Let's protect and respect women and children

               Under Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (“VAWC”), the concept of “violence” against women and children includes not just physical violence, but also sexual violence, psychological violence, and economic abuse, including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.[1] The law penalizes any act or a series of acts “committed by any person against a woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode.”

            Many people, specifically women are not aware about the law on the protection of their rights against violence. Thus, because of unawareness, spousal violence remains. Based on the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) preliminary results in 2017, out of 11,558 ever-married Filipino women aged 15 to 49 surveyed, one in 4 or 26% experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence committed by their husband or partner. With this data, the campaign emphasizes the role of every individual, men or women, in helping to end violence against women and children within various institutions. This can be achieved by letting people understand VAWC from the point of view of the victim survivors. The campaign gathers supports from different sectors to help spread and provide information on the rights of women and children. In support to this campaign, government agencies and the local government unit of Zamboanga City provides Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and video materials that are presented to the public, clients and employees. Orientations in various areas of the city were also conducted for the women letting them know their rights. Republic Act No. 9262 is an act defining violence against women and their children, providing for protective measures for victims, prescribing penalties therefore, and for other purposes. Furthermore, the campaign aims to end VAWC in the Philippines and to let the women know that they are protected against violence through the aforementioned law. #VAWfreePH (ALT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjaz8aS9ObmAhWZbysKHamcB8cQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.ph%2Fpin%2F668784613384278995%2F&psig=AOvVaw2t4GbohALekdU-8L3b5eSh&ust=1578122844886676