Gender Based Violence and Formulating

Adequate Policy Responses

Solidarity Messages and Speeches
Speech Delivered in the Asian Women’s Parliamentarians Conference
By: Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party
24 June 2015

I would like to thank the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for hosting this conference and providing women in
parliament a platform to discuss women’s legislation in conjunction with the realities women face every day.
Specific to our experience in the Philippines, I will present the framework of grassroots women in responding to
gender based violence. I know this conference is timed with the commemoration of the 20th year of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform of Action. Allow me to begin by analyzing how the passage and or implementation of
policies have impacted on our work on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The Philippine government’s official reports on policies and performances in addressing gender-based violence
according to the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) and the Beijing Platform benchmarks, as presented in
the United Nations, its attached agencies, financial institutions like the World Bank and the ADB and various
other multilateral audiences, have received worldwide praises. For eight years now, the Philippines has
consistently ranked in the top ten countries that has achieved gender equality based on the in the Global Gender
Gap Index. The Philippines ranked 5th in 2013, climbing three levels from its 8th rank in 2012.It was the only
country in Asia-Pacific in the top tenin 2014 with a score higher than other industrialized countries.

This is repeatedly presented by the Philippine government to back its claims of improvements in other
indicators of women’s wellbeing such as poverty incidence, maternal and infant mortality, and conditions in the
workplace. I will expound onthese in the course of my presentation.

We are all aware that gender-based violence is very much intertwined with poverty and lack of access to
services, economic domination of an elite class, and pervasive feudal culture. Thus, formulating adequate policy
responses is very challenging. Formulating adequate policies means exposing and opposing the inequities
between nations, in the global context, and not only gender but more so classes, in the national context. It means
uprooting the entire matrix of forces that subjugate women and the whole nation.

Our work in legislation – in crafting laws, in drafting the national budget and in the oversight of agency
performances - reveals the ugly situation of women. To do our work, it is necessary to go down to our
constituents, the women in the different communities. And there we see the reality, a much different situation,
and indicators point to the worsening position of women in the Philippine society.

There is danger in formulating policies focused on gender-based violence alone without exposing and opposing
existing national policies that cause poverty and inequality. The claims of having achieved gender equality will
only serve the dominant class and preserve social structures and power relations that exacerbates the
discrimination and maintains the low status of women in a society.

We in the Gabriela believe that a comprehensive and genuine policy response is to issue more bills in Congress
that expose and oppose anti-people/anti-women administrative orders from the executive agencies, and more so,
unjust global conditionalities such as the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade and the different military
cooperation agreements between the Philippines and other foreign powers. As the executive agencies have
already committed to the ASEAN integration, we expect more negative effects on the economic security of the
Filipino women, and these agreements will threaten land tenure, job security, food prices, and make the lives of
our women even more difficult in the coming years.
Gender Based Legislations in Response to Women’s Situation

Indeed at present, there are around 30 laws that are meant to protect women from violence and abuses. It is
important to highlight that these laws were ratified because of the painstaking effort of women who struggled to
pass these laws, to help change women’s condition and gain respect for women’s rights.
GABRIELA first entered the Philippine Congress with GABRIELA Secretary General Liza Maza as a
representative of Bayan Muna Partylist (People First) in 2001. And starting in 2004, Gabriela Women’s Party,
consistently won in the elections in 2007, 2010, and 2013 and currently has 2 seats in the House of
Representatives. It is the only partylist representing the women sector.

But long before our work in Congress, GABRIELA national alliance’s campaigns attained significant success in
terms of educating the public on gender-based violence. One such issue is on the trafficking of Filipino women
and children. Women’s actions against sex trafficking in the 1990s supported the legal battle against the illegal
recruiter of sex trafficking victim Lisa Mamac. The illegal recruiter was charged with white slavery. This and
other high profile cases gave birth to the Purple Rose campaign in 1999, a global campaign to expose and
oppose trafficking of Filipino women and children. The public awareness the campaign generated backed the
passage of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2003.

