Understanding Violence

Against Women and

Children: Policy
Innovations and
Intervention
Programs

BY:

Jonald Fontanilla Carrera

Rationale

Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of

equality, development and peace. It both violates and impairs or nullifies the
enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
According to the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948),
the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world.
In the Philippines, the State upholds the role of women in nation-building as well
as the best interest of every child against any peril protecting their rights and
security in the social milieu against any form of abuse that destroy their dignity and
self-respect.
The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004”. R.A. 9262 is a
special law that defines acts of violence against women and their children, or
“VAWC”; penalizes such acts; and provides protective measures and remedies.
Brought about by the undeniable need for a law to protect women and children
from domestic violence, and supported by the advocacy of concerned women’s
groups, Congress enacted the said law, with the aim of giving women more than a
fighting chance in seeking redress in a legal system that was still replete with the
patriarchal influence of the past.
R.A. 9262 provides swift temporary remedies and broad permanent ones. Covered
by this law are women who are wives or former wives of the offender, those who
have or have had a sexual or dating relationship with the offender, or those who
have a common child with the offender. Of course, as the title of the law suggests,
it also protects the children of these women, whether legitimate or illegitimate.
Despite the clear importance of R.A. 9262, its implementation had been difficult.
For one, we belong to a culture that has been always been hesitant in dealing with
other people’s domestic issues. For another, there had been problems on
information dissemination at the barangay level, where it is needed the most.
Main Objective

This study aimed to determine the policy innovations and

intervention programs in the vicinity of the City of San
Fernando, La Union.
Specific Objectives

1. To know the current situation of the Violence Against Women and Children
(VAWC) cases in the City of San Fernando, La Union
2. To determine extent of implementation as perceived by the respondents along
a.) protection orders;
b.) rights of victims; and
c.) mandatory programs and services
3. To determine the policy innovations and intervention programs within the
vicinity
Methodology

Research Design: Descriptive Method

with Documentary Analysis & Focus Group Discussion
Respondents:
Legal Officers, Administrators, Special Investigators of the on Human Rights-Region
1; PNP City of San Fernando, La Union, LGU
Statistical Tools:
Frequency, Percentages, and Arithmetic Mean
Findings

Current Situation of VAWC Cases

Kinds of Abuse Frequency Percentage

A. Physical Abuse 52 30%
B. Economic Abuse 121 70%
Total 173 100%
Under RA 9262 (VAWC Law) Section 3 (d): "Economic abuse" refers to acts that make or attempt
to make a woman financially dependent which includes, but is not limited to the following:
– 1. withdrawal of financial support or preventing the victim from engaging in any legitimate
profession, occupation, business or activity, except in cases wherein the other spouse/partner
objects on valid, serious and moral grounds as defined in Article 73 of the Family Code;
– 2. 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;
– 3. destroying household property;
– 4. controlling the victims' own money or properties or solely controlling the conjugal money
or properties.
Extent of Implementation

The extent of implementation of VAWC Law along

a.) protection orders;
b.) rights of victims; and
c.) mandatory programs and services
is moderately implemented.
The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children
(IACVAWC) was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against
Women and Their Children Act of 2004). To ensure the effective implementation of
the law, twelve (12) agencies specifically tasked to formulate programs and
projects to eliminate VAW based on their respective mandates, develop capability
programs for their employees to become more sensitive to the needs of their
clients, and to monitor all VAW initiatives were convened to form the Council.
Policy Innovations

International Commitments
1. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW)
2. ASEAN Committee on Women
3. Millennium Development Goals
Constitutional Framework of VAWC
– 1. The State values the dignity of every human person and guaranteed full
respect for human rights. (Section 11, Art. II, 1987 Philippine Constitution)
– 2. The Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequalities by
equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. (Section 1,
Art. XIII, 1987 Philippine Constitution)
– 3. There is hereby created an independent office called the Commission on
Human Rights. (Section 17 (1), Art. XIII, 1987 Philippine Constitution).
Policy Innovative Access
Continuation….
Intervention Programs

1. Human Rights Protection Program

a.) Awareness on Protection orders
b.) Procedural Concepts of Protection Orders
2. Human Rights Linkages Development
a.) Human Rights Support Services
b.) Guidance and Counselling Programs
3. Special Programs
a.) Psycho-social Counselling
b.) Gender Equality and Human Rights
c.) Recovery and Rehabilitation Programs
Conclusions

1. Victims were deprived of financial support due to unwarranted circumstances.

2. Provisions of VAWC law are given full attention for stricter compliance.

3. The intervention program gives emphasis on the Commission’s mandate in

addressing the needs of the agency as well as the victims in cases of violations.
Recommendations

1. The Commission should revisit the provisions relative to the issuance of

protection orders.

2. The Commission should appropriate budget intended to address the financial

needs of the victims; and

3. Recovery scheme and rehabilitation programs should be strengthen.

References

– Republic Act 9262 “Anti Violence Against Women and Children”

– United Nations (2005)
– The Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
– A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC, the “Rule on Violence Against Women and their Children”
– Rationale of the Proposed Rule on Violence Against Women and their Children.
–
– http://bantwana.org/psychosocial-counseling-and-home-visit-guide-for-volunteers-pss-cards/
– http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2014junedecisions.php?id=419
– http://www.pcw.gov.ph/directory/vaw-hotlines
– http://www.pcw.gov.ph/international-commitments/cedaw
– http://www.pcw.gov.ph/international-commitments/acw
– http://www.pcw.gov.ph/international-commitments/mdgs
Thank you for listening
To God be All the Glory!