This March, the world celebrates the vital role women play in their families, communities, and countries. Rooted in the centuries-old struggle to participate in society on an equal-footing with men, the International Women's Month is the story of ordinary women making history. International Women's Month highlights the access to equal rights and participation in the political and economic process for women.
To date, relevant changes have been accorded to women in society but it would be naïve to assume that significant barriers to achieving women equality have been removed especially when they continue exist.
The issue of women equality transcends to the higher issue of gender gap and discrimination. Even as the Philippines ranked 8th among 135 countries with the least gender gap according to a survey by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, the fight for gender equality in our society continues. Discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trandsgender (LGBT) community in the country continues to be the prevailing norm, highlighted by the rise of hate crimes. Exploitation and violence against women remain rampant in the workplace and in the household, and access to reproductive health services and information continues to be restricted leading to the death of, on the average, eleven Filipino mothers every day.
As we commemorate Women's Month, may we recognize the issue of gender inequality as an additional divider in our society. Being the bastion of freedom in our country, endlessly revolutionizing the course of history, we call upon all Iskos and Iskas to stand by the women and LGBTs of our country as they continuously fight against discrimination and violence, and put forward the cause for a national reproductive health policy in our country. Let us continue writing our new history that we have started when we elected our first transgender USC Chairperson.
This little step signifies a giant leap in fighting for equal voices in our institutions. In representing the whisper of the silenced and oppressed groups and shouting for their causes, in empowering them to be the change that we want to see, we continue to write a new story – one that is worthy of adding to the long list of ordinary stories that we commemorate every year for they have become extraordinary; stories of rainbows and hope, of empowerment and equality, of social justice and social progress.
Iskolar para sa Bayan, kasama ka sa patuloy na panawagan para sa pantay na karapatan para sa lahat ngayong Buwan ng Kababaihan.
