BEST PRACTICE: Community - Based Responses to Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups -
Child Rights/Protection Regional Network Meeting,
April 2-5 2013, Bangkok Thailand
Type of Violence Against Children Addressed:
Domestic Violence Against Women and Child Abuse
APPROACH AND MAJOR GOALS:
Violence Against Women and Children
(VAWC) is a silent menace that has been causing
physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual
harm to women, children and families. Gone
are the days when VAWC was considered a
mere family affair in which the community and
the state cannot intervene. In Philippines, the
enactment of the Anti-Violence Against Women
and their Children Act (RA 9262), the Anti
Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) provided
the legal framework for community and
state response to VAWC. A number of women
survivors have found solace when they availed
of the protection orders from the barangay,
police and of the courts. But many more are
struggling to report their abused situation in
case they will not get the support of their family
and community.
The information campaigns against
domestic violence which are undertaken by
various sectors have helped increase the
knowledge of the public that violence against
women and children is punishable by law.
However, awareness of the issue alone is not
a guarantee that the abuse of women and
children will stop or be totally eliminated. It
requires that family and their neighbours will
take the initiative to report any VAWC and child
abuse incident to the mandated authorities.
Community - Based Responses to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups | 1
To the Cebuano and Visayan speaking
communities of the country, “Bantay” means
watch while “Panimalay” means family or
community. In short Bantay Panimalay means
Family or Community Watch and has been used to
refer to the coordinated efforts against domestic
violence.
Bantay Panimalay organizations were
organized at barangay level composed of barangay
officials, service providers, men and women
and volunteers. The BP volunteers take direct
action to stop the ongoing violence or prevention
of further violence, and referral of cases to
mandated authorities at barangay and municipal
level. The roles they play are varied depending on
the circumstances and needs, specifically they:
• Act as community patrol and monitor cases
• Facilitate reporting and referrals to VAWC
• Desk Officer or Barangay Council for the
protection of Children and Women and
Children Protection Units at municipal
• Act as support system for survivors and their
children
• Conduct information on Anti-VAWC law to
men and women
• Advocate for peace and justice
• Counsel victims of abuse
 BEST PRACTICE: Community - Based Responses to Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups -
Child Rights/Protection Regional Network Meeting,
April 2-5 2013, Bangkok Thailand

To become effective advocates, supporters a) Partnership Workshop with Municipal Key

and service providers for VAWC survivors, all
Bantay Panimalay volunteers/members must
undergo the following basic trainings:
1) Gender Sensitivity Training
2) Violence Against Women and Children b) Assessment of the level of gender
(VAWC) Seminar
3) Legal Literacy
The project generally aims to prevent and
minimize the incidence of domestic violence
against women and children. Specifically, it aims
to 1.) Promote multi - sectoral and community
approach to domestic violence; 2.) Mainstream
the issue of violence against women and other
gender issues into the program of government
with corresponding budget, policy and logistical
support and 3.) Enable women to develop the
capability to respond to their own problem and
in the process develop their own strength as
persons.
Activities
Undertaken/How
the Project Works:
The project was initially started in 2010, with
Runggiyan Foundation, a women-based non-
government organization in Leyte for technical
guidance. The following activities were outputs
of the project.
Officials, GAD focal persons and Plan Staff. The
activity intends to introduce the project to key
persons and agree on ways to set up partnership
efforts per municipality.
responsiveness of the Local Government Units.
The Gender Responsive LGU Tool designed by
the Philippine Commission on Women (formerly
NCRFW) and the Local Government Academy
was used. The results served as a baseline
and reference for the design of the training
interventions and the preparation of the GAD
plans. The Municipal GAD Focal Point Person
assisted in the gathering of GAD/VAWC related
data and information in the LGU and coordinated
the preparation of the GAD plan and budget.
c) Providing municipal and barangay officials,
service providers and community volunteers
necessary knowledge and skills to effectively
respond to VAWC cases.
BP Orientation in Mayapay, Daram