Other campaigns lent support to the passage of laws to protect women. The Anti-Violence Against Women and
Their Children Act of 2004 to which we are currently proposing amendments to include electronic violence
against women was backed by various campaigns. Education and public information strategies highlighted by
all-women actions were launched such as Blow-A-Whistle Campaign which is aimed at breaking the culture of
silence, PALAG! (FIGHT BACK!), an anti domestic violence campaign, and the I Vow to Fight VAW which
covered gender-based violence. Through the strong cooperation between our party and Gabriela Alliance, we
were able to gather support from different organizations and personalities locally and internationally.

Gabriela also worked for the passage of the Magna Carta of Women which is the complimentary law to the
implementation of CEDAW.On our third term Republic Act 10398 declaring November 25 as the National
Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children was enacted. In the 16th
congress we are proposing an amendment to the Anti-Rape Law to expound on the “consent” issue to address
the difficulty for rape victims to prove the case. We are also highlighting cases where the perpetrators are in
positions of authority. Side by side to the legislative effort, our Rage Against Rape campaign is our platform to
continue awareness-raising on this concern. We are firm and resolved to push for more bills to empower women
like the Divorce Bill, the Electronic VAWC Act to combat violence against women.

However, gender-based violence against women, especially trafficking, prostitution, and other forms of
systemic violence against women will never end, unless we improve the economic conditions of women. And
so the fight against violence against women continues as the Philippines remains a top exporter of women. The
vulnerability of women especially women victims of natural and man-made disasters to trafficking was again
brought to our attention when Typhoon Haiyanstruck the Eastern Visayas in 2013. Gabriela Women’s Party
called for the immediate investigation through a Resolution filed in the House Committee on Women and
Gender Equalityand has proposed to conduct an on-site investigation on the proliferation of sex trafficking in
Haiyan-devastated areas. Through its own initiative, GABRIELA Alliance held the Women’s International
Solidarity Mission (WISM) in Leyte in November 2014 and found out that prostitution and trafficking has
proliferated one year after the disaster.

As a platform to address all forms of violence against women GABRIELA Alliance and Gabriela Women’s
Party have spearheaded the One Billion Rising-Philippines, the local counterpart of the global One Billion
Rising Campaign. Since its launching in 2013, it has mobilized thousands of Filipino women from all classes
and issues of women workers, peasants, and urban poor were given prominence. To combat discrimination, the
House Committee on Women and Gender Equality has also passed the Gabriela resolution calling for more
sensitivity in the media after several celebrities delivered anti-women remarks and actions including the
controversial fashion show which promoted the objectification of women by putting one female model on a
leash held by a male on stage.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the Conditional Cash Transfer and the women’s situation
Many women have no access to housing and social services and given measly cash grants in these programs.
The Philippine state promotes Public Private Partnership (PPP) instead of directly subsidizing the health care
system. The national budget allotted only PhP11.60 or 25 US cents per pregnant woman, and the budget for
health services only reach 25% of poor women. Maternal mortality remains a problem. In the very recent MDG
report of the Department of Health, 221 out of the 100,000 mothers die from giving birth.
Meanwhile, the current Aquino administration reports with pride the passing the Reproductive Health Law in
2014, another law backed by strong women’s lobbying and action. However, it is evident that the national
health policy in the first place shows its lack of concern to the poor families where majority of women belong.
The health department is now rushing to sell public hospitals to private corporations instead of providing more
public hospitals and services thus, forces poor women to pay for health services. The health department also
passed a Department Order banning homebirthing. Other cities and municipalities followed suit with the
passage of a No Homebirthing Policy. Now midwives fear of getting jailed or penalized and refused to assist
women who wanted to deliver their babies at home instead of going to clinics or hospitals.

