BILANG bahagi ng Women’s Month Celebration ngayong Marso, natalakay sa Kamara ang pagsusulong ng paggamit ng “gender-fair” language upang maging bahagi ng official communication ng House of Representatives (HREP).
Sa isang forum sa mababang kapulungan na isinagawa ng House of Representatives (HREP) Legislative Information Resources Management Department (LIRMD), sinabi ni Atty. Blance Saldana na mahalaga ang lenggwahe dahil ito ay nagapapahiwatig ng kultura, na nakakaapekto sa socialization lalo na ang pagpapakita ng pagkakapantay ng babae at lalaki sa pagsasagawa ng batas.
Sa naturang forum, iprinisinta ng mga kawani sa HREP Publication ang “Inclusive Voices: A Gender-Fair Language Guidebook” na maaaring maging batayan ng pag- standardize ng paggamit ng “gender-fair” language sa official letters, bills, resolutions, reports, informational materials at iba pang dokumento at issuances na manggagaling sa HREP.
“The purpose of this guidebook is not to impose a rigid set of rules, but to aspire to craft legislation using the lens equity and justice and to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging for people of all genders in the House of Representatives,” sabi ni Saldana.
“Some of the tips included to make the communication materials gender-inclusive is to avoid (1) the use of gender-based pronouns but instead using articles such as “the,” “a,” “an,” or “that” to replace the personal pronoun; (2) the use of generic masculine terms or terms that exclude women or render them invisible; and (3) the use of gender-based terms that give the impression that a situation applies only to one particular sex or gender, but to use alternative gender-neutral terms,” ang nakasaad sa naturang Guidebook.
“Exceptions to the general rule. In certain instances, rewording phrases or sentences to make the language gender-fair is not recommended, such as: intentional gender distinction — do not tamper with the legislator’s intended meaning or the application of a statute. If, for example, a legislator wants to provide additional support for “mothers” who are detained or incarcerated, do not change the term to “parents,”sabi ni Saldana.
“It is my hope that this initiative will pave the way for further efforts that will create a more inclusive environment within the House of Representatives,” ang sabi ni HRep Gender and Development Focal Point System (GAD-FPS) chairperson and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
Inilarawan ni Velasco na “significant endeavor” ng HREP ang naturang Guidebook at ng GAED-FPS Technical working group ng Kamara bilang patnubay sa mga angkop na pananalitang maaaring gamitin ng mga mambabatas upang makasiguro ng mas “inclusive”, “gender-fair” at “ equitable legislative environment” ang mga ito sa pagbalangkas ng batas.Ma. Luisa Macabuhay-Garcia