Institutionalizing Community - Based Responses to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups | 2
 BEST PRACTICE: Community - Based Responses to Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups -
Child Rights/Protection Regional Network Meeting,
April 2-5 2013, Bangkok Thailand
Various orientation were conducted
to municipal officials, barangay officials,
service providers (police, social workers, day
care workers, health workers), community
volunteers on gender concepts, violence against
women and child protection and laws on Anti-
VAWC (RA 9262) and Magna Carta for Women.
d) Organizing community-based bantay-
panimalay (family watch) groups.
The series of orientation meetings in the
community with barangay officials, service
providers community volunteers, community-
based organizations and the men and women
in the community resulted to the organization
of group who have committed themselves to
be trained on gender sensitivity, BP approach,
related laws, counseling, reporting and
documentation. The target communities also
Community - Based Responses to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups | 3
were able to establish VAWC desk as mandated
under Magna Carta of Women. The Bantay
Panimalay volunteers/members are part of a
growing movement of women and men who are
working and advocating for peaceful homes and
communities in the country.
e) Coaching and Monitoring of BP/Family
Watch Groups. Staff of Plan and the partnership
NGO provided monitoring and coaching activities
to group officers and members.
Geographic focus: The project was
implemented in 25 Plan covered communities in
5 municipalities of East Samar, West Samar and
North Samar.
Materials, products, outcomes: As a
result of these interventions, the following were
achieved. However, until this time, Plan still
provides continuous capacity building, monitoring
and coaching to the groups for its sustainability.
1. Conducted Bantay Panimalay or Family
Watch Groups and VAWC seminar orientations
to Municipal Key Officials and barangay officials
and service providers, people’s organizations,
community volunteers and community residents
(men & women) 1,068 (852 Women- 216 Men)
in target 25 communities. The BP members
were recruited as selected from among these
participants. Each BP/FW groups requires at
least 15 members.
2. Conducted the Gender Responsiveness
Assessment of 5 Local Government Units. In the
 BEST PRACTICE: Community - Based Responses to Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups -
Child Rights/Protection Regional Network Meeting,
April 2-5 2013, Bangkok Thailand

assessment on the gender responsiveness
of the six (6) pilot municipalities majority of
the LGUs rated themselves as having early
manifestations of gender responsiveness.
Safety and protection related facilities (e.g.
separate toilets, street lighting) and services
are available in less than 25% of the LGU-
managed facilities.
3. Organized 25 Family Watch Groups trained
on gender sensitivity, VAWC, laws of anti-VAWC,
anti-child abuse, magna carta for women, basic
counseling among others.
physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse among
children and physical/psychological abuse among
women.
Funding information: The project was supported
by Plan International Philippines
Implementing organization:
1. Plan International Inc. – Philippines.
2. Runggiyan Foundation-Leyte, Philippines

4. Established VAWC Desk in 25 communities Contact Details for further Information:

with 2 VAWC Desk Officer in every barangay
ensures that violence against women cases are Plan International Inc. (Philippines)
fully addressed in a gender-responsive manner. 4F Bloomingdale Building
205 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
He/She facilitates referral of cases needing
Tel. No. +63(2) 813-0030 to 32
Barangay Protection Orders and conduct intake Fax No. +63(2) 813-0033
recording.
Contact persons:
5. Awareness raising activities on VAW and Emily Mantilla
Child protection. The volunteers/members have Child Protection Specialist
conducted community campaigns to mothers (emily.mantilla@plan-international.org)
and fathers in the community on different forms
abuses, salient features of the Anti-VAWC law Selena Fortich
and installed messages on VAWC and where to Child Protection Adviser
report such cases. (selena.fortich@plan-international.org)

6. The BP Groups had assisted 41 cases (28

child abuse & 13 women) of abuses among
women and children in their respective
communities through referrals and counseling
as of December 2012. Most of these cases are

Community - Based Responses to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Through Family Watch Groups | 4