PPP is also the privatized program turning socialized housing into a profitable business that evicts the poor from
their homes, and forces them to be relocated outside the city where there are no jobs, schools, or clinics, and are
prone to floods every monsoon season.

To compensate for this wholesale impoverishment, the government’s response to reduce poverty is by giving
out conditional cash transfers or CCT. An amount is given to pregnant women belonging to poor families on the
condition that they have to go to clinics for check-ups and to children of poor households in the elementary and
secondary levels in the condition that these children attend their classes. Our initial study with regard to the
impact to targetted communities proved that theCCT program did not address entrenched economy-wide
problems of joblessness and low incomes that cause poverty.

Our legislative response

In 2015, two incidents revealed the stark choices Filipino women workers face either when deciding to work
abroad or even working locally to help their families. In April, massive protests postponed the execution of
Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino victim of human trafficking. She was convicted to die by firing squad after she
was used to carry drugs to Indonesia from Malaysia by her rercuiter who lured her to work as domestic worker
in Malaysia. The job offer in Malaysia was taken by Mary Jane as a very good opportunity after failing to find
employment in the Philippines. She is only one of the 90 overseas workers convicted and jailed in many
countries, many of whom are falsely arrested after resisting rape and/or gender based violence at their
workplaces. The following month, 72 workers mostly women were killed in a fire that gutted the building of
Kentex, a local factory producing rubber sandals. . They were working on contract employment, receiving daily
pay way below the legal prescription and without the required social and health benefits. Meanwhile, the lack of
economic opportunity for women, places them in a position to be controlled by those who are in power like
their spouses or anyone who is in authority.

On this basis, Gabriela is reviewing macroeconomic policies and development strategies and proposing
measures to address the needs and demands of impoverished women. And this should include the revision of
laws and administrative practices to ensure women’s equal rights and access to economic resources.
Since 2004 when Gabriela first joined the electoral struggle, it was consistently at the forefront of the struggle
for women’s economic, political and social rights, which ultimately also address gender-based violence.

We can only define a policy response to be adequate if the policy framework is aimed to remove all economic,
political, cultural, and social basis of violence. Passing laws in Congress is not the end-all for formulating
adequate policy especially when it merely chases deadlines for meeting indicators. The compliance of the
Philippines to the gender indicators of the MDGs and the Beijing Platform is a case in point. Much of the
actions taken by successive administrations were undertaken merely to make it appear that the State Party is
meeting numerical targets promised to a multilateral agency monitoring body, while hiding the reality of
women’s daily lives in glowing report. I have already mentioned the disconnect between the passage of the
reproductive health law and the actual coercive anti-women policies that have been passed.

Gabriela has always been at the forefront of the fight for job, shelter, housing and education and access to health
services by the poor and marginalized women. Gabriela called for an investigation on the increasing prices of
basic commodities, most importantly of rice.

Gabriela included the privatization of utilities like water and electricity that further rendered women and their
families poorer in our legislative agenda. These efforts gathered popular support among the people outside of
the House of Representatives. Aside from filing resolutions calling for investigations, our party conducts
education, information and mobilization campaigns.

In the recent budget deliberations at the Lower House of Congress, Gabrielacampaigned to stop the demolition
of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, the only children’s public hospital accessible to poor families.
Again, the fight is far from over. We have to continue the fight for a free, appropriate, basic and accessible
healthcare services through our LABKA Campaign.

Gabriela also proposed a legislation to abolish the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT), an added burden to
women causing increases in the prices of basic commodities. We also co-authored bills addressing issues of the
toiling population. We registered our support to the workers’ demand to increase minimum wages and salaries,
and to the peasants’ call to pass the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill. Gabriela also filed a bill seeking to amend
the Labor Code, by “Prohibiting Labor-Only Contracting and Regulating Job Contracting and Subcontracting,”
in response to reports of widespread contractualization of labor in the Philippines.

