Violence Against Women and Children in the Philippines by Bea Siena
Trigger Warning: Mentions of physical, sexual, psychological, economic abuse, rape, prostitution.
Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) is defined by R.A. 9262 as any act or series of acts committed by an intimate partner against a woman and/or a child that results in or might result in physical, sexual, psychological, or financial harm.
Victims may vary depending on the situation; the woman may be the offender’s wife, former wife, or a person whom he has had a relationship with, while the child may or may not be a common, legitimate, or child of the abuser and woman.
Though men are often the offenders, women are not exempted from this role.
VAWC encompasses a number of acts.
Physical abuse refers to the causing or threatening of physical or bodily harm to a woman or child. This includes hitting, slapping, choking, kicking, pinching, or using physical restraints on the victim.
Sexual abuse refers to any form of sexual violence against the victim. This includes rape, sexual harassment, and prostitution as well as forcing the victim to enact or view sexual acts, or sleep with the abuser.
Psychological abuse are acts that cause emotional or mental suffering. While verbal abuse is typically associated with this, other acts include controlling the victim’s movements, threatening to deny the victim of their rights, exposing the victim to abuse, and stalking.
Economic abuse are acts that make the victim financially dependent on the abuser. This includes controlling the victim’s possessions and preventing the victim from getting a legitimate profession.
These acts all impact victims in a number of ways.
Abuse can cause victims to feel ashamed, lose self-esteem, and feel less secure in life. Moreover, physical and psychological repercussions can affect a victim’s health in the long term as well as their participation in social development.
These acts are severe violations of both women’s and children’s human rights and a prominent social development issue to this day. Additionally, it is considered a global health crisis as it critically affects an individual’s physical, sexual, emotional, and mental well-being.
However, even after years of addressing the issue, there continues to be a significant rise in VAWC cases each year.
According to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey, 1 in 5 women have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence from partners. 17.5% of aged 15-49 Filipino women have experienced some form of abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional) from partners.
Additionally, a total 13,213 VAW cases were reported to the Philippine National Police as of February 2024. Of these, 7,764 were for violations of the Anti-VAWC Law, 2,644 were for rape, 1,923 were for acts of lasciviousness, and 882 were other miscellaneous reports.
1,205 cases were also reported to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. These reports included, but were not limited to: accounts of physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, psychological abuse, illegal recruitment, and trafficking.
From 2016-2023, a total of 140,668 cases of VAWC have been reported (Philippine Commission on Women, 2024).
However, with each case reported, an unknown number of women and children continue to suffer in the shadows–afraid and unable to come forward with their abuse.
Victim-blaming remains a common occurrence, with women often called neglectful or ‘flirtatious’ when coming forward with cases of abuse and rape. Our society’s ‘culture of silence’ also causes many cases to go unreported.
As time has gone by, more laws have been passed in order to protect the rights of women and children. These laws include:
R.A. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995
R.A. 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997
R.A. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004
R.A. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2013
R.A. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act
R.A. 11648, an amendment of RA 8353
R.A. 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022
R.A. 9262, or the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004, allows victims to receive medical and psychological examination and treatment as well as contact DSWD or a social worker. It also ensures access to emergency shelters, counseling, and proper social reintegration.
Under Proclamation 1172 s. 2006, an 18-day campaign to end VAW is also observed from November 25 to December 12.
Across the 8 years recorded by the Philippine Commission on Women (2024), there has only been a slight decrease in VAWC cases. While this may be seen as good, this may also indicate the growing number of cases going unreported and unheard.
Though the government has been active in the rehabilitation of victims, the mere fact that thousands of cases continue to be reported each year proves that its interventions are lacking.
The very reason these crimes happen are due to various circumstances such as poverty, low educational attainment, and a lack of community (Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 2018). If the government strives to protect its citizens, looking into these are instrumental in the prevention of these cases.
HELP JOIN THE FIGHT TO END VAWC:
Violence Against Women and Children is considered a public crime, therefore anyone who witnesses it may file a case within 20 years of the abuse.
If you or somebody you know is experiencing any form of abuse that falls under VAWC, you may visit any of the following sources.
For information on VAW:
https://pcw.gov.ph/violence-against-women/
For information on R.A. 9262:
https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9262/
EMERGENCY HOTLINES:
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Community-Based Services Section (CBSS)
Legarda, Manila
Tel. Nos.: 733-0014 to 18 local 116 / 488-2861
Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center
Camp Crame, Quezon City
Tel. No.: 410-3213 / 532-6690
Aleng Pulis Text Hot-line: 0919-777-7377
Emergency Hotline: 911
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division (VAWCD)
V-Tech Tower, G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City
Main Office: (02) 8523-8231 to 38 / (02) 8525-6028
PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC)
Main Office: (02) 8532-6690 / 7410-3213 / 7723-0401 local 5260, 5360, 5361
Visayas: 0917-7085157 / (032) 410-8483
Mindanao: 0917-1806037
Aleng Pulis: 0919-7777377 / 09667255961
DOJ – Public Attorney’s Office (DOJ-PAO)
(02) 8929-9436 local 106, 107 or 159 (Local “0” for operator)
DOJ Action Center: (02) 8521-2930 / 8523-8481 loc. 403
UP-PGH Women’s Desk
Tel. nos.: (02) 8353-0667 / 8542-1512 / 8554-8400 local 2536
Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) Women and Children Crisis Care and Protection Unit
Vito Cruz, Manila
Tel. no.: (02) 8514-4104
Mobile: 0920-9677852 / 0917-8250320
You may also contact your local Barangay VAW Desk located at your Barangay Hall.
*Taken from https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9262/ as of 2024.
REFERENCES
18-Day Campaign to End VAW | Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). https://pcw.gov.ph/18-day-campaign-to-end-vaw/
AJA Law. (2023, April 3). Violence Against Women and their Children: The After Story. AJA Law. https://www.ajalaw.ph/vawc-afterstory/
Philippine Commission on Women. (2024, September 19). 2024 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women | Philippine Commission on Women. Pcw.gov.ph. https://pcw.gov.ph/2024-18-day-campaign-to-end-violence-against-women/
Philippine Commission on Women. (2024). FAQs RA 9262: the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9262/
Philippine Commission on Women. (2022). Violence Against Women | Philippine Commission on Women. Pcw.gov.ph. https://pcw.gov.ph/violence-against-women/
Philippine Statistics Authority. (n.d.). 2024 Fact Sheet on Women and Men in the Philippines: Violence Against Women. Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/phdsd/Violence%20Against%20Women%202024%20Fact%20Sheet%20on%20Women%20and%20Men.pdf
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023). 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) Key Indicators Report. Philippine Statistics Authority. https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/PR146/PR146.pdf
PIDS study notes slow decline of VAWC cases in PH. (2019). Pids.gov.ph. https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/pids-study-notes-slow-decline-of-vawc-cases-in-ph
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. (2023). Types and Signs of Abuse. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/types-and-signs-abuse