Magna Carta for Women pushed for women’s month

In observance of Women’s Month, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is hoping for the full implementation of the Magna Carta for Women, as it worked to have the age of discernment for the crime of statutory rape raised from 12 to 16 years old.

In a briefing at Malacañang yesterday, PCW chair Rhodora Masilang- Bucoy and executive director Emeline Versoza said the agency has yet to make a stand on the inclusion of rape in the death penalty bill.

The PCW is more aggressive in expanding the age of discernment for statutory rape from 12 to 16 years old.

The officials want to focus on the definition of rape, to include date rape as a critical provision in the law.

“We want the Anti-Rape Law revised so the definition of rape will focus on the lack of consent. We’ve seen a lot of cases of date rape, wherein the rapist is acquitted,” Versoza said.

The PCW cited two controversial cases wherein the judges acquitted the rapists because the incident happened during a date.

“So the definition should be that the woman refused the advances of the man and there’s no need to show that a struggle occurred or she ran away from him,” Versoza said.

She said when a woman is under attack she normally freezes and doesn’t know what to do.

Bucoy said the Magna Carta for Women requires a mandatory training on gender and human rights for all government personnel involved in the protection and defense of women against gender based violence.

“It directs all barangays to establish a desk dedicated to helping women who are victims of violence,” she said.

To date, Bucoy said the Department of the Interior and Local Government reported that 88 percent of the 42,036 barangays have established violence against women desks. –