This 16th Congress, Gabriela Women’s Party filed a resolution in response to the Kentex fire seeking to
investigate cases of neglect and violations of occupational safety and health standards. Another case we
highlighted was the case of eight workers who died when they were trapped inside the burning building because
they were purposely locked in. Gabriela filed the “Worker’s Safety and Health Inspection and Employer’s
Liability Decree” or “Worker’s SHIELD” Bill to protect workers in their workplace, and to ensure employer
and government accountability.

Gabriela alsoco-authored and actively campaigned to pass People’s Initiative Against Pork Barrel, to abolish the
development assistance fund under the discretion of government officials, including the president. We demand
that funds should be channelled directly tosocial services such as housing, education and health.

Gabriela has also campaigned against state-instigated human rights violations. It has proposed resolutions
calling for the investigation of numerous cases of human rights violations perpetrated by state forces against
civilian. Gabriela has also filed a resolution to investigate military encampment of schools and indigenous
communities.We supported the Save our Schools! campaign against militarization of rural and urban
communities.
To highlight the impact of violence perpetrated by the state against women, we also launched the Free Our
Sisters, Free ourselves! Campaign in 1989 and has relaunched it in 2006when Liza Maza, then GABRIELA
Vice-Chairperson, President of the Gabriela Women’s Party and a legislator was politically persecuted along
with 50 other leaders including women.

Under the Aquino regime, women remain under constant threat of being arrested without a warrant and slapped
with trumped up charges. As of June 2015, 48 women leaders were arrested and jailed increasing the number of
political prisoners in the Philippines to more than 400. Many of the political prisoners including Miradel Torres
and woman activist and writer Sharon Cabusao were arrested without warrant and are now in jail on trumped up
charges.

Gabriela Women’s Party leads in educating the masses on their most basic rights and regularly holdsthe
Grassroots Women’s Advocacy Program and Action (GWAPA) School to discuss national issues and their
impact on women’s lives.

Lastly, I would like to highlight that our successes in the parliament would not be possible without the support
of our constituents and of the mass organization of women, in our case the Gabriela National Alliance of
Women in the Philippines.

Steep rise in gender-based violence

Ana Santos/IRIN
MANILA, 30 May 2012

Authorities in the Philippines are reporting a sharp uptick in the number of gender-
based violence cases over the last five years. 

“From 2006 to the present, there has been a constant increase,” Senior Superintendent Theresa Ann Cid, of the
Philippine National Police (PNP), told IRIN.

In 2011 there were 12,948 reported cases, up from 4,954 in 2006 - a rise of more than 150 percent - the PNP
Women and Children’s Protection Centre (PNP-WPC) noted. From January to April of 2012, 5,629 cases
have been reported.
The 2008 National Demographic Health Survey estimated that one in five Filipino women between the ages of
15 and 49 had experienced physical violence, while 14.4 percent of women have been physically abused by
their husbands. 
The World Health Organization described the level of sexual violence in the Philippines as “a serious cause of
concern”. 

The Philippines has a population of more than 100 million and is a traditionally patriarchal, male-dominated
society, but there are no ready answers to explain the recent spike. “Yes, there is an increase in reported cases,
but we cannot say why. Part of it may be a natural development due to the increased awareness of the laws
meant to protect women,” said Elizabeth Angsioco, chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the
Philippines (DSWP), a national federation of women’s grassroots communities. 
The Republic Act (RA) 9262, known as the Violence Against Women and their Children Law, was passed in
2004. It broadened the definition of abuse to include physical, emotional and economic harm. It also made
violence by an intimate partner (anyone with whom a woman has a sexual relationship) a public crime, and
made it possible for anyone -not just the victim - to file a case against a perpetrator.

Since the legislation was passed, the number of cases of reported intimate partner violence has been steadily
increasing, from 218 in 2004 to 9,021 in 2011. Violations of RA 9262 make up the largest component of
reported acts of violence against women (VAW), including rape, sexual assault, and physical injury.

