AKBAYAN party-list first nominee Chel Diokno yesterday vowed to craft measures that will further advance the protection of women from violence, abuse, and harassment once elected to the House of Representatives.
Diokno said “concrete actions” are needed to advance women’s rights and welfare by coming up with more measures for their protection.
“Along with giving them flowers, we have to push for policies that protect them from violence, abuse, and harassment. We need to fight for a society where women are not just celebrated, but truly empowered,” Diokno said as he acknowledged the contributions and hardships of women.
Diokno joined party members in paying tribute to Filipino women in an event in Kamuning Market, Quezon City where they brought a life-sized cut-out frame with the words ‘Woman of the Year” where women and passersby can take their selfies.
The group also distributed flowers as a small gesture of honoring women ahead of the celebration of International Women’s Day on Saturday.
“This is a simple way for us to honor the contribution and hardship that women endure on a daily basis. Mahirap maging babae (It’s hard to be a woman). It takes tenacity and courage to endure the harrowing experience of getting catcalled, body-shamed, and patronized on an almost daily basis,” Diokno said.
Akbayan party list advocated for the passage of pro-women measures, such as the Safe Spaces Act, the Expanded Maternity Leave law.
Diokno said he will take inspiration from the perseverance of Hontiveros in pushing for her priority measures when he wins as party-list representative.
Akbayan has recently launched a campaign for better public awareness for the Safe Spaces Act, or the “Bawal Bastos” law.
Akbayan is also calling for the passage of proposed amendments to the Safe Spaces Act to ensure accountability from school heads and employers, and to include under its coverage gender-based online sexual harassment cases arising from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.
