Antique gears up for Women’s Month

SAN JOSE, Antique — Various activities have been lined up by the Gender and Development Inter-Agency Committee (GAD-IAC) in preparation to celebrate the Women’s Month this March.
This year’s celebration will focus on the advocacy on implementing Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, according to Precy Galluego, Provincial Women’s Desk coordinator.
The Magna Carta of Women, signed on August 14, 2009, is a comprehensive women’s human rights law.

It seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.
For the province’s celebration, GAD-IAC created the theme “Kababainhan Amligan, Katarungan Dampigan, agud Maabot ang Kauswagan kang Tanan.”
This underscores the protection and promotion of rights of women to attain holistic development, said Gallego.
Kicking off the celebration on March 8, International Women’s Day, is a caravan from this capital town to the University of Antique in Sibalom.
Caravan participants are women’s rights supporters which include government agencies, nongovernment organizations, women’s groups and multi-sectoral agencies.
Other activities include medical and dental mission in the towns of Tobias Fornier (Barangays Aras-asan, Banawon and Tina) on March 9, in Bugasong (Barangays Pangalcagan and Igsoro) on March 10 and Barbaza (Barangays Mablad, Cadiao and Lumbuyan) on March 17.
The Provincial Health Office and the medical and dental societies, among others, will spearhead the event.
GAD-IAC will also organize legal consultation on the creation of family court.
This will be attended by multi-sectoral representatives like women’s groups, nongovernment organizations, government agencies and other child/women’s rights duty bearers.
The celebration will culminate on March 28. (JCM/PSM/PIA/PN)