Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND IT’S BACKGROUND

Background of the Study

Family is considered the smallest unit in the society.

Every family member is given their own rights to have a

fulfilling productive life. The Philippine Government, here

and overseas, plays its vital role in maintaining and

protecting those rights of each individual in the society,

especially our families. They conduct societal awareness

programs for children, parents, and even senior citizens of

families. Programs were also taken into consideration so that

individual rights will be kept and secured.

Violence against women and children appears to be one of

the country’s pervasive problems which need to be solved.

Experts agree that domestic violence is a widespread issue not

only in the Philippines but also through out the world. It is

deemed to be closely linked with the unequal power

relationship between men and women otherwise known as “gender-

based violence” (Dasmarinas).

Republic Act No. 9262, known as the ''Anti-

Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004,”defines

violence against women as any act or series of acts committed

against wives, former wives, or women in any form of intimate

relationship with the perpetrator, which result in or is

likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or

suffering, or economic abuse. It considers these acts of

violence a public offense, and provides for protective

measures and other necessary relief for the survivor victims.

In March 2004, President Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law

Republic Act 9262 or The Anti-Violence Against Women and their

Children Act. This law was created in response to protect the

welfare of housewives and all the women and their children.

Furthermore, the State values the dignity of women and

children and guarantees full respect for human rights. The

State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its

members particularly women and children, from violence and

threats to their personal safety and security [R.A. 9262, Sec.

2].

Violence against women in Asian countries say that

“Gender Inequality and Vulnerability are Risk of Violence”

that are based on traditional, economic, social and cultural

factors. The major characteristics of women are that they are

in the structurally weaker position in all societies:

educationally, occupationally, and economically. This almost

guarantees their economic dependency on men and/or poverty. On

the other hand, being born female ensures a double struggle to

access basic services. Because gender bias is a social and

cultural construction, it has existed since the men and women

were young. This unquestioned gender inequality, especially in

terms of the gender role difference between men and women can

influence and even attract violence. A milestone in the

advocacy to eliminate VAW was the passage of Republic Act No.

9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act

of 2004. This was signed into law last March 8, 2004 during

the celebration of “International Women’s Day.” It penalizes

all forms of abuse and violence within the family and intimate

relationships. RA 9262 penalizes the commission of violence

against women and their children (VAWC). It provides for

penalties for violence committed against his child whether

legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family

abode, which results in (or is likely to result in) physical

or psychological harm or suffering. Also, economic abuses

including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion,

harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty are penalized.

Among others, it provides for the security of the complainant

and her family through the protection orders from the barangay

and court. Furthermore, it recognizes “battered woman

syndrome” (BWS) which refers to a scientifically defined

pattern of psychological or behavioral symptoms found in women

living in abusive relationships as a result of cumulative

abuse, as an acceptable defense for actions committed by a

victim as a result of battering (Santiago, 2014).

Violence against Women and Children in Bangladesh

According to Rau (2015), gender based violence is on the

rise. In 200, there were 2,981 cases of dowry related

violence; women are beaten or killed because their parents are

unable to fulfill all of the demands of the husband’s family,

and these killings are unfortunately extremely common.

China

As lie et al. (2017) advised “Intimate partner violence

(IPV), including physical violence, psychological violence,

forced sex intercourse or other controlling behaviors, refers

to violent behaviors committed by a partner in an intimate

relationship and can cause physical, psychological or sexual

injuries to other person. It is the most common form of

violence against women worldwide. According to the WHO,

approximately 13-61% of females claim that they have

experienced physical violence form their intimate partners

before the age of 49.

These adverse health outcomes may be caused by direct

injuries effects abuse to a gravida as well as physiological

effects of stress from present or previous abuse on fetal

growth and development. Homicide and suicide, which are fatal

outcomes associated with IPV during pregnancy, are the two

most extreme consequences. Non-fatal outcomes associated with

IPV during pregnancy include adverse pregnancy complications

(e.g., low birth weight, premature delivery, miscarriage,

abortion, antepartum hemorrhage, intrauterine growth

retardation and perinatal death), negative health behaviors

(e.g., drug and alcohol abuse, smoking) and adverse

psychosomatic outcomes (e.g., physical injuries, depression,

anxiety and suicidal tendencies. With increasing knowledge of

IPV during pregnancy, it has an important public health issue.

Davao

According to the city`s Integrated Gender Development

Division (IGDD) during launch the city`s campaign of “No To

VAW” in time for the observance of the 33 rd International day

for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). IGDD

head Lorna Mandin said that in the past ten years, 85% of the

1,041 cases referred to their office were economic abuse Velez

(IGDD, 2014).

“Economic abuse include failure of the partner to provide

adequate financial support to the spouse. Another is

prohibiting spouses from work or controlling the income of the

family,” “Mandin explained. She said cases of violation of the

VAWC law (Republic Act 9262) has been the most reported

complaint in police stations. Physical abuse accounts to an

average of 35%, but she said it is correlated to cases of

economic abuse.

Manila

According to Yamzon (2017), Gabriela leaders from

different city chapters and representatives from organizations

of solo parents all over the Metro Manila attended two-day

training against violence against women from October 30. The

group said that the training is part of their education

campaign in relation to the protests related to united States

President Donald Trump`s visit and the International Day for

the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), both in

Balleta told Manila Today that their group is alarmed

that the range and frequency of VAWC in the country increased

this year. According to Gabriela, on a daily basis, one rape

case is being reported every 53 minutes and one domestic

violence case in every 42 minutes.

Cebu

In 2015, cases of violence against women and children in

Cebu City by 20 percent as compared to the previous year based

on the records of the Cebu City Police Office. In 201, there

were at least 953 reported cases of violence against women,

which increased to 1,276 cases in 2015. The cases include

rape, attempted rape, and acts of lasciviousness, physical

injuries in relation to anti-Violence Against Women and their

Children Act (VAWC), psychological abuse, trafficking threats,

concubinage, unjust vexation, voyeurism, pornography and

theft.

But physical injuries have the most number of cases on

the list of violence against women with 568 cases in 2014 and
845 cases in 2015. The cases include incestuous rape,

attempted rape, acts of lasciviousness, physical injuries in

relation to child abuse, psychological abuse in relation to

child abuse, threats, unjust vexation, Anti-Child Pornography

and hold-up or robbery (Quintas, 2016).

 Figure 1 presents the map of Sta. Cruz, Laguna

Figure 1. Map of Sta. Cruz, Laguna

Sta. Cruz. Santa Cruz is a 1st class urban municipality in the

Province of Laguna, Philippines. It is also the Capital town

of the province of Laguna. According to the 2020 census, it

has a population of 123,574 people in 27,061 households and

with a growth rate of 3.65%.