Senator Pia Cayetano urged the public to support candidates for the 2013 Midterm Elections who are pro-women.
They should vote those who have a clear platform for women, Cayetano added.
Cayetano, the chairperson on the committee on youth, women and family relation gave this statement at the start of the International Women’s Month this March.
Pro-women are needed in the government to pursue laws and programs for gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment.
The lady senator said that leaders should be able to give attention to the proper implementation and enactment of gender-sensitive laws and ordinances.
Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, Expanded Breastfeeding Law, and recently, the Reproductive Health Law are just some of the legislation for women the Congress had passed.
Other pro-women advocate in the Senate is Senator Miriam-Defensor Santiago who encourage the electorate to vote for more women in the Senate to have an equal number of men and women Senators in the Philippine government.
Senatorial candidate and Las Pinas City Representative Cynthia Villar also made this remark and also wants gender equality in the upper house of Congress.
Meanwhile, the International Women’s Month is celebrated in the country with the theme, “Kababaigan: Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan.”
The theme is in accordance to President Benigno Aquino III vision of “tuwid na daan” that underscores women’s leadership role and participation in governance to enhance gender perspective in upholding good governance.
Under the Proclamation NO. 224 Series of 1998, the first week of March each year is declared as Women’s Week, and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.
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