LEGAL reforms on gender equality and protection have strengthened the empowerment of Filipino women, the Department of Justice said on Thursday.

Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez enumerated three laws that transformed the legal landscape for Filipino women: Republic Act (RA) 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women; RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act; and RA 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act — commonly known as the Bawal Bastos Law.

"These laws have further strengthened the fight against sexual harassment because now, protection extends beyond schools and offices — it applies everywhere," Gutierrez said during a forum titled "Leading with Purpose: Women in Government and Foreign Affairs."

During the forum, Israeli Deputy Ambassador Ester Buzgan offered insights on how Israel integrated women into traditionally male-dominated sectors, particularly the military and government.

She related the story of Alice Miller, who in 1994 fought for her right to become a combat pilot — a role previously closed to women.

Instead of waiting for policies to shift, Miller took her case to Israel's Supreme Court and won, setting a precedent for future generations of women in combat roles.

"She shattered the glass ceiling not just for herself, but for every woman who dared to dream after her," Buzgan said.

Buzgan also paid tribute to Golda Meir, Israel's first female prime minister and a global icon of female leadership.

She emphasized Meir's groundbreaking achievements, including the establishment of Mashav, Israel's international development agency, which promotes education, health care, and agricultural development worldwide.

Meanwhile, Ambassadors Marielle Geraedts (The Netherlands), Raduţa Dana Matache (Romania), Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe (South Africa), and Hae Kyong Yu (Australia), shared their thoughts on women's role in nation building during The Manila Times' forum on women on March 20.

Also present were Israeli Deputy Ambassador Ester Buzgan, Vietnam ambassador's spouse Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy and Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez.

Geraedts noted that the World Economic Forum yearly publishes a gender gap index. "And the Philippines is ranking higher than The Netherlands. The Philippines is 25, the Netherlands is 28," she said.

"So, I think that means we have to do a lot. I think we can learn a lot from each other. You are doing very well when it comes to [having] powerful women in the business sector. Also in politics you have many more women than we have in The Netherlands," Geraedts said.

She said that The Netherlands has some best practices in sexual reproductive health and rights. "And that means access to contraceptives, maternal health and also appropriate sex education."

Matache echoed Geraedts remarks. "We all need to learn from each other. Romania, my country, has a lot to learn from the Philippines," she said.

"One example that comes to my mind is the presence of women in politics [in the Philippines]. You already have two women presidents," she said, referring to the late president Corazon Aquino and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"How many have we had? I don't want to say: zero," Matache said. "Of course, we have to do more. We can do more. We need to work together to make sure that we advance women's rights," she said.

Yu said Australia was trying to make a difference in the Philippines by working with the National Economic Development Authority "to get the policy setting right."

She also said that Australia is investing in women "so that women have the capability and skills to start contributing to economic activities." Yu said through a project called "Investing in Women," Australia "have helped numerous medium, small, micro entrepreneurs to get financing, to provide seed money to help them participate in the economic activity."

Radebe-Netshitenzhe said South Africa made sure that women were represented "in all decision making."

"So, there is an empowerment that we put in place because at some point you must be able to realize the education that you have invested.," she said. The South African envoy said she "personally benefited" from her government's policies on women.