Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman has asked Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to ensure that all members of the House of Representatives undergo gender-sensitive training, just like any government employees, within the 18th Congress.
The country’s first transgender lawmaker made the call during the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality’s recent virtual forum on “State of Local Response Mechanisms for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women (VAW)” in observance of the 2020 18-Day Campaign to End VAW from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12.
“Nais ko sanang samantalahin ang pagkakataon na ito para manawagan sa ating (I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to) Speaker, of course sa inyo, Chairperson (Bukidnon Rep. Maria Lourdes) Malou (Acosta-Alba), not to let 18th Congress and without ensuring that we, in the House of Representatives, have complied with the numerous laws that require gender sensitivity courses,” Roman said.
The vice chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality recalled that in one of the fora she attended as resource persons in connection with 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, she was asked if the House members have undergone gender sensitivity training like all government employees.
"The truth is I had to evade the question, because we have not,” she said.
Roman said the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn out attention to the ugly plight of women under quarantine, and increasing incidence of gender-based violence in the country.
“The pandemic has been an eye opener to the sad fact that our job in Congress and in society as a whole is not yet over.”
"The retrogade mentality that women and members of the LGBT are inferior still pervades among certain groups in our country and continues to poison the minds of the youth and the future generation. We must dismantle this deep-seated and internalized mindset that perpetuates this system of abuse. We must address the root cause of the problem,” she said.
She noted that despite the laudable efforts of the local government units to enforce gender-sensitive ordinances, "the work is not yet over,” lamenting that double standards still continue to exist in the country.
“We cannot stop the fight, while cases of abuse are still being downplayed as somewhat acceptable and part of the normal human behavior,” she said.
“We cannot stop the fight against the campaign against violence against women and children and other forms of gender-based violence until this fight comes full circle. Change has to start from us, from within ourselves, our homes, and the institution we represent.”