PUBLICATIONS

Protocol of Feminist Lawyers in Handling Cases of Violence Against Women and Children (1998)

This protocol was developed in December 1998 for the Legal Advocates for Women Network (LAWNET), a Philippine national network of women lawyers and female law students committed to address violence against women and children.

The framework paper was intended to guide advocates- both lawyers and paralegals, in engaging in feminist legal advocacy on violence against women and other human rights issues. The paper is being used as a tool for organizing ethical and procedural guide for lawyers handling abuses against women and children in order to make provision for services that are appropriate, sensitive and effective.

Women’s Health and the Law (1997)

This compendium of information was inspired by the need to understand the complicated weave of legislation, policies and programs related to women’s health and advocacy in the Philippines.

The Chapter One of the book provides an overview of women’s health situation in the Philippines. Women’s life cycle does not only focus on reproductive and maternal roles. Women have significant stages like infancy, adolescence, adulthood, midlife and old age. In these periods, there is a prevailing system of gender-based social roles and expectations where women face health realities and problems differently from men. In Chapter Two, SIBOL (Sama-samang Inisyatiba ng Kababaihan sa Pagbabago ng Batas at Lipunan), a local legislative network that pushes for a women centered and women’s human rights framework. This conceptual approach on women’s health integrates concerns on productive health, sexuality gender relations, violence against women, women’s human rights and overall sociocultural representation of women in contemporary Philippine society. While Chapters Three and Four provides the Philippine Government’s commitments on women’s health, international obligations and national legislation, administrative policies and programs.

Challenging and Subverting the System of Prostitution (1997)

Prostitution is a system that perpetuates violence, exploitation and power relations. It is about the continued economic marginalization and cultural subordination of women and how society accepts and condones men’s demand for sex and facilities their access to women’s bodies. It is about the continued socialization of women to accept themselves as sexual objects, particularly when faced with limited economic options.

This book contains an overview of prostitution as a system and its mechanism that facilitates the growing industry. In addition, it provides rights of women in prostitution, identifies policy recommendation and outlines strategies in addressing the issue.

A Legislative Advocacy Manual for Women (1997)

This publication is a special contribution of the Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc. to the concerted efforts in public consciousness-raising about women’s issues and the law undertaken by the women’s legislative advocacy alliance known as SIBOL (Sama-samang Inisyatiba ng Kababaihan sa Pagbabago ng Batas at Lipunan). It was produced by women for women. It approaches legislative advocacy from the experience and perspective of activist women’s groups. It is guided to women’s and other marginalized groups’ concerns.

Making Sense of Rape (1995)

A review of the presumptions relied upon by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in its decisions on rape. It covers 478 decisions from 1961 to the early part of 1992. The resulting statistics, however, do not speak for all the rape committed in the Philippines during the period (1961-1992). They merely represent convictions that were brought to the Supreme Court on appeal or automatic review in cases where death penalty was imposed (or reclusion perpetua when the death penalty was suspended by the 1987 Constitution and the Death Penalty law has not yet been passed.)

Understanding Incest in the Philippines (1998)

This reference material provides an overview profile of reported incest cases in the Philippines. The reported cases, however, do not reflect the actual incidence of incest. There are circumstances and issues surrounding incest that hinder its reporting. This booklet further covers recommendations and list of crimes applicable to incest.

The Relevance of Divorce in the Philippines (1998)

Marriage is both a tradition and an institution in Philippine society. As a tradition, it is replete with ceremonies and celebratory rituals. As an institution, it is recognized and protected by law. Marriage laws define the rights and duties of husbands and wives. The dissolution of marriage is discouraged and marriage break-ups are frowned upon.

Human Rights, Women’s Rights, and the Law (2003)

This booklet was conceptualized and developed to give readers an orientation on women’s human rights, and the international and Philippine laws relevant to them. The booklet also presents a framework with which to view laws on women, particularly as it addresses women’s realities of discrimination and violence in the family, workplace, community and institutions. The law has the potential to empower women against gender-based discrimination and violence. However, it is also a reality that the law and the legal system themselves could be discriminatory against women.

This booklet is also translated into Cebuano, Ilocano, and Tagalog to widen the reach of information in the country. It is hoped that it will contribute to the continuing efforts of women to fight for and protect their rights, and seek justice for the violations of their rights.

The Family Code and Other Related Laws: A Primer for Women (2003)

Against Prostitution, for the Women in Prostitution: A Position Paper (1998)

Ang Batas Laban sa Panggagahasa (Republic Act Nos. 8353 at 8505, at mga kaugnay na batas at desisyon ng Korte Suprema): Isang Praymer (1998)

Handbook ng mga Legal Advocates Tungo sa Pagsugpo ng Karahasan Laban sa Kababaihan sa Komunidad (1998)