VAWC 101

I. INTRODUCTION
Globally, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually
abused in her lifetime with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries (UN
Commission on the Status of Women 28/02/00)
An estimated 150 million girls under 18 suffered from some form of
violence, in
2002 alone (UNIFEM)
Approximately, 100 to 140 million girls have experienced genital
mutilation and
cutting (UNIFEM)

In India in 2010 alone, there were 8,391 dowry deaths, either by murder
or driven to suicide, by torture and harassment for failure to meet the needs
of the dowry.
One woman is assaulted, beaten or killed by her husband or partner
every 15
seconds in the United States. Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, 1991

In the Philippines, 1 out of 5 women, ages 15-49, has experienced

physical violence, 14.4 % of married women have experienced physical
abuse from their husbands; 1 in 6 pregnant women are abused during
pregnancy. 37 % of separated or widowed women have experienced physical
violence (NSO survey). For 2012, some 12,948 cases were recorded by the
Women and Children

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VAWC 101

Protection Center of the Philippine National Police covering January to

August. Approximately one woman is beaten by her partner or husband
every 43 minutes while one child is being battered every hour and 20
minutes. An estimated 1 in 4 children and young people have witnessed
violence against their mother or stepmother.
The Gabriela national office in 2012, received 567 cases of different forms
of violence against women and children (VAWC), 52 cases of rape, four of the
victims were children, and one child victim was murdered. In the first quarter
of 2013, they already received 141 cases of VAWC. Eight were rape cases.
Nine involved children victims of rape, attempted rape, gang rape, incest
rape and molestation. VAWC which previously was regarded as rare or nonexistent, is in fact prevalent in all parts of the world. It is very local and also
global. Neither are they isolated incidents, they happen everywhere, its
incidence all over the world has become very alarming
a phenomenon cutting across the barriers of caste, race, ethnicity,
language and religious affiliation. (Fiorenza)

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN (VAWC) is not just about

bloody lips and black eyes. It also takes other forms like emotional abuse and
financial control, street harassment and reproductive coercion, to mention a
few. Although at its root - power, control and patriarchy are explanatory
factors, poverty, psychological vulnerabilities rooted in peoples past
experiences and the dynamics that play out between two people in a
relationship are also very significant factors.

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II. DEFINITION OF TERMS

a. "Violence against women and their children" refers to any act or a
series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his
wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or
had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom he has a common
child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or
without the family abode, which result in or is likely to result in
physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse
including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment
or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

b. Physical Violence" refers to acts that include bodily or physical harm

c. "Psychological violence" refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to

cause mental or emotional suffering of the victim such as but not
limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property,
public ridicule or humiliation, repeated verbal abuse and mental
infidelity. It includes causing or allowing the victim to witness the
physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a member of the family to
which the victim belongs, or to witness pornography in any form or to
witness abusive injury to pets or to unlawful or unwanted deprivation
of the right to custody and/or visitation of common children.
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VAWC 101

d. "Economic abuse" refers to acts that make or attempt to make a

woman financially dependent

e. "Dating relationship" refers to a situation wherein the parties live as

husband and wife without the benefit of marriage or are romantically
involved over time and on a continuing basis during the course of the
relationship. A casual acquaintance or ordinary socialization between
two individuals in a business or social context is not a dating
relationship.

f. "Sexual relations" refers to a single sexual act which may or may not
result in the bearing of a common child.

g. "Safe place or shelter" refers to any home or institution maintained or

managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) or by any other agency or voluntary organization accredited
by the DSWD for the purposes of this Act or any other suitable place
the resident of which is willing temporarily to receive the victim.

h. "Children" refers to those below eighteen (18) years of age or older but
are incapable of taking care of themselves as defined under Republic
Act No. 7610. As used in this Act, it includes the biological children of
the victim and other children under her care.

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VAWC 101

III. BODY OF THE REPORT

A. WHAT IS VAWC?
Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (VAWC)
refers to any acts or a series of acts committed by any person against a
woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the
person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom he has a
common child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within
or without the family abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical,
sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats
of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation
of liberty.

VAWC, is a law passed in the Philippines for the protection of women

and children from violence. This law establishes the parameters and
guidelines, in keeping with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the
Constitution and the Provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human
rights instruments of which the Philippines is a party. (Section 2 of R.A.9262)

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B. WHY DOES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OCCUR?

