MONITORING COMPLIANCE TO THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN RURAL WOMEN Women in rural and geographically isolated areas are among the most marginalized groups of women as they are often cut off from basic facilities and social services such as health, education, employment, and livelihood. In the case of fisherfolk, they are unable to earn during typhoon season, yet they have no alternative livelihood to depend on during these times. Rural women in remote areas also have very limited access to protection and support services when they experience forms of VAW. There are reports of local officials claiming shares from the financial assistance given by the national government to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the national conditional cash transfer program, in rural areas. WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES The violence and discrimination that women face in society on the basis of their gender is compounded in the context of PWD women who also have to hurdle barriers of physical structures, stereotyping, and social exclusion. Often, they have difficulty availing of social, health, and educational programs and services for PWDs because of lack of information. Their access to formal education is also hampered by the absence of specialized schools (e.g., for the deaf, as reported by CHR Region II) or PWDfriendly facilities in schools. Some PWD students also experienced discrimination and bullying from their peers when integrated in regular schools. They lack employment and livelihood opportunities despite finishing college. In many cases, stereotypes and prejudices against PWDs affect the assessment of their capabilities for work (e.g. they cannot communicate well). Even employed PWDs still experience discrimination. 21 Women with mental health conditions are also vulnerable to violence, including sexual abuse. The FGD participants in Region VI noted that there are not enough residential facilities in the region and in the country for abandoned women suffering from mental illness. There are cases where these women were sexually abused and became pregnant as a result. Other health-related issues include the non-issuance of PhilHealth cards to PWDs (Region III) and the requirement for PWDs to renew their PhilHealth membership annually or every two years, which is not required for non-PWDs (Region IX). SOLO MOTHERS While not a critique of the implementation of laws related to solo parenting, the orientaton of the Solo Parents Act (R.A. 8972) to the needs of employed solo parents and exclusion of the issues and concerns of unemployed ones is a cause for concern. The law is also silent on services for solo parents, often mothers, caring and providng for children with disabilities. ELDERLY WOMEN The demographic trend in the Philippines with regard aging is that there are more women aged 60 years old and above (55.80%); in some regions, women comprise more that 75% of the elderly population (NCR and Region I).28 Thus, women stand to be affected more by the issues and gaps in social welfare programs and policies for senior citizens in the country. • Many of the concerns of senior citizens relate to their need for geriatric health services and care, including access to information (e.g. management of menopause and andropause), health facilities, and care services.