Media practitioners play a crucial rule in achieving gender equality at this time when women power need to be equal to that of the men.
This was underscored by former Director Lucita C. Sanchez of the News and Information Bureau (NIB) who, since retiring from that agency of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in 2007, has championed women's rights in her native town of Victoria, Tarlac as president of the non-government organization (NGO) "Isang Bigkis."
Speaking on the topic "Role of Media in Gender Equality at the NIB Gender and Development Workshop" at the PTA San Fabian Resort here, Sanchez considered the topic very relevant in this age when women power need to be equal to men's, not only by verbal pronouncement "but as natural instinct in the way of life."
Media practitioners, whether male or female, must be the first to realize with full awareness that men are equal to men, which is a universal human right, she said, warning that if there is tilt or imbalance on either side, "the information process and the output story is impaired and may not be an effective media."
She noted that the country is fortunate that the government has institutionalized the recognition of the equality of the two genders in Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
Sanchez implored that in order to be able to come up with newsworthy gender stories that are fair and balanced, media practitioners have to be familiar with the rights of women as embodied in R.A. 9710 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs).
Under the law, the state affirms the role of women in nation-building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men. It shall promote empowerment of women and pursue equal opportunities for women and men, ensure equal access to resource and to development.
The state, as the primary duty bearer, shall refrain from discriminating against women and violating their rights; protect women against discrimination and from violation of their rights; promote and fulfill their rights in all spheres, including their rights to substantive equality and non-discrimination, she said.
Sanchez identified that the rights and empowerment of the women include protection from violence, and protection and security in situations of emergency, armed conflict and militarization.
At the same time, she said all government personnel, including appointing authorities, local chief executives of local government units (LGUs), shall regularly undergo mandatory training on gender and human rights.
All barangays too shall establish a Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk. The Punong Barangay shall designate a VAW Desk Person trained on handling gender-sensitive cases.
On the other hand, the Philippine National Police also set up the Women's and Children's Desk in every police station to specifically handle cases involving women and minor children.
She also said that under R.A. 9710, women also enjoy the right to protection when affected by disasters, calamities and other crisis situations and participation and equal representation in all spheres of society, particularly in decision-making and policy-making process to fully realize their role as agents and beneficiaries of development.
Sanchez said gender mainstreaming is a strategy for implementing the Magna Carta of Women, adding that the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, which is the primary policy-making and coordinating body of the women and gender equality concerns, was renamed the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) under the Office of the President.
"There is much for media to cover in the implementation of the various provisions of the law which I suppose will take several years or even decades in order to really put in place true gender equality," she intoned.
Addressing the media, Sanchez said there is a great need to help women as they had been deprived most and curtailed of their rights and power for a long period of time to the point of losing their freedom and personal dignity. Yet, without women, humanity cannot procreate and bring human lives to the world.
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