Rights and Empowerment undertake temporary special measures to accelerate the participation and equitable representation of women in all spheres of society. Towards this end the State is required to institute affirmative action mechanisms towards women’s meaningful participation. This includes: (a) empowerment in the civil service; (b) ensuring participation of women in development councils; (c) in policy and decision making bodies; (d) international bodies; (e) political parties; and (e) private sector. In Chapter V on Women in the Marginalized Sector, section 25 mandates that the State shall ensure the participation of grassroots women leaders in decision making bodies in their respective sectors including but not limited to the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) and its local counterparts; community based resource management bodies or mechanisms on forest management and stewardship; the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) and its local counterparts; the National Commission on Indigenous People; the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor; the National Anti-Poverty Commission; and, where applicable, the local housing boards. A further discussion is covered under the right to participation and representation of marginalized women. Right to equal Access and Elimination of Discrimination in Education, Scholarships, and Training (sec. 13) The State shall ensure that gender stereotypes and images in existing educational materials and curricula are adequately and appropriately revised. Gendersensitive language shall be used at all times. Capacity building on gender and development (GAD), peace and human rights education for teachers, and all those involved in the education sector shall be pursued toward this end. Partnerships between and among players of the education sector, including the private sector, churches, and faith groups shall be encouraged.99 This section specifically prohibits the “expulsion and non-readmission of women faculty due to pregnancy outside of marriage”100 and provides that “no school shall turn out or refuse admission to a female student solely on account of her being pregnant outside of marriage during her term in school.”101 In relation to this provision, the IRR of the law mandates the DepEd, CHED and TESDA to monitor and ensure compliance of educational institutions to the following: (1) that women faculty who become pregnant outside of marriage shall not be discriminated by reason thereof. They shall not be dismissed, separated from work, forced to go on leave, re-assigned or transferred. They shall have access to work already held with no diminution in rank, pay or status and shall be entitled to all benefits accorded by law and by the concerned learning institutions; (2) No female student shall be expelled, dismissed, suspended, refused or denied of admission, or forced to take a leave of absence in any educational institution solely on grounds of pregnancy outside marriage during her school term. When needed, students who are pregnant shall be accorded with a special leave of absence from school upon advice of the attending physician, and be given an opportunity to make up for missed classes and examinations. The same leave benefits shall likewise be accorded to pregnant faculty members, and school personnel and staff; (3) Pregnant students shall be assisted through available support services while in school, such as but not limited to counselling to ensure completion of their studies; (4) Programs and policies to prevent VAW shall be developed, including institutional mechanisms for complaints in cases of rape, sexual harassment, and other forms of violence and discrimination against women, and provide assistance to students, faculty, or personnel who have been victims of VAW; and (5) Coordination with PNP, DOJ, CHR, DSWD, and the LGU so that appropriate assistance are given to female faculty and students who are victims of rape, 100 Sec. 13(c), id. 99 Sec. 13(a), Magna Carta of Women. 83 101 Sec. 16, IRR of the Magna Carta of Women. CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines