Senate Honors Former Senator Leticia Shahani

The Philippine Senate honored Former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani for her dedication as a public servant and remarkable contribution to the nation through Senate Resolution 1396, filed by Senator Loren Legarda and adopted by the Senate during its session today.

The Resolution honors Dr. Shahani, former Senate President Pro-Tempore, for her continued service to the nation and the Filipino people with utmost dedication and recognizes her remarkable contribution as legislator, diplomat, educator, women’s rights advocate and civil society leader.

“As a distinguished member of the Philippine Senate from 1987 to 1998, Dr. Leticia Ramos Shahani authored key legislation on culture and education, foreign service, and women’s rights, among others,” said Legarda.

Shahani pushed for the institutional empowerment of women in the international arena, namely the United Nations wherein she served as Secretary-General of the UN Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985 and as Head of the Philippine Delegation to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995.

In the Senate, she authored landmark laws such as Republic Act 6725, Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace; RA 8353, Anti-Rape Law of 1997; and RA 8505, Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998, among others. She also introduced the inclusion of the mandatory five percent allocation in the budget of every government department and agency for gender and development.

Legarda also said that prior to being a legislator, Shahani already had a wide and notable record of government service which included her being Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women in 1987 and Career Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia (1978 to 1980) and Socialist Republic of Romania (1975 to 1980).

“Up to this day, she continues to passionately advocate and campaign for the advancement and protection of women’s rights even after retiring from government service. It is incumbent upon the Senate to recognize one of the finest and most distinguished legislators to have ever graced its halls and acknowledge her untiring efforts in pushing for valuable legislation on matters of paramount national interest,” said Legarda.

Among the recognitions conferred on Dr. Shahani were the French Legion of Honor, Order of Commander, conferred by President Jacques Chirac in 1996; United Nations Population Award in 1996; Rafael Salas Population and Development Award in 1996; Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica, conferred by King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1996; Gintong Ina Award for Public Service in 1990; and Ten Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) in 1974, among many others.