Philippines: Hundreds join hands in commitment to fight VAW

05 December 2007 — Hundreds of women and men have gathered together at the two-day opening activity of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) on November 25 and 26.

The 2007 Campaign revolves around the general theme “Kaligtasan ng Kababaihan sa Karahasan, Tungkulin ng Bawat Mamamayan!” The NCRFW, in partnership with the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Children (IAC-VAWC) and the Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee (VAWCC), with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) spearheads this year’s observance of the campaign which focuses on providing better services for VAW victims-survivors.

Government agencies led by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the Quezon City government, non-government organizations, civil society and the public joined together for the “Bike Against VAW” –the kick-off activity of the Campaign on November 25 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

NCRFW Chairperson Myrna T. Yao said “Bike Against VAW” is a unique community-oriented, more interpersonal, health-friendly and environment-friendly activity to increase awareness on the cause of VAW and instill a sense of obligation to everyone to take action on the issue of VAW.

“This sense of community unity conveys the message that the fight against VAW is a concern not only of women but of all sectors of society, and that all must be “Fit to Fight VAW,” Chairperson Yao expressed.

At the Opening Program of the Campaign held at the Teatro Marikina in Marikina City on November 26, NCRFW led the expression of commitment. Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, women’s groups, non-government organizations, civil society and the public joined hands altogether for their commitment to end VAW in the Philippines.

“As much as we in government are the primary duty bearers, we also enjoin civil society organizations and the private sector to continue working with us in this endeavor. Let us complement our efforts through meaningful partnerships and collaboration. Other members of the community can do their share to curb and eventually eliminate VAW by being vigilant and by bravely reporting incidences of VAW in our localities,” Chairperson Yao said.

Still in line with the campaign, a series of consultation was held on different dates and venues to address VAW. On December 4, members of IACAT underwent a pre-validation workshop of the guidelines to protect the rights of women-victims of trafficking. On December 18, 2007 another consultation will held aimed at gathering together key government agencies and non-government organizations to provide a venue for them to harmonize or complement each others’ efforts in providing services for VAW victims-survivors. The consultation also seeks to come-up with a systematic referral system between GOs and NGOs for a more efficient service delivery.

On December 6, a meeting with Key Officers of select local government units and national government agencies was organized by the NCRFW in an attempt to establish an electronically- harmonized documentation system of reported VAW cases.

The Department of Justice will hold its third in the series of Sub-National Conferences on Trafficking in Persons being organized by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) on December 11 to 12.

Finally on December 14, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) will hold a forum entitled “Tinamaan Ka Ba? Tama Na! Mga Kwento ng Karahasan, Katatagan at Tagumpay” to discuss issues on VAW. This awareness-raising activity will encourage participants to do their part in putting an end to VAW.

Every year, women’s groups from different regions of the world observe the period from November 25 to December 10 as the 16-Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This global campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. November 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and December 10 (International Human Rights Day) were chosen to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that violence against women is a violation of human rights.

In the Philippines, Presidential Proclamation 1172, Series of 2006 extended the Campaign to December 12, a historic date that marked the adoption in Palermo, Italy of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Crime, supplemented by the Protocol to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.

For inquiries, please contact: Ms. Louie Alonso Belmonte

NCRFW, Information Officer

Tel: 7358509

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