List of Philippine Laws in Support

of Women's Welfare and Rights

RA 6655 (April 26, 1988)
An Act Establishing and Providing for a Free Public Secondary Education and for Other Purposes
RA 6657 (June 10, 1988)
An Act Instituting a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to Promote Social Justice and
Industrialization, Providing the Mechanisms for its Implementation and for Other Purposes
RA 6725 (April 27, 1989)
An Act Strengthening the Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women with Respect to Terms and
Conditions of Employment, Amending for the Purpose Article One Hundred Thirty-Five of the Labor
Code, As Amended
RA 6728 (June 10, 1989)
An Act Providing Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education and
Appropriating Funds Therefor
RA 6938 (March 10, 1990)
An Act to Ordain a Cooperative Code of the Philippines
RA 6809 (December 13, 1989)
An Act Lowering the Age of Majority From Twenty-One to Eighteen Years, Amending for the
Purpose EO No. 209, and for Other Purposes

RA 6949 (April 10, 1990)

An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to
be Known as National Women's Day
RA 6955 (June 13, 1990)
An Act to Declare Unlawful the Practice of Matching for Marriage to Foreign
Nationals on a Mail-Order Basis and For Other Similar Practices. Including the
Advertisement, Publication, Printing or Distribution of Brochures, Fliers and
Other Propaganda Materials in Furtherance Thereof and Providing Penalty
Therefor
RA 6972 (November 23, 1990)
An Act Establishing a Day Care Center in Every Barangay Instituting Therein a
Total Development and Protection of Children Program, Appropriating Funds
Therefor, and for Other Purposes
RA 7192 (December 11, 1991)
An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men
in Development and Nation Building and for Other Purposes
RA 7305 (March 26, 1992)
The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers
RA 7309 (March 30, 1992)
An Act Creating a Board of Claims Under the Department of Justice for Victims
of Unjust Imprisonment or Detention and Victims of Violent Crimes and for
Other Purposes
RA 7322 (March 30, 1992)
An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private
Sector, Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as
Amended and for Other Purposes

RA 7394 (April 13, 1992)

The Consumer Act of the Philippines
RA 7432 (April 23, 1992)
An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building,
Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes
RA 7600 (June 17, 1992)
An Act Requiring All Government and Private Health Institutions with
Obstetrical Services to Adopt Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Practices and for
Other Purposes
RA 7610 (June 17, 1992)
An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child
Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, Providing Penalties for its Violation,
and for Other Purposes
RA 7655 (August 19, 1993)
An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage of Househelpers Amending for the Purpose Article 143 of
Presidential Decree No. 142, as Amended
RA 7659 (December 13, 1993)
An Act to Impose the Death Penalty on Certain Heinous Crimes, Amending for the Purpose the Revised
Penal Code, as Amended, Other Special Penal Laws, and for Other Purposes
RA 7688 (March 3, 1994)
An Act Giving Representation to Women in Social Security Commission Amending for the Purpose Section
3(A) of Republic Act 1161, as Amended
RA 7877 (February 8, 1995)
An Act Declaring Sexual Harassment Unlawful in the Employment, Education or Training Environment, and
for Other Purposes
RA 7822 (February 20, 1995)
An Act Providing Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises, and for
Other Purposes
RA 7491 (March 3, 1995)
An Act Providing for the Election of Party-List Representatives Through the Party-list system, and
Appropriating Funds Therefor
RA 8042 (February 20, 1995)
An Act to Institute the Policies of Overseas Employment and Establish a Higher Standard of Protection and
Promotion of the Welfare of the Migrant Workers, Their Families and Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and
for Other Purposes
RA 8171 (October 23, 1995)
An Act Providing for the Repatriation of Filipino Women Who Have Lost Their Philippine Citizenship by
Marriage to Aliens and of Natural Born Filipinos
RA 8187 (June 11, 1996)
An Act Granting Paternity Leave of Seven (7) Days with Full Pay to all Married Male Employees in the
Private and Public Sectors for the First Four (4) Deliveries of the Legitimate Spouse with Whom he is
Cohabiting and for Other Purposes
RA 8353 (September 30, 1997)
An Act Expanding the Definition of the Crime of Rape, Reclassifying the Same as a Crime Against
Persons, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal
Code, and for Other Purposes

RA 8369 (October 28, 1997)

An Act Establishing Family Courts, granting Them Exclusive Original Jurisdiction Over Child and Family
Cases, Amending Batas Pambansa No. 192, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes
RA 8505 (February 13, 1998)
An Act Providing Assistance and Protection for Rape Victims, Establishing for the Purpose a Rape Crisis
Center in Every Province and City, Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes
RA 9208 (May 26, 2003)
An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, Establishing
the Necessary Institutional Mechanisms for the Protection and Support of Trafficked Persons, Providing
Penalties for its Violations, and for Other Purposes
RA 9262 (March 8, 2004)
An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing Protective Measures for Victims,
Prescribing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes

