BAGUIO CITY – Despite the country’s observance of March as Women’s Month, International Women’s Day on March 8 and many other legislations crafted to protect women, violence against women and children (VAWC) still persists.
This was revealed by councilor Lilia Farinas in Monday’s Women’s Month celebration launching at City Hall with the theme, “We Make Change Work for Women”.
She claims that physical and sexual abuse, economic deprivation, political persecution, impunity and injustice affects more than 90 percent of Filipino women.
Farinas said these affected women include peasants, workers, those belonging to the indigenous community, urban poor and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers).
“We hope that this year’s theme enlightens everyone, not just women, regarding our lifelong struggle to empower women against all violence and put an end to discrimination against women,” she said.
Farinas stressed that acts against women’s basic human rights to equality, fairness and justice for all must be eliminated.
“Let us all work together to make change really work for women around the world,” she said.
Meanwhile, this year’s Outstanding Women Leaders (OWLS) of Baguio were awarded Wednesday at the PFVR as part of the city’s celebration of International Women’s Day with retired Judge Delilah Munoz as guest of honor and speaker.
They include former councilor Philian Weygan Allan for spiritual and socio-cultural leadership; Flora Balaba for highlighting the rights of senior citizens, Elizabeth Mamanglo for the upliftment of women and family through cooperativism, Jocelyn Mariano for cooperativism and Sonia Gonzales Mina for organizational management.**gaby keith
