Together We Rise: End Violence, Empower Women

 During the celebration of National Women's Month and the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), it is crucial to acknowledge the continued struggle against gender-based violence that engulfs women in the country in general and the Philippines in particular. Violence Against Women (VAW) is not a purely local phenomenon, but a pandemic of violence worldwide with accounts of 1 in 3 women in the world ever being victims of violence. Almost one-fifth of women in the Philippines have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence perpetrated by their partners. The country has made important efforts to address this problem, especially by the Republic Acts (RAs) which are meant to safeguard women and children from violence.

This blog is on the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 and Republic Act No. 9262. It will critically discuss their significance and further address two key laws that aim to reduce acts of violence against women: RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997) and RA 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995).

https://create.vista.com/vectors/Violence-Against-Women/

The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 and RA 9262 The VAWC Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9262) is an epochal measure to fight the entrenched problem of domestic violence in the Philippines. It understands all the types of violence that women and children can be exposed to, including physical, psychological, and economic violence-and offers a legal infrastructure for victim protection.

This act was written to immediately provide relief and safety to victims of violence by making available provisions, including protection orders, and establishing services for survivors. By this act, battered women abused by spouses or partners can get legal relief in the form of temporary protective orders, permitting them to go into and be protected from refuge. The law also underscores the government's obligation to protect women's rights and thus serves as a cornerstone of the Philippines' strategies to prevent women's/girls' domestic violence.

https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/policy-areas/highlighted/violence-against-women-must-be-eliminated

The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (RA 8353) is an important piece of legislation to control the incidence of rape, and it has enlarged the legal scope of rape to cover other instances of sexual violence. Recently, rape has been considered to be only the penetration of the vagina, but this legislation extended the boundaries to include other types of sexual assault, such as oral and anal rape.

The law is important as it is transforming the legal narrative of sexual violence. Noting that rape can take place in a marital relationship and arguing that it is a crime against a person's dignity and not simply a crime against chastity, as previous law held. It guarantees that women even in married couples are no longer the target of rape, an unprecedented change that recognizes women's autonomy and their right to consent. In addition, the law also provided more severe punishments (including the sentence of life imprisonment) to individuals who committed sexual assault, in line with the seriousness of sexual assault and its consequences for victims

https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women_6830238

Another important piece of legislation in the prevention of violence is RA 7877 (Anti - Sexual Harassment Act of 1995) which is discriminately directed at preventing sexual harassment in employment, school, and other places of public access. "Sexual harassment shall be defined as any unwanted sexual behavior or request, which could include all kinds of physical, verbal, or visual misconduct, that could lead to harassment of women", said the law.

Sexual harassment is not confined to physical violence; in addition, it may also take place as a result of sexually suggestive comments, gestures, or soliciting sexual favors as a quid pro quo for professional or academic advancement. RA 7877 is the law requiring schools and companies to have policies and procedures for prevention and response to sexual harassment with appropriate reporting, investigation, and discipline policies. The legislation represents the country’s commitment to providing women with safe havens from sexual violence and exploitation and to fostering an atmosphere in which women are supported to seek justice.

https://oursite-easyread.wwda.org.au/safety-and-violence/facts-about-safety-from-violence/10-facts/

The observance of National Women's Month as well as the 18-day campaign for the end of violence against women is a crucial reminder of the daily fight to eradicate gender-based violence in the society. The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act, and other important statutes such as RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law) & RA 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act), are legal manifestations of the Philippines commitment to defending women and children from violence and discrimination.