Starting Point
Prof. Aurora Javate de Dios is a distinguished feminist leader and advocate for women's rights and gender equality. She is the Senior Project Director at the Women and Gender Institute, based at Miriam College, and teaches International Relations, Migration, and Gender Studies there. She actively supports peace initiatives as the Co-Convener of the Women’s Peace Collective. President Arroyo appointed her as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, where she advocated for vital legislation, including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. Moreover, she served as an Expert and Rapporteur for the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Peace Journey
Prof. de Dios has represented the Philippines at several international conferences and negotiations on trafficking and women’s rights. This includes her involvement with the UN Optional Protocols on Trafficking of Persons and CEDAW. She was appointed by President Arroyo as a women’s representative to the Philippine Interagency Council on Trafficking and, later, by President Aquino as the Philippines’ Representative for Women’s Rights to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children from 2010 to 2015. Furthermore, she is a member of the External Advisory Board of the Asian Development Bank. She is also a Gender Consultant and Trainer on CEDAW, gender mainstreaming, and gender and migration with various government agencies and international organisations.
Success Stories
As a distinguished scholar and activist, Prof. de Dios has championed women’s rights, gender equality, and social justice issues. She has authored and published numerous research studies focusing on women and armed conflict, dictatorship and revolution, as well as the protection of women migrant workers.