Accurate gender statistics vital in RP monitoring of MDGs-NCRFW
The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) welcomes the celebration of the 2007 National Statistics Month (NSM) as it sees the need for accurate gender statistics which is vital in the implementation of the country's policies on women and in monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
NCRFW Chairperson Myrna T. Yao said information and data provide not only comparisons between women and men but ensure that both women's and men’s participation and contribution to the Philippine society are accurately measured and valued. "There is a need for a comprehensive data system support to gender and development issues, programs and policies not only in Goal 3, but in all the other MDGs as well. All our interventions should address the inequalities between women and men to enable the country to effectively realize the MDGs," Chairperson Yao explained. The 18th NSM celebration with the theme “Statistics and Actions: A Road to a Better Life Through the MDGs" --aims to highlight the importance of using statistics to bring about actions to attain the Philippines' MDGs.
"We, in NCRFW, believe that our partnership with the Philippine Statistical System, is crucial in continuously raising the consciousness of the data producers and users of gender statistics, and influencing those who make the analysis and decisions, to think and act for women. This is the reason why for the third time we are organizing a Session on Gender Statistics in the NCS," Chairperson Yao added.
She noted that although there is a growing and expanding support for gender responsive programs in the government, deficiencies in providing the required gender statistics by government agencies stem from issues on methodology, in-depth statistical analysis and limitations on resources to generate priority MDG statistics.
"This really underscores the need to improve the capability of concerned agencies to provide on a regular basis the data required by the Gender and Development Indicators System (GAD-IS)," Chair Yao said.
Session on Gender Statistics
A Session on Gender Statistics will be held on the second day of the 10th NCS at 10:30 am-12:15 pm on October 2, 2007 at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong. Three papers will be presented and discussed. The paper presenters are Ms. Jean Enriquez of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific (Documenting Cases of Violence Against Women Particularly Trafficking and Prostitution), Supreme Court Chief Atty. Edna E. Dino (The Experience of the Philippine Judiciary in the Generation and Gathering of Sex-Disaggregated Data), and National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) Secretary General Romulo A. Virola (Do Women Contribute Less Than Men in Nation Building). Paper discussants are Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Alice Bala, Atty. Claire Lucson, Executive Director of Women Lead and Ms. Jeanne Frances I. Illo, Canadian International Development Agency Gender Advisor.