The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII kicked-off the national advocacy of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, to raise public awareness and support the multi-stakeholder efforts in eradicating VAW.
According to the 2022 Philippine National Demographic Health Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, 18% of women aged 15-49 years have experienced any form of physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological violence by their husbands or partners.
Even though the Philippines is the most gender-equal country in Asia and ranked 16th out of 146 countries worldwide (2023 Global Gender Gap Index Report by the World Economic Forum), the PCW, along with other stakeholders, believes that violence and abuse continue to exist in the country.
Thus, advocacy is observed from November 25 to December 12 as an annual 18-day campaign to end violence against women and children through Proclamation No. 1172 and supported by RA 10398 of 2013, which declares November 25 as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of VAWC.
Regional Director and co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking: Violence Against Women and Children (IACAT7-VAWC), Shalaine Marie S Lucero, led the department in the observance through an Orange Walk organized by the City Government of Cebu during the kick-off on November 25, 2023 at the Plaza Sugbo Grounds.
In her message of support, she calls for more advocates, influencers, and champions among LGUs, NGOs, NGAs, business communities, academic institutions, media outlets, and the general public to raise awareness about VAW and how they can be of support in ending this pervasive social problem.
Anchored on the 2022-2023 recurring theme “UNITEd for a VAW-free Philippines,” various activities will be held within the campaign period to eliminate VAWC through information dissemination and gathering public support.
Primarily, the campaign aims to educate the public with updated information on laws protecting women and girls, such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262), the Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353, as amended by RA 11648), the Safe Spaces Act (RA11313), the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877), and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (RA 9208, as amended by RA 11862).
Activities lined up by DSWD-7 and the IACAT7-VAWC are consultation dialogues with provincial women focal persons in Central Visayas, a caravan of information and services, media promotions, and a care program for DSWD-7 solo mothers.
The Department, through a series of orientations, will also strengthen the MOVE, or Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere, and the Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) programs, both organizations of men who support ending VAWC.
Top male officials of DSWD-7, Assistant Regional Directors Juanito C. Cantero and Tonyson Luther S. Lee, led the commitment signing for the #VowToEndVAW during the Department’s convocation program on November 28, 2023, for a formal launch of the advocacy among its employees.
The Orange Movement
To spark a movement advocating the elimination of VAWC, DSWD-7 invites the public to participate in various activities, such as the Orange Thursdays, where everyone is encouraged to wear orange on all Thursdays of the campaign period.
The color orange represents tangible support for women and children who are victims of violence, with hope and anticipation of a brighter future free of violence.
In furthering the support, one can take a selfie or a group photo by showing their ‘Stop the VAW’ sign and upload it on social media using the hashtags #StopTheVAW and #VAWfreePH.
Be part of the orange movement, and let us unite to #StopTheVAW for a VAW-free Philippines! ###
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