Unequal power relations between men and women
Domestic violence has its roots in the subordinate role women have
traditionally held in
private and public life in many societies. The United Nations Declaration on
the Elimination of Violence Against Women describes violence against
women as "a manifestation of historically unequal power relationships
between men and women." At the same time, men enact violence against
their female partners in order to perpetuate and enforce women's
subordinate role.

Rigid Gender Stereotypes of men and women. Sandra Bem

(1993) has identified three
common beliefs about women and men in western society which
have led to rigid stereotypes:

1. Women and men have basically different psychological and sexual

natures;
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2. Men, are the superior, dominant gender;

3. Gender differences and male superiority are natural;

Men enact violence against women largely because they have been
socialized by patriarchal influences in society which teach them that they are
superior to women, and deserve to be in control and have special privileges.
Women are understood to remain in abusive relationships. (Beyond violence)

Tolerance of Violence in Popular Culture

Media

and

information

advancement

as

New

sources

of

Oppression against women

Technology has created widespread impacts but has not served all
people particularly women. In fact, media have projected women in
de-meaning and damaging ways:

1. In many advertisements, women are usually portrayed as objects to be

consumed sexually; they are employed as effective marketing tools
where lust and consumer wants are banded together.

2. The Pornography business offers the most extreme example of gender

exploitation: films made to suit a male audience rely on sexual

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violence and endorse a power dynamic which favors the man, inducing
and legitimizing violence against women such as, rape.

3. In medical science, the use of ultrasound technology has allowed

families to determine the sex of the fetus in the mothers womb. This
advancement has become a curse for the mothers, because using this
technology has allowed for the quick termination of girl fetuses to
avoid extra responsibilities.

4. The UN estimates that 95% of aggressive behavior, harassment,

abusive language and denigrating images in online spaces are aimed
at women and come from partners or former male partners. Both men
and women are affected by cyber stalking, but a survey in India found
that victims aged between 18-32 were predominantly female (Source:
www.apc.org).
5.
C. EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Violence against Women as a Human Rights Violation.
Violence against women (VAW) was not recognized as a human rights
issue until 1993 at the Vienna Conference on Human Rights. In the
conference, the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration for the
Elimination of Violence against Women. The Declaration clearly identified
that VAW is based on gender inequality; hence, all governments are
expected to recognize VAW as a violation of human rights and address it. The
Declaration explicitly states that:

violence

against

women

constitutes

violation

of

the

rights

and

fundamental freedoms of women and impairs or nullifies their enjoyment of

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VAWC 101

those rights and freedoms, and concerned about the long-standing failure to
protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence
against women...violence against women is a manifestation of historically
unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to
domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the
prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against
women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced
into a subordinate position compared with men

Violence against women occurs when the human rights of women are
violated, e.g.,
when women are physically injured, raped, beaten, held captive, or forced to
work or provide services against their will. When women are trapped in
violent marriages or homes, repeatedly battered, verbally abused and
completely under the control of their husbands or partners, that is violence
against women.

The physical, mental and the emotional abuse that women are
subjected to are more likely to result in depression, anxiety, psychosomatic
symptoms, eating problems, sexual dysfunction and reproductive health
complications. The reproductive health of women can also be affected
through the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Unplanned pregnancies may sometimes become risk factors and lead to
more aggression and abuse. Effects of violence may be fatal as a result of
severe injury, homicide or suicide.

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VAW is a development issue

It is an obstacle to the achievement of equality, security, liberty, integrity,
and dignity of all human beings. It constrains human development, economic
growth, and productive capacity. It is also a drain on financial resources. The
direct costs include medical care; treatment programs for survivors and
perpetrators; shelters; courts and legal services to prosecute perpetrators;
loss of productivity; increased mortality; training costs for personnel in the
service provider system such as police, judges, nurses, medical doctors,
social workers, and counselors; and other indirect social costs to family
members of survivors and perpetrators. These costs have an impact on the
economic growth of the country. In the USA, the costs of intimate partner
violence are estimated at US $5.8 billion per year. In the Philippines, the
government spends an estimated 6 billion pesos for the medical and
psychological interventions for VAW. Furthermore, the productivity of working
women who suffer physical, psychological or sexual violence at the hands of
their partners is affected due to the high absenteeism caused by domestic
violence.

D. WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF VAWC?

To protect the rights of the family and its members particularly women
and children from violence and threats to their personal safety and
security;

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VAWC 101

To enable the courts to manage and monitor cases involving violence

against women and children and the members of their family or
household;
To prevent and disruption in the daily lives of the offended parties and
assist them to regain control of their lives;
To ensure treatment is provided for the offended parties and offenders;
To hold the offenders accountable for their acts.

E. WHAT ARE THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE WHICH ARE COVERED UNDER

VAWC?
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
Refers to acts that include bodily or physical harm, such as hitting,
slapping and kicking.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Refers to an act which is sexual in nature, committed against a woman or
her child. It includes, but is not limited to:
a) Rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating a woman or
her child as a sex object, making demeaning and sexually suggestive
remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the victim's body, forcing
her/him to watch obscene publications and indecent shows or forcing the
woman or her child to do indecent acts and/or make films thereof, forcing the
wife and mistress/lover to live in the conjugal home or sleep together in the
same room with the abuser;

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VAWC 101

b) Acts causing or attempting to cause the victim to engage in any sexual

activity by force, threat of force, physical or other harm or threat of physical
or other harm or coercion;
c) Prostituting the woman or child.

PSYCOLOGICAL VIOLENCE
Refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or emotional
suffering of the victim such as but not limited to intimidation, harassment,
stalking, damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, repeated verbal
abuse and marital infidelity. It includes causing or allowing the victim to
witness the physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a member of the
family to which the victim belongs, or to witness pornography in any form or
to witness abusive injury to pets or to unlawful or unwanted deprivation of
the right to custody and/or visitation of common children.

ECONIMIC ABUSE
Refers to acts that make or attempt to make a woman financially
dependent which includes, but is not limited to the following:
a) Withdrawal of financial support or preventing the victim from engaging
in any legitimate profession, occupation, business or activity, except in cases
wherein the other spouse/partner objects on valid, serious and moral
grounds as defined in Article 73 of the Family Code;
b) Deprivation or threat of deprivation of financial resources and the right
to the use and enjoyment of the conjugal, community or property owned in
common;
c) Destroying household property;
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VAWC 101

d) Controlling the victims' own money or properties or solely controlling

the conjugal money or properties.

F. WHO ARE PROTECTED UNDER VAWC?

The law recognizes the unequal relations of a man and a woman in an
abusive relationship where the woman is usually the one disadvantaged.
Thus, the law protects the woman and her children. The victim, the child who
is a minor (legitimate and illegitimate), and a person aged 18 years and
beyond who doesnt have the ability to decide for herself/himself because of
an emotional, physical and mental illness can make full use of the law. Any
child under the care of a woman is also protected under the law.

G. WHO ARE PUNISHED UNDER VAWC?

The includes the following who are punished under VAWC which are
husbands or former husbands; any person with whom the victim has or had a
sexual or dating relationship this includes boyfriends, live-in partners, or
even lesbian partners; any person with whom the victim has a common child;
and father of the child-victim.

H. HOW DOES VAWC VICTIM-SURVIVOR BE PROTECTED?

The law allows women and their children to secure barangay protection
order (BPO), and/ or temporary or permanent protection order from the

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VAWC 101

courts. They can also file an independent civil action for damages and
criminal action for the violation of anti-VAWC Act.
To prevent further abuse of or violence against women of or violence
against a woman and her child, a provision for the protection order is
prescribed in the Anti-VAWC Act. It commands It also provides them relief
from said abuse or violence.

I.

WHAT IS PROTECTION ORDER?

A protection order is an order issued for the purpose of preventing

further acts of violence against a woman or her child and granting other
necessary relief. The relief granted under a protection order serve the
purpose of safeguarding the victim from further harm, minimizing any
disruption in the victim's daily life, and facilitating the opportunity and ability
of the victim to independently regain control over her life. The provisions of
the protection order shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies. The
protection orders that may be issued under this Act are the barangay
protection order (BPO), temporary protection order (TPO) and permanent
protection order (PPO). The protection orders that may be issued under this
Act shall include any, some or all of the following reliefs:

Prohibition of the offender from threatening to commit or committing,

personally or through another.

