RELATED STUDIES

UN WOMEN conducted a study focusing on the alternative method for ensuring

their safety against violence and crimes against women. It shows that around 120

million girls worldwide (slightly more than 1 in 10) at some point in their lives have

experienced forced sex or other sexual acts.

More than one in four women in Washington, DC, USA, experienced some form

of sexual harassment in public transport, according to a 2016 survey. Adult women

make up 51% of all trafficked persons detected worldwide. Together, women and girls

account for 71%, with girls representing almost three out of four trafficked women and

girls being trafficked for sexual exploitation. Some national studies show, however, that

up to 70% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate

partner throughout their lives. It is estimated that in 2012, almost half of all women who

were victims of homicide worldwide were killed by intimate partners or family members,

compared with less than six per cent of men killed in the same year. With regard to

violence, the study shows that less than 40% of women who experience violence are

seeking help of any kind. Among women who look for family and friends, most look for

formal institutions and mechanisms, such as police and health services.

A recent study by Virginia Martan in West Virginia, "Study of Violence against

Women," states that women have fewer advantages and privileges than men integrated

into the patriarchal system.Women are in a lower position and positioned as potential

sexual assault victims.

There is also a new study from Canada involving 893 Canadian women who are
undergoing the Sexual Assault Resistance Program of the Enhanced Assessment

Acknowledge Act, which shows that college students who received 12 hours of training

in sexual assault resistance were far less likely to be attacked.

This study is based on earlier research carried out by the self - defense training

company Model Mugging. They surveyed 60,000 of their female students and found that

98.3 percent of their students were able to prevent attacks after training (more intense

than Canadian training). Of those attacked, 97 percent were able to fight their

aggressor,

Gidycz together with other researchers recently conducted studies on the

efficacy of a sexual assault risk reduction program including a physical self - defense

component for college women was evaluated in 2006 (N=500). Over the six - month

follow - up period, the women of the program group significantly increased their

protective behavior. However, during the follow - up periods there were no significant

differences between the two groups regarding sexual victimization rates, assertive

communication or feelings of self-efficacy. Women in the program group who were

victimized during the 3-month follow - up period showed less self-defamation and

greater offender blame than control group women who were victimized following the

program. Given that women in the program were more aware of sexual assault at the

end of the study than women in the control group, the difficulties in addressing the

impact of programming on sexual victimization rates are discussed.

In the study of De Welde, K. entitled " Getting Physical: Subverting Gender

through Self - Defense, " ethnographic research on a women's self-defense course

proposes that socially available gender narratives of white femininity may be

disempowering and victimizing to women. Changes in self-telling in the course mirror a

more grounded self that challenges dominant ideologies. The procedure he utilized is to

reframe exploitation, liberate him and enable the body to change sexual orientation and

self-stories that insist "femininity"while subverting its defining ideologies.

As far as the adequacy of self - defense training for women, Cummings' studies

entitled "Self - guard preparing for female school " looks at the viability of self –defense

training for female college. Advocates of self - defense training believe that these

courses will not only provide women with the physical survival strategies needed to

effectively repel attacksbut will also help prevent future violence by developing

characteristics such as assertiveness and confidence in people. There is evidence that

women with these characteristics are less likely to be victims. Opponents argue that

self- defense training does not prepare women adequately for an attack, does not

adequately address rape threats and can give students a dangerous false sense of

security.

Leanne R. Brecklin and Sarah E. Ullman on their “Self - Defense or

Assertiveness Training and Women's Response to Sexual Acts” studies explains that

self - defense classes aim to prevent violence against women by enhancing the ability

of women to defend themselves.Little research has, however, examined the effects of

self - defense training on attempts by women to combat back during actual attacks. This

study investigated the relationship between training in self - defense or assertiveness

and the physical and psychological responses of women to subsequent rape attacks

(N=1,623). Multi - disciplinary analyzes showed that victims with pre-assault training
were more likely to say that their resistance stopped or made the offender less

aggressive than victims without training. Women with training prior to their attacks were

angrier and less afraid than women without training, in line with self-teaching.

