On the eve of International Women’s Day, members of Akbayan Partylist paid tribute to Filipino women for their courage, bravery, and contributions to Filipino society. The group trooped to Kamuning Market in Quezon City, bringing a life-size cut-out frame with the words “Woman of the Year” for women passersby to take selfies and photos. The group also distributed flowers as a small gesture of honoring women.
According to Akbayan Partylist First Nominee Atty. Chel Diokno, “This is a simple way for us to honor the contribution and hardship that women endure on a daily basis. Mahirap maging babae. It takes tenacity and courage to endure the harrowing experience of getting catcalled, body-shamed, and patronized on an almost daily basis.”
Diokno shared that beyond recognition, concrete action is needed to advance the rights and welfare of women. “Along with giving them their 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,” he said.
Akbayan Partylist has pushed for a slew of pro-women policies such as the Safe Spaces Act, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law both authored and championed by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros.
“‘Yung pinamalas na masigasig na pagsulong ng women’s rights sa Senado ni Sen. Risa, ‘yun din ang idadala natin sa Kongreso,” Diokno emphasized.
Akbayan recently launched a campaign for better public awareness of the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) and also filed a resolution, through Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, declaring the month of March as Bawal Bastos Awareness Month and urging the Philippine Commission on Women to audit the Safe Spaces Act implementation among government offices and private establishments.
Akbayan is also calling for the passage of the amendments to the Safe Spaces Act to ensure accountability from school heads and employers and add gender-based online sexual harassment arising from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.
The Senate passed its version on third and final reading, while the House has yet to approve its own version.