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VAWC 101

Prohibition

of

the

offender

from

harassing,

annoying,

telephoning,

contacting or otherwise communicating with the victim, directly or

indirectly;
Removal and exclusion of the offender from the residence of the victim,
regardless of ownership of the residence, either temporarily for the purpose
of protecting the victim, or permanently where no property rights are
violated, and if respondent must remove personal effects from the
residence, the court shall direct a law enforcement agent to accompany the
respondent has gathered his things and escort respondent from the
residence;

Directing the offender to stay away from victim and designated family or
household member at a distance specified by the court, and to stay away
from the residence, school, place of employment, or any specified place
frequented by the petitioner and any designated family or household
member;

Directing lawful possession and use by victim of an automobile and other

essential personal effects, regardless of ownership, and directing the
appropriate law enforcement officer to accompany the victim to the
residence of the parties to ensure that the petitioner is safely restored to
the possession of the automobile and other essential personal effects, or to
supervise the victims or offenders removal of personal belongings;

Granting a temporary or permanent custody of a child/children to the

victim;

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VAWC 101

Directing the offender to provide support to the woman and/or her child if
entitled to legal support. Notwithstanding other laws to the contrary, the
court shall order an appropriate percentage of the income or salary of the
respondent to be withheld regularly by the respondent's employer for the
same to be automatically remitted directly to the woman. Failure to remit
and/or withhold or any delay in the remittance of support to the woman
and/or her child without justifiable cause shall render the respondent or his
employer liable for indirect contempt of court;

Prohibition of the offender from any use or possession of any firearm or

deadly weapon and order him to surrender the same to the court for
appropriate disposition by the court, including revocation of license and
disqualification to apply for any license to use or possess a firearm. If the
offender is a law enforcement agent, the court shall order the offender to
surrender his firearm and shall direct the appropriate authority to
investigate on the offender and take appropriate action on matter;

Restitution for actual damages caused by the violence inflicted, including,

but not limited to, property damage, medical expenses, childcare expenses
and loss of income;

Directing the DSWD or any appropriate agency to provide victim may need;
and

Provision of such other forms of relief as the court deems necessary to

protect and provide for the safety of the victim and any designated family

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VAWC 101

or household member, provided victim and any designated family or

household member consents to such relief.

Any of the reliefs provided under this section shall be granted even in
the absence of a decree of legal separation or annulment or declaration of
absolute nullity of marriage. The issuance of a BPO or the pendency of an
application for BPO shall not preclude a petitioner from applying for, or the
court from granting a TPO or PPO.

J. WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF PROTECTION ORDERS?

BARANGAY PROTECTION ORDERS(BPO)
Barangay Protection Orders (BPOs) refer to the protection order issued
by the Punong Barangay ordering the perpetrator to desist from committing
prohibited acts provided by VAWC. A Punong Barangay who receives
applications for a BPO shall issue the protection order to the applicant on the
date of filing after ex parte determination of the basis of the application. If
the Punong Barangay is unavailable to act on the application for a BPO, the
application shall be acted upon by any available Barangay Kagawad. If the
BPO is issued by a Barangay Kagawad the order must be accompanied by an
attestation by the Barangay Kagawad that the Punong Barangay was
unavailable at the time for the issuance of the BPO. BPOs shall be effective
for fifteen (15) days. Immediately after the issuance of an ex parte BPO, the
Punong Barangay or Barangay Kagawad shall personally serve a copy of the
same on the respondent, or direct any barangay official to effect is personal
service.
The parties may be accompanied by a non-lawyer advocate in any
proceeding before the Punong Barangay.

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VAWC 101

TEMPORARY PROTECTION ORDER (TPO)

Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs) refers to the protection order
issued by the court on the date of filing of the application after ex parte
determination that such order should be issued. A court may grant in a TPO
any, some or all of the reliefs mentioned in VAWC and shall be effective for
thirty (30) days. The court shall schedule a hearing on the issuance of a PPO
prior to or on the date of the expiration of the TPO. The court shall order the
immediate personal service of the TPO on the offender by the court sheriff
who may obtain the assistance of law enforcement agents for the service.
The TPO shall include notice of the date of the hearing on the merits of the
issuance of a PPO.
PERMANENT PROTECTION ORDER (PTO)
Permanent Protection Order (PPO) refers to protection order issued by
the court after notice and hearing.

