| Vision |
The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) as the lead research and policy advocacy hub for gender and women’s studies in the country
| Mission |
- To sharpen awareness about women’s and gender issues in the University of the Philippines (UP) as well as in the larger society by developing cutting-edge instructional materials and publishing state of the art research
- To strengthen research and extension programs on gender and women’s studies in the UP by conducting innovative studies and supporting gender research by the academic community
- To strengthen instructional and curricular development on gender and women’s studies in the UP through gender mainstreaming and forward-looking course design
- To develop the next generation of academic leaders in gender and women’s studies through collaboration and mentoring
- To provide an organizational umbrella for system-wide activities in women’s and gender studies
| Mandate |
Officially recognized by the UP Board of Regents (BOR) at its 1017th meeting in 1988, the rationale for the creation of the University Center for Women’s Studies (UCWS) was conceptualized in relation to:
- the 1987 Constitution which ensures the equality of men and women before the law and recognizes the role of women in nation-building (Article II, Section 14);
- the Philippine commitment to the 1985 Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies, and;
- the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which the country is a signatory.
In 2015, the BOR at its 1309th meeting approved the Guidelines on Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in the University of the Philippines and the re-naming of the UCWS as the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to reflect the complexity and intersectionality of women’s issues, gender, sexuality, and the different systems of society. This reflects as well, the University’s commitment to creating enabling mechanisms for enriching knowledge in these fields and advocating for and protecting the rights of all UP members regardless of sex, gender, sexual/gender orientation and identity. Under this new mandate, the UPCWGS shall address concerns and issues on women, gender, and sexuality in the University and in society, in consonance with the University’s main tasks of teaching, research and extension, and in support of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW).
It serves as the oversight body on women’s/gender concerns, acts as catalyst for gender mainstreaming, authority on women’s concerns, and lead advocate of women’s empowerment, gender equity, and gender equality.
| Organizational Structure and Functions |
Under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), a director and two deputy directors administer the day-to-day operations of the Center.
As a system office, its tasks are the coordination of efforts of the UP constituent universities to mainstream gender in the University as a strategy for implementing the MCW; the implementation of the UP Gender Guidelines and the anti-sexual harassment policy of the University, and; the development of the University’s gender and development (GAD) plans and programs, especially as these relate to the utilization of the GAD budget.
As a university research center, the UPCWGS leads in the conduct and promotion of cutting-edge research on gender and women’s studies in the Philippines. It supports the University’s teaching and non-teaching personnel in training programs and activities that enhance skills and consciousness-raising toward a more humane, just, and gender-fair Filipino community.
| Programs and Projects |
The Center has four major programs: curriculum development; research; publication and resource collection; training, extension, and outreach.
Among its projects are the service facilities: gender-sensitive day-care center and feminist/gender-sensitive counseling and psycho-social assistance.
| Office Address |
Magsaysay Avenue corner Ylanan Street University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines
Telephone: +63.2.89818500 VoIP 4226, 4230
Telefax: +63.2.89206950
Email address: [email protected]
[Updated: 4 October 2023]