10 Women's Rights Advocates You Should Know

In the past years, several laws have been signed in order to uphold the rights of women in the Philippines. Among them are an act to protect women (and children) from violence, the Magna Carta of Women, policies that uphold work rights and benefit for women, and laws on breastfeeding that support mothers.

And still, as today’s advocates would claim, the country has a long way to go. Here are ten notable women who have been working within, around, and against the current institutions in hopes for better rights, lives and opportunities that all women rightfully deserve.

Dr. Junice Melgar

The Likhaan Center for Women's Health is a collective of health advocates and professionals. The NGO works for the rights of disadvantaged women and communities to non-discriminatory health care and women-sensitive health policies and programs.

At its helm is Dr. Junice Melgar, Likhaan's Executive Director. Here, she carries out her advocacy for women's health as a feminist-activist breaking down traditional ideologies that prevent women from having access to information about their choices in life, health and their relationships.

Under her leadership, Likhaan's health initiatives serve poor communities in various provinces. PiLAKK assists women during maternal and other medical emergencies. Primary health clinics provide family planning, emergency obstetric care and post-abortion care. Research-based reproductive health advocacy helped build a government birthing center and contributes to debates on sexuality, maternal care contraception, unsafe abortion, family planning, and the importance of an RH law.

Dr. Melgar is also Secretary-General of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN), the country's largest working network of organizations advocating for reproductive health programs and policies.

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