Offenders non-appearance despite proper notice, or his lack of a lawyer, or

the non-availability of his lawyer shall not be a ground for rescheduling or
postponing the hearing on the merits of the issuance of a PPO. If the offender
appeared without counsel on the date of the hearing on the PPO, the court
shall appoint a lawyer for the offender and immediately proceed with the
hearing. In case the offender fails to appear despite proper notice, the court
shall allow ex parte presentation of the evidence by the applicant and render
judgment on the basis of the evidence presented. The court shall allow the
introduction of any history of abusive conduct of a respondent even if the
same was not directed against the applicant or the person for whom the
applicant is made.

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VAWC 101

The court shall, to the extent possible, conduct the hearing on the merits of
the issuance of a PPO in one (1) day. Where the court is unable to conduct
the hearing within one (1) day and the TPO issued is due to expire, the court
shall continuously extend or renew the TPO for a period of thirty (30) days at
each particular time until final judgment is issued. The extended or renewed
TPO may be modified by the court as may be necessary or applicable to
address the needs of the applicant.

The court may grant any, some or all of the reliefs hereof in a PPO. A PPO
shall be effective until revoked by a court upon application of the person in
whose favor the order was issued. The court shall ensure immediate personal
service of the PPO on offender.
The court shall not deny the issuance of protection order on the basis
of the lapse of time between the act of violence and the filing of the
application.

Regardless of the conviction or acquittal of the offender, the Court must

determine whether or not the PPO shall become final. Even in a dismissal, a
PPO shall be granted as long as there is no clear showing that the act from
which the order might arise did not exist.

K. HOW CAN A VICTIM APPLY FOR A PROTECTION ORDER?

The application of the Protection Order must be in writing, signed and
verified under oath by the applicant. A standard protection order application

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VAWC 101

form, written in English with translation to the major languages, is readily

available, shall contain the following information:

Names and addresses of the petitioner and the respondent;

Description of relationships between the petitioner and respondent;
Statement of the circumstances of abuse;
Description of the reliefs requested by the petitioner;
Request for counsel and reasons for such;
Request for waiver of application fees until hearing;
An attestation that there is no pending application for a protection order in
another court

L. WHO MAY FILE A PROTECTION ORDER?

Anyone of the following may also file the protection order in behalf of
the victim/s which are parent or guardian; grandparents; children and
grandchildren; relatives such as aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws; local officials
and DSWD social workers; police; lawyers; counselors; therapists; and health
care providers such as nurses, doctors, barangay health workers.

M. HOW WOULD THE CRIME OF VIOLENCE BE COMMITED AGAINST

WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER VAWC?
The crime of violence against women and their children is committed
through any of the following acts:

(a) Causing physical harm to the woman or her child;

(b) Threatening to cause the woman or her child physical harm;

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VAWC 101

(c) Attempting to cause the woman or her child physical harm;

(c) Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent physical harm;

(d)

Attempting to compel or compelling the woman or her child to

engage in conduct which the woman or her child has the right to desist
from or desist from conduct which the woman or her child has the right to
engage in, or attempting to restrict or restricting the woman's or her
child's freedom of movement or conduct by force or threat of force,
physical or other harm or threat of physical or other harm, or intimidation
directed against the woman or child. This shall include, but not limited to,
the following acts committed with the purpose or effect of controlling or
restricting the woman's or her child's movement or conduct:

a. Threatening to deprive or actually depriving the woman or her child

of custody to her/his family;
b. Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her children of
financial support legally due her or her family, or deliberately
providing the woman's children insufficient financial support;
c. Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child of a legal
right;
d. Preventing the woman in engaging in any legitimate profession,
occupation, business or activity or controlling the victim's own
mon4ey or properties, or solely controlling the conjugal or common
money, or properties;

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VAWC 101

(f) Inflicting or threatening to inflict physical harm on oneself for the

purpose of controlling her actions or decisions;

(g) Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child to engage in

any sexual activity which does not constitute rape, by force or threat of
force, physical harm, or through intimidation directed against the woman
or her child or her/his immediate family;

(h) Engaging in purposeful, knowing, or reckless conduct, personally or

through another, that alarms or causes substantial emotional or
psychological distress to the woman or her child. This shall include, but
not be limited to, the following acts:

a. Stalking or following the woman or her child in public or private

places;
b. Peering in the window or lingering outside the residence of the
woman or her child;
c. Entering or remaining in the dwelling or on the property of the
woman or her child against her/his will;
d. Destroying the property and personal belongings or inflicting harm to
animals or pets of the woman or her child; and
e. Engaging in any form of harassment or violence;

(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to

the woman or her child, including, but not limited to, repeated verbal and
emotional abuse, and denial of financial support or custody of minor
children of access to the woman's child/children.

