The Philippine government has assured the United Nation Commission on the Status of Women (UN-CSW) of the Philippine government’s strong resolve in countering key gender issues particularly the huge gender digital divide in the country.
“The Philippines faces many challenges in providing fast and reliable internet connectivity. Yet, we have successfully leveraged technology to benefit women and girls and prevent online gender-based violence especially in the context of the pandemic,” Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez said in her speech at the 67th Session of the UN-CSW at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.
Gutierrez underscored that the Philippines has been taking significant strides in promoting women and girls’ rights in the face of innovation and information and communication technology.
Among these, she said, is the country’s full support in the adaption of the digital economy in women-dominated industries particularly in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the digital transformation toolkit that determines readiness and provides specialized training programs such as the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program.
She added that the National Innovation Council, through the Innovation Fund, provides grants for enterprises developing innovative solutions, including those led by women. She said there are also 2,000 Technology for Economic Development Centers nationwide that promote digital literacy and bring online learning and government services closer to the public, and have benefited women, out-of-school youth, and senior citizens.
The Philippines, according to the Undersecretary, also champions the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture for industry workers to avail of government services which already signed up 43 percent or 6.65 million women as of January 2023. She added that the Philippine government targets to reach 10 million by the end of the year.
In the same engagement, Gutierrez likewise expressed the country’s support for the recommendations from the Asia-Pacific region to ensure meaningful connectivity to close the gender digital divide; to foster inclusive education in the digital age and promote women and girls’ participation and leadership in STEM education and careers; to implement policies for inclusive digitalization; and to address forms of virtual and non-virtual gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination.
“By 2025, the country’s Science Education Institute will pioneer a gender-responsive STEM education that will apply a gender perspective in administration of scholarships, advancing specialized trainings, and intensifying programs to provide equal opportunities for women and men,” she explained.
Protection of women and girls
Gutierrez, who is also the Department’s Chair of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS) Executive Committee, said that the country has been following through on its commitment to craft policies and measures to protect women and girls against GBV.
She said two landmark laws – the Safe Spaces Act and Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act – are passed and with the existing law on violence against women now being strengthened to continuously tackle emerging challenges that go with the provision of Internet access nationwide.
“The Philippines also aims to examine the impact of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act in addressing trends and emerging forms of violence amid digitalization,” Gutierrez said.
She likewise mentioned E-lawyering and e-reporting to the Gender Ombud launched by the Commission on Human Rights to process complaints and provide legal assistance as criminals shifted their operations online and the Integrated Electronic Case Management System which provides efficient services to Filipinos, especially migrant workers and victims of GBV.
She added that the GBV National Database and Reporting System was also developed for cases that may go unreported during the pandemic. (VICTOR NBALDEMOR RUIZ)