Q & A: Constitutional and Legislative Provisions on Violence Against Women

Release Date:
Monday, March 9, 2009

1. What are the specific constitutional and legislative provisions regarding Violence Against
Women (VAW)?
1.1The 1987 Philippine Constitution - The protection of the human rights of all Filipinos is contained
in the Philippine Constitution. Among its salient provisions is Article II, Section 14 which provides
that the state recognizes the role of women in nation building and shall ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men.
1.2 Anti-Mail Order Bride Law (Republic Act 6955) The law declares unlawful the matching of
Filipino mail-order brides to foreigners. It penalizes the business of matching Filipino women for
marriage to foreign nationals either through personal introduction as well as through advertisement,
publication, printing or distribution of brochure and flyers, through membership in clubs created for
matching Filipinas to foreign nationals and, through the use of the postal service.
1.3 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7877) The law makes incidents involving
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of
sexual nature, made directly or indirectly in the employment, education or training environment
unlawful. Sexual harassment is about abusing power relations using ones power to extract
sexual favors.
1.4 Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (Republic Act 8353) The law reclassifies rape as a crime against
persons, defining it as public rather than a private crime. It recognizes marital rape and questions
the notion of sexual obligation in marriage. It also notes that rape happens even without
penetration and the use of objects as constituting sexual assault, which is also considered as a
form of rape. The law also increased the penalties against rape.

1.5 Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (Republic Act 8505) The law provides
assistance and protection to rape victims, establishes for the purpose a rape crisis center in every
province and city and authorizes the appropriation of funds for the establishment and operation of
the rape crisis center. Aside from the provision of services, capacity building/training is also
mandated for the law enforcement officers, public prosecutors, lawyers, medico-legal officers,
social workers and barangay officials on human rights and their responsibilities, gender sensitivity
and legal management of rape cases.
1.6 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208) The law defines trafficking in
person in terms of the acts, means and purposes of trafficking. The trafficked person is considered
as a victim thus, she/he should be provided protection and support services by the State.
Government agencies are mandated to provide services to the trafficked persons at the
international, national and local levels for his/her early recovery and reintegration.
1.7 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9262) The law
defines violence against women and their children as a public crime. It provides for the security of
the woman-complainant and her children through the availment of the barangay, temporary or
permanent protection orders. It also identifies the duties of barangay officials, law enforces,
prosecutors, court personnel, social welfare and health care providers and the LGUs to provide the
necessary protection and support of VAWC victims.
The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 is in keeping with the fundamental
freedoms guaranteed under the constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the
Rights of the Child, and other international human rights instruments which the Philippines is a
party. The forms of VAW addressed are physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.
1.8 Article 245 of the Revised Penal Code (Republic Act 3815) The law provides that abuse
against chastity is committed by any public officer who shall solicit or make immoral advances to a
woman interested in matters pending before such office for decision, or with respect to which he is
required to submit a report to or consult with a superior officer; or by any warden or other public
officer directly charged with the care and custody of prisoners or persons under arrest who shall
solicit or make immoral or indecent advances to a woman under his custody. A penalty of
prison correctional in its medium and maximum periods and temporary special disqualification shall
be imposed on the offender.
2. What specific guidelines, protocols or manuals are providing advice on how to implement
the legislations?
2.1 National Strategic Plan Against Trafficking in Persons (2004-2010)
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT), in coordination with other
government agencies and non-government organizations and other stakeholders, initiated the
formulation of an integrated strategic plan of action against trafficking. The six-year (2004-2010)
Strategic Plan of Action Against Trafficking is divided into three major components of
interventions; (a) prevention; (b) protection, including law enforcement and prosecution; and (c)
repatriation, recovery and reintegration. The Strategic Plan serves as the blue print for action of all
government agencies, local government units, NGOs and other sectors in combating trafficking

in persons. The National Strategic Plan Against Trafficking in Persons was approved by the IACAT
on November 4, 2004.
2.2 Strategic Plan of the IACVAWC (2007-2010)
The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC), composed
of national government agencies tasked to formulate plans to address VAWC, developed its fiveyear Strategic Plan to intensify efforts to combat VAW. It includes strategies and mechanisms
where concerned stakeholders are expected to participate. It serves as the blue print for VAWC
prevention and the protection and rehabilitation of victims-survivors of VAW in the next five years.
2.3 Performance Standards and Assessment Tools for Services Addressing Violence Against
Women in the Philippines.
The performance standards proceed from legal mandates provided by national laws as well as
various international conventions and declarations. These legal mandates and the existing services
and operations of the agency relating to VAW are presented in the baseline report as the context in
which the performance standards were developed. The standards were developed (1) as a tool for
direct service providers to respond effectively to cases of VAW, (2) as a means to gauge the level
of compliance with national policies, (3) as basis for generating concrete data needed for
program development and policy formulation, and (4) as advocacy tool for protecting
womens human rights especially of VAW victims.
Each set is introduced by an Overview, followed by the Performance Standards and an
Assessment Tool to guide compliance with the standards as well as generate data for monitoring
and evaluation purposes. The data generated is also a tool for prioritization and planning
particularly in the use of the GAD budget. A Baseline Report is also included to put the standards in
context.
The package consists of five sets of documents for each of the five service categories, represented
by the government agency tasked primarily to render such type of service, as follows:

Philippine National Police (PNP) for investigatory services or procedures

Department of Health (DOH) for medical or hospital-based services
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for psychosocial services
Department of Justice (DOJ) for legal/prosecution services
DILG and LGUs for anti-VAW services at the barangay, municipal, city and provincial
levels.

