Good evening, everyone!

We are Group 5 and we will delve into Module 4’s Part 2 on

Gender-Based Law, focusing on two key legislations critical in shaping our legal
framework to combat gender discrimination, violence, and inequality. Our aim is to
deepen our understanding of these laws and their role in promoting gender justice for a
more inclusive society.

I am Daphne Rodriguez and I will be focusing on ANTI VIOLENCE AGAINST

WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004, also known as VAWC, or
Republic Act 9262

Slide 2
RA 9262
- RA 9262 aimed at addressing the disturbingly high rates of violence against
women and their children by their intimate partners.

Slide 3
What is RA 9262?
- It is a significant response to the distressing levels of violence experienced by
women and their children at the hands of their intimate partners. It provides
protection for a range of individuals, including spouses, former spouses,
cohabiting partners, romantic partners, and even past dating companions.

Slide 4
What is violence against women and their children under RA 9262?
- Now, let’s delve deeper into the concept of violence against women and their
children as outlinde in RA 9262. This legislation defines such violence as any
action or series of actions carried by an intimate partner, covering physical,
sexual, psychological harm, and economic abuse.

Slide 5
Acts of violence covered under RA 9262
- So RA 9262 covers several acts of violence, which are:
 Physical violence – threatening or attempting to cause physical harm to
the woman or her child.
o Ex: My boyfriend had been hurting me every time we fight
and even threatens to kill me. Can I file a case against him
for VAWC?
o The answer is Yes. Physical violence against the woman as well as
threatening to inflict physical harm on a woman for the purpose of
controlling her actions or decisions is deemed as an act of violence
against women.
 Sexual violence – are acts that are sexual in nature, committed against
a woman or her child, and are not limited to:
 o Rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating a
woman or her child as a sex object, forcing the wife and mistress to
live in the conjugal home or sleep together in the same room with
the abuser, and even prostituting the woman or child.
 Psycological violence – acts or omissions causing or likely to cause
mental or emotional suffering of the victim
o Ex: A, who is the husband, had been cheating on B for over
3 years now with various women. Is there a way B can
apply VAWC in filing a case against A?
o The answer is Yes. The acts of A of cheating on B have caused the
latter mental and emotional suffering. Such acts may be a ground
for the filing of a VAWC case for “psychological violence”
 Economic abuse – acts that make or attempt to make a woman
financially dependent which includes but not limited to:
o Withdrawal of financial support
o 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;
o Destroying household property
o Controlling the victim’s own money or properties or solely
controlling the conjugal money or properties
o Ex: A, who is the ex-husband, has stopped giving B and
their daughter support since 2009. Can B file a case against
him for VAWC?
o The answer is Yes. B may file a case for VAWC against him as his
act of withdrawing financial support or his act of refusing to give
financial support to her daughter constitutes “Economic Abuse.”

Slide 6
Persons protected under RA 9262
- The following are the persons who are protected by R.A. 9262:
a) Wife;
b) Former wife;
c) A woman with whom the offender has or had sexual relations with;
d) A woman with whom the offender has a common child with;
e) The legitimate or illegitimate child of the woman within or without the
family abode.

CHILDREN
Also, those below 18 years of age or older but are incapable of taking care of
themselves as defined under RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against
Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act). As used in this Act, it includes
biological children of the victim and other under her care.
Slide 7
Let us unpack the definition of “dating relationship” and “sexual relations” as outlined in
RA 9262.
DATING RELATIONSHIP SEXUAL RELATIONS

It is a situation wherein the parties live as A single sexual act which may or may not
husband and wife without the benefit of result in the bearing of a common
marriage or are romantically involved children.
over time and on a continuing basis
during the course of the relationship. The ANG v. COURT OF APPEALS
dating relationship that the law Rustan Ang was charged with violating
contemplates can, therefore, exist even RA 9262 for sending a pornographic
without a sexual intercourse taking place picture to his former girlfriend, Irish
between those involved. Sagud, causing her emotional distress
and humiliation.
A casual acquaintance or ordinary
socialization between two individuals in a The Court clarified that a “dating
business or social context is not a dating relationship” under RA 9262 doesn’t
relationship. necessitate sexual relations but requires
romantic involvement over time. It ruled
that a single act of harassment, like
sending the obscene picture, constitutes
a violation of RA 9262, as the law
punishes any act of violence against
women regardless of repetition.
The evidence used to convict Rustan was
deemed legally obtained, primarily based
on Irish’s testimony and the cellphone
numbers associated with Rustan.