SDG 5: Gender Equality

This policy provides mechanisms to eliminate bias and discrimination in the university through the use of gender-neutral language, images, and content in instruction, Instructional Materials, fora, media materials, official documents, communications and issuances. This policy is pursuant to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5-Gender Equality), RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), CSC MC No. 12, s. 2005 (Use of Non-Sexist Language in All Official Documents, communications, and Issuances) and CMO No. 01, Series of 2015. It applies to all officials, employees, and students across the university.

The policy provides guidelines to ensure gender-neutral language in instructional and media content, promoting gender fairness, non-derogatory portrayals, balanced representation, and avoidance of stereotypes. In official communications, it advises against using gender-specific terms like “He, His, Him unless the antecedent is obviously male; eliminate the generic use of “man.” Instead, use people, person(s), human being(s), humankind, humanity, and the human race; eliminate sexism in symbolic representations of gender in words, sentences, and texts; eliminate sexual stereotyping of roles; and eliminate sexism when addressing persons formally. The policy also addresses social media etiquette, sexism in language, and stereotypes in role descriptions. Before publishing instructional and media content, materials must undergo assessment to ensure compliance.

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