ZONTA CLUB OF METROPOLITAN PASIG


BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

The passage of R.A. 9710 , The MAGNA CARTA of WOMEN , marks a milestone of the Filipino women’s quest for gender equality. It affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of womenand men. The said law clearly stated that “the state shall endeavour to develop plans, policies , programs, measures and mechanisms to address discrimination and inequality in the economic, political , social and cultural life of women and men. “ With the creation of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) , formerly named as
National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women per P.D. 633 of 1975, the country’s program to improve the quality of life and advance the status of women is evolving and being put in place. Related to this is the joint Circular No. 2004-1 of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), NEDA and NCRFW (now PCW), which requires all government offices to set aside 5 % of their total budget appropriations for projects and programs on Gender and Development (GAD) , which lays down the foundation to provide and mobilize financial resources for the implementation of the Magna Carta. One important concern under GAD is the Prevention of Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) which has been strengthened with the passage of R.A. 9262 of 2004.

In this regard, the advocacy to prevent Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) is a continuing concern that must be sustained. Women and children must be protected from all forms of violence especially nowadays when there seems to be a proliferation of abusive acts towards women and children , as reported by the media. Hence, all organizations must unite and work together in programs and projects that will further strengthen and reinforce the institutional mechanism and structure to combat Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in line with the provisions of R.A. 9262 known as the THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN (ANTI-VAWC) ACT OF 2004.

The ZONTA CLUB of METROPOLIITAN PASIG has already initiated such a project with its involvement in the highly successful kick off program for the 18- day campaign to end VAW last November 25 , 2012 in collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) that spearheaded the said campaign . The club was also the initiator and major partner of the then National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women (now known as the Philippine Commission on Women ) in the multi-awarded GENDER JUSTICE AWARDS in 2004 , which was a nationwide search for outstanding judges who have made the best decisions on cases pertaining to Violence Against Women. With the support of the Supreme Court of the Philippines , the United Nations , Philippine Bar Association , Human Rights Commission, the Gender Justice Awards had its culminating activity and awarding ceremony televised and emceed by Ms. Cheche Lazaro. The project was awarded as The Most Innovative Service Project in the Zonta International District Conference held in 2005 in Kuantan, Malaysia. It also got a Certificate of Recognition from the United Nations. Along this line, the Zonta Club of Metropolitan Pasig  has conceptualized a new project which is a sequel to  the Gender Justice Awards (GJA) and with a broader concept that is  in keeping with most recent developments and legislation to include the broad framework of the Magna Carta on Women (R.A. 9710) , the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children  (R.A. 9262) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Law (R.A. 9208)  as well as  the latest expanded law R.A. 10364 to protect women from human trafficking signed this February 5,  2013 by President Benigno S. Aquino III. This project is entitled “4K : KARAPATAN at KATARUNGAN ng KABABAIHAN at KABATAAN “  The  Zonta Club of Metropolitan Pasig is collaborating with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)  and the local governments, most especially the Pasig City Government thru its Gender and Development Office and  P.O.W.E.R. Foundation , Inc.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVE:

1.    To launch a program that will  promote Gender Equality and  Women Empowerment in accordance with the Magna Carta of Women focusing on capacity building and institutional development through partnership with  local government units and similar advocacy organizations.

2.    To empower the local communities, leaders and the barangay officials and reach up to the grassroots level through  capacity building initiatives and legal education in order for them to take a more active role in the campaign to end VAWC and also strengthen enforcement of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law.

3.    To launch a program that will create and develop a sustainable level of  awareness and continuing action toward anti-violence against women and their children and anti-human trafficking.