Women and girls in the contexts of forced displacement and statelessness face increased vulnerability to violence and discrimination.
For International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has partnered with Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda for a photo exhibition that highlights the experience and resilience of women and girls in such circumstances.
Launched at the Senate of the Philippines on 13 March, Wednesday, the photo exhibition entitled “Resilient Spirits: Capturing Courage, Celebrating Strength, Inspiring Inclusion – An Odyssey of Women and Girls in Finding Hope Away from Home” will run for two (2) weeks from 11 to 22 March.
On Women's Month, UNHCR Philippines in collaboration with the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda opened the photo exhibition with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Senate on 13 March 2024. (L-R: Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary for International Relations Lilian De Leon, Office of the Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda Chief of Staff Sheree Mangunay, Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug, Jr., UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN in the Philippines Gustavo González, and Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando) © UNHCR/Gia Luga
The photo exhibition drew guests from the Senate, the Judiciary, the Justice Department, other government agencies, the UN Country Team in the Philippines, and civil society groups Ako Bakwit and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, all supporting legislative measures that aim to protect and uphold the rights of the forcibly displaced, stateless and those at risk of statelessness. (L-R: Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug, Jr., UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN in the Philippines Gustavo González, and Acting Chief Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando) © UNHCR/Gia Luga
In her solidarity speech, UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo emphasized the need to safeguard the forcibly displaced and stateless, many of whom are women and girls. The goal, she said was for everyone to have a place to belong and call home. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
UNHCR led guests through the photo exhibition. Among them were high-level guests from the Judiciary, the Justice Department, and other government agencies; members of the UN Country Team, including Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez; and civil society groups Ako Bakwit and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
“With its long history as a host country that has welcomed wave after wave of refugees, we felt that this exhibit was a good opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ inclusive communities. For the many refugees and asylum seekers that have sought refuge in the Philippines, this is home. And for the stateless, populations at risk of statelessness, and the internally displaced, the goal too is to feel a sense of home and belonging here,” Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office.
The photo exhibition invites senators, their staff, as well as visitors of the Senate to take a closer look at the lives of refugees, asylum seekers, persons who are stateless or at risk of statelessness, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“We currently have a record number of 114 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide. More than 51% of these are women and girls. The same can be said of the internally displaced, stateless and populations at risk of statelessness – many of them are women and girls,” added Valdeavilla-Gallardo.
Ms. Beatriz “Bea” Yap, an internally displaced person (IDP) and a public servant of the local government of South Upi, Maguindanao, joins the ribbon untying ceremony of the photo exhibition, actively advocating for the passage of the IDP bill. South Upi is the first local government unit that has issued an ordinance on the protection of IDPs pending the bill’s passage into law. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
Bai Mina Madale, an internally displaced person (IDP) from Marawi, has been actively advocating with the Senate to pass the Rights of IDP bill together with UNHCR and other partners. The Marawi conflict in 2017 has led to the forced displacement of a significant population of the city. In 2022, Congress enacted Republic Act 11696 (Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act) to provide compensation to Marawi IDPs whose properties cannot be recovered. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
The photo exhibition was launched on the heels of the approval of the rights based IDP Bill by the House of Representatives. With the bill now pending deliberation in the Senate, UNHCR hopes that the measure will soon be enacted into a law that will protect and uphold the rights of the internally displaced. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
The exhibition also features clothing made from Inaul, the traditional Maguindanaon woven cloth, as well as a woven mat made by Sama Bajau women and elders called Tepo. These items showcase the talent, creativity and diverse skills of women in Mindanao, many of whom are affected by forced displacement and the risk of statelessness. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
UNHCR encouraged the members of the Senate to take urgent action and place their support behind legislative measures that protect and uphold the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, internally displaced persons.
Of these laws, it is the IDP Bill which is now awaiting deliberations in the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The bill, which aims to protect and uphold IDPs rights to freedom of movement, basic services and necessities such as food and nutrition, legal assistance, family unity, health, and education during and after their displacement, regardless of whether they are inside or outside evacuation centers, was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives in 2023, with similar bills making significant headway in the Bangsamoro Parliament. There are four (4) versions filed in the Senate, authored by Senator Legarda (Senate Bill No. 1243), Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate Bill No. 594), Senator Grace Poe (Senate Bill No. 870), and Senator Manuel Lito Lapid (Senate Bill No. 2488). These are currently awaiting to be deliberated by the Senate.