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VAWC 101

N. WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR COMMITING VAWC?

If the courts have proven that the offender is guilty of the crime, he may be
imprisonment and will be obliged to pay P100,000 to P300,000 in damages.
To length of imprisonment depends on the gravity of the crime.

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VAWC 101

O. FLOW CHART IN HANDLING

VAWC CASES

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VAWC 101

P. FLOW CHART ON THE ISSUANCE AND

ENFORCEMENT OF BPO

Q. INITIATIVES TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST

WOMEN IN THE PHILIPPINES
SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND ACTION PROGRAMS
a. R.A. 7877, Anti-Sexual Harassment of Act of 1995.
b. R.A. 8353, Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
c. R.A. 8369, Family Courts Act of 1997.
d. R.A. 8505, Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act of 1998
e. R.A. 9208, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. establishes
necessary institutional mechanisms to protect and support trafficked
persons and sets sanctions and penalties to traffickers, those who
facilitate trafficking, and those who buy or engage the services of
trafficked persons for prostitution.
f. R.A. 9262, Anti-VAWC Act of 2004. It penalizes all forms of abuse and
violence within the family and intimate relationships. Additionally, it
provides penalties for violence committed against his child whether
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VAWC 101

legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which

results in (likely to result in) physical or psychological harm or
suffering.
g. R.A. 9710, Magna Carta of Women of 2009
h. The Department of Justice Memorandum No. 9 series of 1998 on the
Guidelines on the Handling of Rape Cases Involving Adult Victims was
adopted.
i. The Barangay Protection Order (BPO) usually issued by the
barangay chair upon petition of the victim, makes it possible for local
officials to remove and exclude (the abuser) from the residence of
the abused person temporarily for the purpose of protecting the
victim regardless of the ownership of the residence.
As part of its advocacy to mainstream gender and development
principles (GAD) and violence against women (VAW) in education curriculum,
the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women (NCRFW) initiated
a project in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) on the
integration of GAD and VAW core messages in basic education curriculum.

GOVERNMENT

FACILITIES

AND

PROGRAMS

ON

VIOLENCE

AGAINST WOMEN
a. Haven, a temporary care and shelter for Women in Especially Difficult
Circumstances,
b. Crisis Intervention Unit of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
c. The Department of Health (DOH) institutionalized the Women and
Children Protection Units in all its 39 hospitals nationwide, a 24-hour
quick-response

approach

that

delivers

personalized

and

comprehensive health care to survivors.

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VAWC 101

d. Womens Desk of the Philippine General Hospital, UP, DOH developed

a training program for the WCPU doctors to respond with competence
and sensitivity to the needs
of women and children survivors of violence.
e. The Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) conducts gender-awareness
seminars for prosecutors and judges as well as to the five pillars of
the justice system.
f. The National Youth Commission organized Youthspeak to reach a
covenant with media practitioners to develop a more responsive
media environment reflective of the youths visions and aspirations
and supportive of their well-being.
g. Bantay Cinema Youth Network to serve as monitoring team in various
localities.

NCRFW

convened

policy

dialogues

and

coordinated

information campaigns like the 16 days of activism on violence

against women.

NGO PROGRAMS IN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILREN

(VAWC)
The NGO community should be credited both for raising violence against
women as a public issue and for providing services even before government
systems were set up.
a. Community-based Approach to Violence Against Women (COMBATVAW) pioneered by the Womens Legal Bureau and the HASIK.
b. The Lihok Pilipinas Bantay Banay or community watch is the
backbone of Cebu Citys anti-domestic violence program.
DIANNE E. ROSALES

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VAWC 101

c. The

Womens

Crisis

Center

(WCC),

the

first

crisis

center

for

victims/survivors of VAW. An average of P/6,083.30 per month per

survivor

budget

for

food

and

transportation

subsidy,

medical

assistance, therapies, utilities, and other personal needs like toiletries,

towels and slippers, among others.
d. SALIGAN (a legal group),
e. KALAKASAN (Women Against Violence is another NGO providing shelter
and counseling)
f. Womens Legal Bureau (legal group). These womens groups maintain
a network of services dedicated to helping women survivors of violence
and cooperated in the implementation of research projects dealing
with violence.
g. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women focus on issue of prostitution
and trafficking locally and internationally. They hold preventive
education seminars and training in communities, among NGOs and
with selected youth groups.
h. Kanlungan, (Philippine Migrants Rights Network) assists women who
are victims of violence in the context of migration.
i. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) the
national machinery for the advancement of women and the policyadvisory body on women and gender concerns, is committed to
eliminate Violence Against Women and its strategies and interventions
are translated in the Framework Plan of Women, specifically in one of
its core areas of concern, which is upholding womens human rights.

