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CEDAW
Turns 25
The Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) celebrates its 25th anniversary as a treaty
this September 3, 2006. The Philippines signed and ratified
this United Nations treaty, also known as the Women's
Bill of Rights, in 1981. As one of the 184 States Parties,
the Philippines is legally bound to repeal all discriminatory
laws or enact new laws to respect, protect and fulfill
women's human rights. CEDAW comprehensively addresses
women's human rights not only within civil and political
spheres, but also within economic, social, cultural
and family life.
Unifem CEDAW Southeast Asia Program
- Philippines and CEDAW WATCH Network have planned a
series of advocacy activities to celebrate this event.
Women's Feature Service (WFS), an international
news agency, in partnership with UNIFEM CEDAW-SEAP,Philippines
has organized a travelling knowledge fair/exhibit on
the history of CEDAW and women's rights in the Philippines
"CEDAW@25: Claiming Women's Rights" on September
15, 16, and 17, 2006, at Robinson's Place, ground floor
fountain area in Ermita, Manila. The exhibit will showcase
the history of CEDAW, and the inroads it has made in
Philippine legislation, as well as the history of feminism
in the Philippines, courtesy of the Communications Foundation
for Asia. Other partners are Blims Fine Furniture who
will provide furniture for a reading corner of the CEDAW
Knowledge products and other publications.
Similar exhibits are scheduled on September
23 and 24, at NCCC Mall in Davao City, in partnership
with the Integrated Gender and Development Division
of the Davao City mayor's office and the NCCC Mall.
The Davao Mall will be launching its breast-feeding
center, the first in Davao as part of the CEDAW anniversary
celebration. On September 29, 30, and October 1, 2006,
the CEDAW Knowledge Fair/Exhibit will be held at Ayala
Center Cebu City, in partnership with DSWD and Lihok
Pilipina.
It is interesting to note that CEDAW
happens to be an initiative of Filipino women who represented
the Philippines at the UN Commission on the Status of
Women (CSW). Helena Z Benitez, who was the chairperson
then, had succeeded on having the Declaration on the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women adopted
by the General Assembly during her term in 1967; and
in 1975, Leticia R. Shahani, prepared the working draft
of the CEDAW based on the Declaration as a member of
the CSW working group. The current chair of the UN CEDAW
Committee, tasked to monitor compliance to the treaty
is former Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, another Filipina.
Pilipina, a women's partylist, is holding
Round Table Discussions (RTDs)on the proposed Magna
Carta for Women, which will serve as an enabling law
of the CEDAW as scheduled: September 6, 1-5pm, Golden
Valley Hotel, 155 A Pelaez St., Cebu City; September
8, 1-5 pm, Governor's Conference Room, Bacolod City;
and on September 15, 1-5 pm, Executive Training Center,
University of Cordilleras, Baguio Colleges Foundation,
Harrison Road, Baguio City.
A fund-raising concert celebrating
women's human rights, billed as "EVE-olution"
is scheduled on September 12, 2006, 6:30 PM at the UP
Theater, Diliman, Quezon City. Beneficiaries will be
women living with HIV/AIDS and survivors of domestic
violence, rape and trafficking.
On September 27, the National Commission
on the Role of Filipino Women will hold a feedback forum
at the Innotech on Commonwealth Avenue in Q.C. on the
concluding comments of the CEDAW Committee on the Philippine
report given last August 15, 2006 at the UN in New York.
--Women's Feature Service
Contact Person: Olive Tripon, Executive Director
Telefax: 5259721, wfsphil@tri-isys.com
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