To realize the 2030 Agenda of #LeaveNoOneBehind and the Sustainable Development Goals, it is critical to protect and promote the inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness and internally displaced persons and pursue long-term solutions for and with them. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
At the centerpiece of the exhibition, guests found bags and items with luggage tags that feature quotes from actual refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, and internally displaced persons in the Philippines. It depicts the experience and resilience of stateless, at risk of statelessness, and people forced to flee as they find a place to belong and call home. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
Included in what’s featured in the 2-week photo exhibition are the 9 waves of refugees in the Philippines, 5 populations at risk of statelessness, the Philippines’ commitments during the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, and relevant policy and legislative measures and developments. The Philippines, in line with its humanitarian tradition and as reflected in these photos, remains steadfast in its commitments on refugee protection and addressing statelessness. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Senator Legarda, the second highest official of the Philippine Senate and a strong advocate for mainstreaming of gender-responsive approaches to address the impacts of climate change as principal author and sponsor of the Climate Change Act and a significant contributor to the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act gave her privilege speech during session, calling on fellow senators to ensure that the IDP Bill is prioritized, “We need this guiding legal framework in place. It has been more than 19 years since the first bill on displacement was filed.”
“I wish to emphasize that [IDPs are] more than just numbers. They are actual people who have been forced to flee their homes and/or deprived of their nationality. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, having experienced gender-based violence, discrimination on the basis of gender, among others. If passed, the Philippines may be the first in Southeast Asia to have a rights based IDP law,” Senator Legarda added.
On the same day as the launch of the exhibition, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda delivered a privilege speech where she highlighted the need for concerted efforts to address forced displacement and statelessness and called on fellow senators to prioritize the enactment of a rights based IDP Bill. © PLCPD
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, host of the photo exhibition, views the 8 criteria to pursue long-term solutions for and with internally displaced persons (IDPs). She has filed Senate Bill 1243 or the Rights of IDPs Act which is pending deliberation at the Committee level. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda partners with UNHCR Philippines to shed light on the resilience and plight of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, and internally displaced persons through a two-week interactive photo exhibition at the Senate. © UNHCR/Riaanne Rizare
“In line with the UN Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement where the UN supports you in the protection and pursuit of solutions for and with internally displaced persons (IDPs), I further recognize the Senate’s efforts, including Senator Legarda’s Senate Bill 1243, to enact the IDP bill, following the House of Representatives’ approval of the same on final reading in August 2023. The Bangsamoro Parliament is also pushing for a similar bill in the BARMM. I humbly request the Congress and BARMM Parliament to continue prioritizing this measure and ensure its swift passage,” said Gustavo González, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines.
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines joined UNHCR, IOM, UNDP and partners in a walk-through of the photo exhibition which highlighted the impact of forced displacement and statelessness especially on women and girls. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González expressed his gratitude to the Senate of the Philippines for its commitment to honor the millions of women and girls affected by forced displacement and statelessness, and called for solidarity in creating an inclusive, respectful, and empowering environment for them. © UNHCR/Gia Luga
Meanwhile, versions of the Comprehensive Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Bill, which contribute to the Philippines’ 2019 Global Refugee Forum and High-Level Segment on Statelessness pledges, have been filed and are pending in the committee level for both the House of Representatives and Senate, with House Bill No. 4561 filed by Representative PM Vargas and Senate Bill No. 2548 filed by Senator Robinhood Padilla.
Yet to be filed in the Senate and pending at the committee level of the House of Representatives are gender-responsive amendments to naturalization laws. House Bill No. 7527 by Representatives Edcel Lagman, Edward Vera Perez Maceda, and Juan Carlos Atayde which proposes amendments to naturalization laws to allow married women to choose her nationality and confer her nationality to her husband.
Also awaiting filing in both chambers of Congress is the Facilitated Administrative Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons Bill, which would expedite the process, reduce costs, among others for refugees and stateless persons.
“During our many missions and activities, we have seen women helping women – mothers, sisters, and daughters striving to provide a place to call home and to belong. UNHCR is one with all these women and we continue to be committed to finding ways to help the State provide a safe and dignified way of life for all. And having strong legal frameworks can foster a truly inclusive society that can safeguard women and girls,” said Valdeavilla-Gallardo.
The photo exhibition, which forms part of UNHCR’s commitments under the Sustainable and Empowering Displacement Solutions for Peace Joint Programme of the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), was developed in partnership with Senator Legarda and with the support of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS).
***
ABOUT UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
In the Philippines, UNHCR has maintained a presence for over 40 years, working on three pillars: providing durable solutions to refugees, ending and reducing statelessness, and empowering displaced families.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Cepeda
External Relations Associate
[email protected]
(02) 88172398
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