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VAWC 101

R. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Obstacles towards the eradication of VAWC:
a. Legal, social and cultural factors impede the womens access to
justice and social services
b. At the local level, there is a need to establish an integrated,
multidisciplinary approach and standard procedures of work with VAW
victims
c. MOVE Philippines
d.
e.
f.
g.

members

need

to

continuously

build

their

capacities in the provision of technical assistance

Need to have a harmonized system of documenting VAW cases
Indecision/withdrawal of victims in filing case
Financial difficulties/economic dependence
Long and tedious legal system process/settlement of cases and

halfhearted help from lawyers

h. Limited number of temporary shelters
i. Insufficient/lack
of
provision

of

community-based

(psychosocial/economic) support systems in local government units

for both victims and perpetrators
j. Ningas Cogon system
k. Insufficient social services
Best Practices to Eradicate VAW Collaborative efforts:
a. PNP: coordination with DSWD (for temporary shelter, for legal fees of
victims to be waived) and the Visayan Forum Foundation Interagency activities
b. Fora, Symposia, Round Table Discussion and 18-day campaign on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (Nov 25 Dec
12)
c. Womens Month advocacy activities
d. Training using Rights-Based Approach (Based on Convention on the
Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women - CEDAW);
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Human Rights, etc.
e. Information Dissemination
f. film showing

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VAWC 101

IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Concretely, what can we do as individuals and as community?
Educate ourselves about the gender-based violence most prevalent in
our community.
Support an organization working to eradicate gender-based violence
such as sex trafficking,
domestic violence, and prostitution, etc.
Donate regularly or hold a fundraiser.
Encourage local law enforcement agencies to receive specialized
training for dealing with
domestic abuse, and to devote resources to prevention of genderbased violence.
Pray for victims of abuse, gender-based violence, and exploitation. Pray
for a change in the hearts of their abusers.

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VAWC 101

Host a prayer group or book study group on some aspect of genderbased violence
Volunteer time and talents to a group/ ministry serving victims of
violence or abuse.

V.

REFERENCE

Grace N. Mallorca Bernabe, A DEEPER LOOK AT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

(VAW):
THE PHILIPPINE CASE, 2005
Sandra Bem. The Gender Schema Theory: A Cognitive Account of Sex Typing,
Psychological
Review 88,354-364.
Center for Social Justice. Beyond Violence: Breaking cycles of domestic
abuse, Executive
Summary, July 2012

DIANNE E. ROSALES

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VAWC 101

Marie Fortune, Forgiveness: The Last Step, in Adams and Fortune, Violence
against Women and
Children, 201206.
Carol L. Schnabl Schweitzer. Word & World, Volume 24, Number 1, Winter
2004
Women Ministries Department. Seventh-Day Adventist, Violence Against
Women: Its scope and
relevance for the Church Today.
Philippine Commission on Women. Statistics on violence against Filipino
women, Webmaster on Tue,
2012-10-02 09:46
Angela Bonavoglia. Not Just Boys: Catholic Church Abuse of Women +
Girls. April 14, 2010
Cantalamessa, Raniero. Good Friday 2013, Celebration of the Passion of Our
Lord, Homily of
Father Raniero Cantalamessa. Retrieved March 30, 2013
http://www.mylawyer.asia/node/40
http://www.bsu.edu.ph/files/brochure.pdf

http://www.justice-and-healing.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/VAWFINAL.pdf
http://www.mydailyrace.com/?p=384
http://jlp-law.com/blog/rule-on-violence-against-women-and-their-children-am-no-04-10-11-sc/
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VAWC 101

https://captainbarangay.wordpress.com/laws/anti-violence-against-womenand-their-children-act-ra-9262/
http://pcw.gov.ph/sites/default/files/documents/resources/chart_handling_vaw

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