De Lima seeks Senate recognition for 8 outstanding Filipino women

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has filed a Senate resolution recognizing and honouring outstanding Filipino women, including those who excelled in their works abroad and those who have devoted their lives for their families.

De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 669 expressing the sense of the Senate honouring and acknowledging the individual accomplishments of outstanding women, including the overseas Filipino workers who excelled in their own fields abroad.

"The Senate has, in the past, paid tribute to outstanding and exemplary Filipinos," she said as the whole nation joins the rest of the world in the observance of the International Women's Day on March 8.

"It is opportune to recognize and highlight the accomplishments of outstanding women who have contributed to the fulfilment of women's human rights, gender equality, women's empowerment, and social progress," she added.

Among those outstanding Filipino women whom De Lima wanted the Senate to accord due recognition are the following:

• Her Excellency Rosario G. Manalo who is a member of United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women;

• United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz;

• United Nations Special Rapporteur on Internally Displaced Peoples Cecilia Jimenez-Damary;

• United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity Virginia Dandan;

• The late Supreme Court Justice Flerida Ruth Romero;

• The late Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw;

• The late Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani; and

• The late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

According to De Lima, these outstanding Filipino women are "prime movers and achievers" in their respective fields, and therefore, should be given due honor and recognition.

She also urged the Senate leadership to render due recognition to other outstanding Filipino women who have made a difference in their respective fields or sectors abroad, and those who devoted their life taking care of their families.

"Due recognition must be given equally to all our heroic Filipinas who work overseas in different sectors, including domestic services, the healthcare industry, military and police, education, medicine, law, informal economy, religious work, and every women who devoted her life to look after and care for her family," she said.

Considered as one of the staunchest voices in the Philippines human rights and justice fronts, de Lima has brought her rich experience, legal expertise and integrity as former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (2008-2010) and former Secretary of the Department of Justice (2010-2015) to her new role of crafting meaningful laws in her first term as a senator in the 17th Congress.

Among the many bills she filed is Senate Bill No. 2013 which seeks to designate the country's premier human rights body as a "Gender Ombud" to promote and safeguard the status, rights, and interests of women in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and international instruments on human rights.