Report - Social Watch Philippines

Filipino women in the lead-up
to the 2015 MDG deadline
� By MAE V. BUENAVENTURA
Summary
As state party to the Women’s Convention and all other core international
human rights conventions, the Philippines is often commended as being
well ahead of its Asian neighbors when it comes to the realm of women’s
human rights. This view has strengthened over the years with the country’s adoption
of other international commitments, such as the Millennium Development
Goals. The ultimate bar of success though, lies in how these pledges play out domestically. Some steps
in harmonization have certainly contributed in improving Filipino women’s lives, such as increased
participation in basic education and in formal labor. Gender inequalities, however, stubbornly persist,
challenging the gains women may have won from realizing these targets. Large gaps endure in productive
and social reproductive labors. Women’s presence is insignifi cant in spheres of political decision-making.
Violence against women, manifesting entrenched discriminations against them, persists.
Winning the Numbers, Losing the War: The Other MDG Report 2010 53