3. What specific National Strategy or Action Plan addresses VAW?

3.1 The Philippines has adopted several National Plans to address VAW starting with the Philippine
Development Plan for Women (PDPW), 1989-1992, which was approved and adopted on February

17, 1989 through Executive Order 348. Chapter 12 of the PDPW specifically identifies programs
and projects to address the following forms of VAW: domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment,
pornography, white slavery/prostitution, military rapes and sexual abuses and medical abuse
(including unnecessary abortion and caesareans).
3.2 The PDPW was succeeded by the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development
(1995-2025), signed on September 8, 1995, through Executive Order 273 by then president Fidel
V. Ramos. The PPGD carries the long-term vision of womens empowerment and gender equality
and translates the Beijing Platform for action into policies and strategies and programs and projects
for Filipino women.
It includes a chapter (i.e., Chapter 19) on Violence Against Women which identifies, among others,
the following common forms of VAW: domestic violence, marital rape, incest, reproductive rights
violations, rape, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, lesbophobia/homophobia, medical abuse,
abuse of women with physical or mental disabilities, culture-bound practices harmful to women,
ritual abuse within religious cults, sexual slavery, prostitution and international trafficking of women,
pornography and abuse of women in media, abuse of women in internal refugee or relocation
camps, and custodial abuse
3.3 Framework Plan for Women (FPW) 2001-2004. The FPW is a time-slice of the PPGD and it
was prepared by the NCRFW in collaboration with partner government agencies in 2001. Following
the direct instructions from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, FPW concretizes the priority goals
of government towards the advancement of women. The development of the FPW was guided by
the PPGD and the BPFA framework. It adopts the gender and development approach which
recognizes that the unequal gender relations between Filipino women and men impede the pursuit
of national development goals. The FPW acknowledges the inter-relationship of VAW, reproductive
health, and human rights and reflects this in its commitment to addressing the structural roots of
gender gaps. The FPW emphasizes human rights and situates VAW in its goal to promote
womens human rights committing to protect and advance womens human rights through
strengthened service and justice delivery system for survivors of VAW and an information,
education campaign on womens rights. The FPW outlines its thrusts along three areas of concern:
Womens Human Rights, Womens Economic Empowerment, and Gender-Responsive
Governance.
Source: GAD Resource Kit, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, Manila.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila

Eighth Congress

Republic Act No. 6955

June 13, 1990

AN ACT TO DECLARE UNLAWFUL THE PRACTICE OF MATCHING FILIPINO WOMEN FOR

MARRIAGE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS ON A MAIL ORDER BASIS AND OTHER SIMILAR
PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE ADVERTISEMENT, PUBLICATION, PRINTING OR
DISTRIBUTION OF BROCHURES, FLIERS AND OTHER PROPAGANDA MATERIALS IN
FURTHERANCE THEREOF AND PROVIDING PENALTY THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled::

Section 1. It is the policy of the State to ensure and guarantee the enjoyment of the people of a
decent standard of living. Towards this end, the State shall take measures to protect Filipino
women from being exploited in utter disregard of human dignity in their pursuit of economic
upliftment.

Section 2. Pursuant thereto, it is hereby declared unlawful:

(a)
For a person, natural or juridical, association, club or any other entity to commit, directly or
indirectly, any of the following acts:

(1)
To establish or carry on a business which has for its purpose the matching of Filipino
women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal
introduction;

(2)
To advertise, publish, print or distribute or cause the advertisement, publication, printing or
distribution of any brochure, flier, or any propaganda material calculated to promote the prohibited
acts in the preceding subparagraph;

(3)
To solicit, enlist or in any manner attract or induce any Filipino woman to become a
member in any club or association whose objective is to match women for marriage to foreign
nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction for a fee;

(4)
To use the postal service to promote the prohibited acts in subparagraph 1
hereof.1awphi1alf

(b)
For the manager or officer-in-charge or advertising manager of any newspaper, magazine,
television or radio station, or other media, or of an advertising agency, printing company or other
similar entities, to knowingly allow, or consent to, the acts prohibited in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3. In case of violation of this Act by an association, club, partnership, corporation, or any
other entity, the incumbent officers thereof who have knowingly participated in the violation of this
Act shall be held liable.1awphila1f

Section 4. Any person found guilty by the court to have violated any of the acts herein prohibited
shall suffer an imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than eight
(8) years, and a fine of not less than Eight thousand pesos (P8,000) but not more than Twenty
thousand pesos (P20,000): Provided, That if the offender is a foreigner, he shall be immediately
deported and barred forever from entering the country after serving his sentence and payment of
fine.

Section 5. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as a restriction on the freedom of speech and of
association for purposes not contrary to law as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Section 6. All laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7. This Act shall take effect upon its publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: June 13, 1990