Preassault trainers rated their degree of non - consent or resistance as lower than non -

participants, perhaps because they were higher. Suggestions for future research on self

- defense and rape prevention for women are included in her recommendations.

A case study focusing on Oregon's plan to prevent violence against women at

the University of Oregon reveals additional important research support for a well- known

and widely respected PSE academic class.This 4-credit Women's Studies class was

instructed by the creator of the Inside Out Self - Defense. Nadia Telsey is a national non

- violence and personal security expert and founder of the National Women's Martial

Arts Federation, which has been teaching at Oregon University for 17 years. Her course

covered 45 hours in PSE during a ten- week academic quarter.This class included 3

hours of PSE physical and verbal training per week plus 1.5 hours of weekly discussion.

A qualitative longitudinal study revealed a profound and wide range of student learning

results.Researchers identified five areas in which the most striking changes were:

“interactions with strangers, interactions with known others (acquaintances, friends,

employers, teachers, and intimates), feelings about one’s body, perceived self-

confidence, and beliefs about women, men, and gender”

Self- defense programs can improve assertiveness, perceived control, self-

efficacy, risk avoidance, confidence and self- esteem and can also reduce fear and

anxiety. It was important to note that low self- esteem and low assertiveness foresee

sexual abuse.
 In the Philippines, self - defense workshops are held (a) in Laoag City in

particular, Ilocos Norte teaches self - defense to its women, as well as providing

livelihood opportunities, as the month of women celebrates. Under their Provincial

Gender and Development office, Ilocos Norte’s 2017 celebration of National Women’s

month kicks off with a woman’s trade fair and self-defense training for female students.

(b) Philippine Commission on Women conducted Sessions on self-defense with the

theme “ Be fit to Fight VAW”.(c) The Philippine Embassy in Athens, Greece conducted

“Basic Self-Defense Awareness and Skills Training” for the female members of the

Filipino community as part of its Gender and Development activities for 2014 and in time

for the month’s celebration of women’s month.(d) Two hundred women personnel of the

Department of Agrarian Reform-Negros Occidental 2 learned self-defense as part of

their Gender Awareness and Development enhancement program. (e)In Davao, a

Women’s Rights and Self-defense seminar with the theme “Fight For your Rights” was

held.

PHILIPPINE LAWS FOR WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE

In the Philippines, the rights of women against violence were protected by the

following laws:

1.1The 1987 Philippine Constitution - The Philippine Constitution contains the

protection of the human rights of all Filipinos. Among its main provisions is Article

II, Section 14, which provides that "the State recognizes the role of women in

nation-building and ensures fundamental equality before women's and men's

law."
1.2 Anti-Mail Order Bride Law (Republic Act 6955) – The law declares

unlawful the matching of Filipino mail-order brides to foreigners. It penalizes the

business of matching Philippine women for marriage to foreign nationals either

through personal introduction or through advertising, publishing, printing or

distribution of brochures and flyers, through membership in clubs created to

match Philippines with foreign nationals, and through the use of the postal

service.

1.3 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7877) – The law

makes unlawful incidents involving unwelcome sexual advances, sexual favour,

or any other sexual verbal or physical behavior that occurs directly or indirectly in

the work, education, or training environment. Sexual harassment involves

abusing power relationships–using one's power to extract sexual favours.

1.4 Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (Republic Act 8353) – The law reclassifies rape as

a crime against individuals, defining it as a crime that is public rather than private.

It recognizes marital rape and questions in marriage the notion of sexual duty. It

also notes that rape occurs even without penetration and the use of objects as a

form of sexual assault, also considered a form of rape. The law also increased

the rape penalties.

1.5 Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (Republic Act 8505)

– The law provides assistance and protection to rape victims, establishes for the

purpose a rape crisis center in every province and city and authorizes the

appropriation of funds for the establishment and operation of the rape crisis
 center. Aside from the provision of services, capacity building/training is also

mandated for the law enforcement officers, public prosecutors, lawyers, medico-

legal officers, social workers and barangay officials on human rights and their

responsibilities, gender sensitivity and legal management of rape cases.

1.6 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208) – The law

defines trafficking in person in terms of the acts, means and purposes of

trafficking. The trafficked person is considered as a victim thus, she/he should be

provided protection and support services by the State. Government agencies are

mandated to provide services at the international, national and local level to

trafficked persons for their early recovery and reintegration.

