spin included representations of the
Maria Clara image, the appropriation of the “sex scandal” video aesthetics in
glossy magazines, and bullying, among others.
By 2007, OWN! introduced guest bloggers – friends of OWN! armed with insights
on CEDAW-related topics like motherhood and rights of workers abroad.
Campaign Materials
WFS produced the following Information Education and Communication
materials:
CEDAW 2006 planner
This simple yet stylishly designed planner, decked in attractive hues of purple,
was packed with background info on CEDAW SEAP, a CEDAW brief (which was
eventually lifted word-for-word and printed separately as a primer), a directory
of local partners and women’s hotlines, plus ample space for “action notes”.
CEDAW SEAP sprung for a print-run of 1,500 copies, which were highly in
demand. Interestingly, the Executive Director of Anvil Publishing wanted to reprint
it for the purpose of having it sold in National Bookstore. The following year, the
2007 planner, published by NCRFW, came in green with updated women’s rights
situationer and the CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Comments on the Fifth and
Sixth Philippine Report of 2006.
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