CIVICUS discusses women’s rights in the Philippines with Nica Dumlao, researcher and consultant for Asia Democracy Network, a regional organisation that works for a community of equitable, just and sustainable democracies in Asia. She’s also currently board secretary of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) SOGIE Caucus.
While the Philippines has progressive gender equality frameworks, abortion is criminalised and divorce is illegal due to the Catholic Church’s powerful influence over laws and politics. Despite widespread cultural acceptance of women in leadership roles, moral conservatism continues to block human rights reforms. Civil society is responding with strategic and incremental advocacy, working to decriminalise abortion and reform annulment laws, but women human rights defenders face persistent gendered harassment and threats.