1.7 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic

Act 9262) – Violence against women and their children is defined by law as a

public crime. It provides security through the availability of barangay, temporary

or permanent protection orders for the woman - complainant and her children. It

also identifies the duties of barangay officials, law enforces, prosecutors, court

personnel, social welfare and health care providers and the LGUs to provide the

necessary protection and support of VAWC victims. 

The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 is in keeping

with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the constitution, 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 which the Philippines is a party.

 The forms of VAW addressed are physical, sexual, psychological and economic

abuse. 

1.8  Article 245 of the Revised Penal Code (Republic Act 3815) – The law

provides that abuse of chastity is committed by any public official who requests

or makes immoral advances to a woman who is interested in matters pending

before that office for decision or is required to submit a report or consult with a

superior officer; Or by any warden or other public official directly charged with the

care and custody of prisoners or arrested persons who request or make immoral

or indecent advances to a woman under her custody. A penalty shall be imposed

on the offender in its medium and maximum periods of imprisonment and

temporary special disqualification. 

The Philippines has adopted several National Plans to address VAW, beginning

with the Philippine Women's Development Plan (PDPW), 1989-1992, approved and

adopted by Executive Order 348 on 17 February 1989. Chapter 12 of the PDPW details

the programs and projects to be added and these were: domestic violence, rape, sexual

harassment, pornography, white slavery/prostitution, military rapes and sexual abuses

and medical abuse (including unnecessary abortion and caesareans). 

The PDPW was then followed by the Philippine Plan for Gender-

Responsive Development (1995-2025), signed on September 8, 1995, through

Executive Order 273 by then president Fidel V. Ramos. The PPGD has a long - term
vision of women's empowerment and gender equality and translates the Beijing

Platform for Action into Filipino women's policies and strategies and programs and

projects. 

It includes a chapter (i.e., Chapter 19) on Violence Against Women which

identifies, among others, the following common forms of VAW: domestic violence,

marital rape, incest, reproductive rights violations, rape, sexual harassment, sex

discrimination, lesbophobia/homophobia, medical abuse, abuse of women with physical

or mental disabilities, culture-bound practices harmful to women, ritual abuse within

religious cults, sexual slavery, prostitution and international trafficking of women,

pornography and abuse of women in media, abuse of women in internal refugee or

relocation camps, and custodial abuse   

 Framework Plan for Women (FPW) 2001-2004. The FPW is a time frame of the

PPGD and was developed in 2001 by the NCRFW in cooperation with partner

government agencies. The FPW sets out the government's priority goals for women's

advancement. The evolution of FPW was guided by the PPGD and the BPFA

framework. It adopts a gender and development approach that recognizes that the

unequal relationship between women and men in the Philippines hinders the pursuit of

national development objectives. The FPW acknowledges the inter-relationship of

VAW, reproductive health, and human rights and reflects this in its commitment to

addressing the “structural roots of gender gaps”.  It also emphasizes human rights and

places VAW in its goal of promoting women's human rights committed to protecting and

advancing women's human rights through enhanced service and justice for VAW
survivors and information campaigns, women's rights education. Three areas of concern

are outlined by the FPW: Women's Human Rights, Women's Economic Empowerment,

and Gender-Responsive Governance.

In addition to the government's national efforts to prevent violence against

women, local ordinances have also been passed in the Philippines to protect the rights

and safety of women: ((A) a decree establishing the Davao City Women's Development

Code and for other purposes-This decree is known as the Davao City Women's

Development Code. It will be the policy of Davao City's Local Government Code to

uphold women's rights and belief in their human worth and dignity. (B) Quezon City

Council-Ordinance amending Ordinance No. sp1401, s-200, entitled' Ordinance

establishing a City Code of Gender and Development, and for other purposes' to

harmonize with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the'

Magna Carta de Mujeres ' (Magna Carta de Mujeres). (C) An ordinance requiring every

barangay in the city of Batangas to establish a desk for violence against women (VAW)

and to launch a protocol for the handling of VAW cases in barangay in the city of

Batangas.