Established in 1988, the University Center for Women’s Studies evolved from the ideas and commitment to social justice, national development, and women’s empowerment of a group of women faculty from the UP. Moved by their determined lobbying, Dr. Jose V. Abueva, then UP President, issued Administrative Order No. 83 in July 1988, creating a committee to study the establishment of a system-wide center for women’s studies to address the concerns and issues involving women in our university and society.
On 08 December 1988, the University Center for Women’s Studies (UCWS) was officially recognized by the Board of Regents at its 1017th meeting paving the way for its operation in October 1989.
The rationale for the creation of the UCWS was conceptualized in relation to:
In 2015, the BOR at its 1309th meeting approved the “Guidelines on Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in the University of the Philippines” and the re-naming of the UCWS as the “University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies” to reflect the complexity and intersectionality of women’s issues, gender, sexuality, and the different systems of society. This reflects as well, the University’s commitment to creating enabling mechanisms for enriching knowledge in these fields and advocating for and protecting the rights of all UP members regardless of sex, gender, sexual/gender orientation and identity. Under this new mandate, the UPCWGS shall address concerns and issues on women, gender, and sexuality in the University and in society, in consonance with the University’s main tasks of teaching, research and extension and in support of the Magna Carta of Women.
It serves as the oversight body on women’s/gender concerns; acts as catalyst for gender mainstreaming, authority on women’s concerns and lead advocate of women’s empowerment, gender equity and gender equality.
