Walk with Women’s Rights

The AFP supports Women's Month Celebration







One significant law giving utmost importance of women in the community is the R.A. 6949, “An Act to Declare March 8 of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day” which was signed by President Aquino on April 10, 1990.

In Butuan City, the Regional Development Council Gender and Development Coordinating Council (RDC-GADCC) formed in 1998 is spearheading the event to highlight women’s achievements.

The Women’s Month Celebration kicks off March 1, 2010 with the RDC-GADCC of Caraga Region headed by its Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Regional Director Atty. Marilyn Pintor leading the 5AM Walk for Women’s Rights with thousands of participants joining followed by the program proper and the Hataw Exercise.

The theme of this year’s month-long celebration which is “Babae, Tagumpay ka ng Bayan!” inspires partners from government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta of Women which they hope will soon be approve this month to enforce the law fully.

Atty. Pintor reminded the women to report all forms of abuses and said, “For one specific problem, one can make a difference, and for one life of a woman, each one can make a difference.”

She said, all laws pertaining to women’s protection against all kinds of abuses will be useless, unless their provisions are disseminated especially to those who need this most.

Part of the activities for March is the holding of a Candidate’s Forum to increase awareness of the general public on the platforms of the local candidates to advance the status of women which can be the basis of holding them accountable in case they win the election.

Candidates from Butuan City and Agusan del Norte were invited and this will be held on March 16 at Balanghai Hotel & Convention Center.