All individuals are equal as humanbeings byvirtue of the inherent dignity of each human person. Noone, therefore, should suffer discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, age, language, sexualorientation,race,color,religion, political, or other opinion, national, social, or geographical origin, disability, property, birth, or other status as established by human rights standards. All people havetherights to participate in and access information relating to the decisionmaking processesthat affect their lives and well-being. Rights-based approached require a high degree ofparticipation by communities, civil society, minorities, women, young people, indigenous peoples,and other identified groups. States and other duty-bearers are answerable for the observance of humanrights. They have to comply with the legal norms and standards enshrinedin international human rights instruments in accordancewith the Philippine Constitution. Where theyfail to do so, aggrieved rights-holdersare entitled to institute proceedings for appropriate redress before a competent courtor other adjudicator in accordancewith the rules and proceduresprovided by law. CHAPTERII: DEFINITION OF TERMS Definitions. For purposesofthis Act, the following terms shall mean: (a) “Women Empowerment” refers to the provision, availability, and accessibility of opportunities, services, and observance of human rights which enable womentoactively participate and contribute to the political, economic, social, and cultural development of the nation as well as those which shall provide them equal access to ownership, management,and controlof production, and of material and informational resources and benefits in the family, community, and society. (b) “Discrimination Against Women" refers to any gender-based distinction, exclusion, or restriction which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by women,irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women,of humanrights and fundamental freedomsin the political, economic, social, cultural,civil, or any otherfield. Itincludes anyact or omission,including bylaw,policy, administrative measure,or practice, that directly or indirectly excludesor restricts womenin the recognition and promotion of their rights and their access to and enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges. A measureorpractice of general application is discrimination against womenifit fails to provide for mechanismsto offset or address sex or gender-based disadvantages or limitations of women,as a result of which womenare deniedorrestrictedin the recognition and protection of their rights and in their access to and enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges; or women, more than men, are shownto have suffered the greater adverseeffects of those measuresorpractices. Provided,finally, That discrimination compounded byorintersecting with other grounds, status, or condition, such as ethnicity, age, poverty, or religion shall be considered discrimination against womenunderthis Act. (c) “Marginalization” refers to a condition where a whole category of people is excluded from useful and meaningful participation in political, economic, social, and culturallife. (d) “Marginalized" refers to the basic, disadvantaged, or vulnerable persons or groups who are mostly living in poverty and havelittle or no access to land and other resources, basic social and economicservices suchashealth care, education, water and sanitation, employmentand livelihood opportunities, housing, social security, physicalinfrastructure, 26