development. TheState shall institute the following affirmative action mechanisms so that womencanparticipate meaningfully in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programsfor national, regional, and local development: a. Empowermentwithin the Civil Service. — Within the next five (5) years, the number of womenin third (3rd) level positions in government shall be incrementally increased to achievea fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance; b. DevelopmentCouncils and Planning Bodies. — To ensure the participation of womeninall levels of development planning and program implementation, at least forty percent (40%) of membership ofall development councils from the regional, provincial, city, municipal, and barangaylevels shall be composed of women; ¢. Other Policy and Decision-Making Bodies. - Women's groupsshall also be represented in international, national, and local special and decision-making bodies; d. International Bodies. —- The State shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the opportunity of women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination to represent their governmentat the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations: e. Integration of Womenin Political Parties. - The State shall provide incentives to political parties with women's agenda.It shall likewise encourage the integration of womenin their leadership hierarchy internal policy-making structures, appointive, and electoral nominating processes; and (f) Private Sector. - The State shall take measures to encourage womenleadershipin the private sectorin the form of incentives. Equal Treatment Before the Law. The State shall take steps to review and, when necessary, amend and/or repeal existing laws that are discriminatory to women within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. Equal Access and Elimination of Discrimination in Education, Scholarships, and Training. The State shall ensure that gender stereotypes and images in educational materials andcurricula are adequately and appropriately revised. Gender-sensitive languageshall be usedat all times. Capacity-building on gender and development (GAD), peace and humanrights, education for teachers, and all those involvedin the education sectorshall be pursued toward this end. Partnerships between and among players of the education sector, including the private sector, churches, andfaith groups shall be encouraged. b. Enrolment of womenin non-traditionalskills training in vocational andtertiary levels shall be encouraged. c. Expulsion and non-readmission of womenfaculty due to pregnancyoutside of marriage shall be outlawed. No schoolshall turn out or refuse admission to a female student solely on the accountof her having contracted pregnancy outside of marriage during her term in school. Women in Sports. The State shall develop, establish, and strengthen programsfor the participating of women andgirl-children in competitive and non-competitive sports as a meansto achieve excellence, promote physical and social well-being, eliminate gender-role stereotyping, and provide equalaccess to the full benefits of developmentfor all personsregardless of sex, genderidentity, and other similar factors. For this purpose,all sports-related organizations shall create guidelines that will establish andintegrateaffirmative action as a strategy and gender equality as a frameworkin planning and implementing their policies, budgets, programs, and activities relating to the participation of womenandgirls in sports. 31