The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the Duterte administration is keen on revising the Family Code and focus on the implementation of the Magna Carta for Women.
Neda Deputy Director General Rosemarie G. Edillon said these are part of the government’s efforts to protect and strengthen the family, as well as give more attention to women and children. These are also part of the country’s statement at the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recent meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Actions are being taken on bills that aim to amend the Family Code, underscoring the need for more equality in the family decision-making process. The new administration has vowed to protect women’s rights, and also called for the full implementation of the Philippine Magna Carta of Women down to the barangay level,” Edillon said.
Edillon added that legislative scrutiny is also being conducted to make the anti-rape law of 1997 more responsive to the realities that confront rape and potential rape victims.
The Philippines presented to the committee its efforts to stop human trafficking. From 2010-2016, the convictions in trafficking in persons (TIP) increased eight times in number.
The average trial duration of TIP cases has also been significantly reduced from five years to two years.
In November last year, the Philippines led the negotiations toward adopting the Asean Convention in Trafficking in Persons and its accompanying Regional Plan of Action for the year 2016 to 2020.
Meanwhile, on workers’ rights, Edillon said that the Philippine government has already completed the Human Resource Roadmap for 2016 to 2022, which contains labor supply and demand information, as well as strategies for improving human-resource competitiveness.
“The Philippines highly values decent work as a means to spur collective development and progress. This is crucial, as we address concerns of unemployment and underemployment in the Philippines, such as skills shortage and job mismatch,” Edillon said.
She also mentioned the amended Migrant Workers Act, which provides for integrated support services for overseas Filipino workers, a 24/7 assistance facility for them in host countries and a reintegration program for returning OFWs.
The recently concluded dialogue with the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is part of a regular review of the 164 states that ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.