Gender-sensitive police
The authorities have taken a number of measures, mainly gender-sensitive interventions, to encourage women
to come forward. “Before the law [RA 9262], domestic violence was seen as a private issue. Some [police]
officers were confused about their role and would reconcile couples,” said PNP Senior Police Officer Helen
dela Cruz, who oversees one of the PNP women’s desks in the capital, Manila.
Discover More

Broader access to paediatric

cancer drugs
Photo: Ana Santos/IRIN

The PNP established Women and Children Protection Centres (WCPC) in 2007 to Interview rooms meant to look like
deal with crimes involving the exploitation and abuse of women and children. playrooms provide a protective
environment for minors who are victims of
There are now more than 1,800 such centres throughout the country, staffed by violence and abuse

3,038 policewomen trained in the laws that protect women, such as RA 9262, and
gender sensitivity. Some police stations have been equipped with child-friendly interview rooms for minors, and
pink interview rooms for women.

Still a long way to go

Despite these measures there are still huge challenges, including a shortage of staff to handle the volume of
cases. Some police stations are not open 24 hours a day, and most policewomen take on additional functions,
such as community relations, apart from handling the women’s desk. “These policewomen are overworked and
we are understaffed,” said Cid.

Of the 140,000 PNP personnel, only an estimated 15,600 are women. “We only have the reported cases,” said
Nharleen Santos-Millar, Policy Development and Advocacy Division Chief of the Philippine Commission on
Women (PCW).
Since the passage of RA 9262, there have been a number of convictions, but getting the exact numbers would
involve the arduous task of going to individual Family Courts, said Santos-Millar. The systematic compilation
of data lags behind and means the success of the measures to protect women and children cannot be accurately
monitored.

In 2009, Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog, published a review on the implementation of RA
9262, and noted that a deterrent in reporting abuse was often the distance of a woman’s village to the police
station. 
In response, the PCW and other government offices rolled out guidelines in 2010 for the establishment of a
VAW desk in every barangay, the smallest government unit. As of December 2011, out of the 42,025 barangays
in the country, 27,705 barangays (or 66 percent) have set up a VAW desk. 

“Violence against women is a societal concern. Everyone needs to be sensitized - judges who think they need to
save the family no matter what, communities who pressure women to stay with their abusive husbands - you
can’t undo a mindset like that overnight,” Santos-Millar noted.

Many people speculate that despite the laws, abuse often still goes unreported simply because violence against
women is accepted.

Tet Balayon, the Knowledge Management Officer of the Women’s Crisis Centre, an NGO providing
assistance to the victims of violence, commented: “There is too much tolerance for violence in our culture. Men
think it’s part of being a man, women think it’s part of being in a relationship.”
as/ds/he

Justice and Healing Project culmination event

gathers advocates and duty-bearers
12122012
Justice and Healing, the two-year project supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human
Rights Program (EIDHR) ended with a conference that gathered women’s rights advocates last November 28, 2012
at the Bayview Park Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

Women’s Feature Service Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon presented the Project Overview followed by Women’s
Crisis Center (WCC) Consultant Ms. Theresa Balayon who discussed the J&H Approach as a work in progress. Then,
Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation Atty. Claire Angeline Pauig Luczon

Atty. Claire Luczon presented the experiences of Legal Practitioners in dealing with VAWC cases in courts.
Meanwhile, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) was represented by Project
Development Specialist Margaret Yarcia.

The event featured two forums, the first of which featured: Former RTC Judge: Atty. Adoracion P. Cruz- Avisado,
Chairperson, Transformative Justice Institute; Lawyer: Atty. Minerva Quintela, OIC WomenLead Foundation; PO2
Abigail Rayala of Guinobatan, Albay; and Barangay Official: Ms. Josie Fallesgon, GAD Focal Person, Brgy. Sauyo,
Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the second forum panel was composed of LGU partner: Ms. Lorna Mandin, Executive Director, Integrated
Gender and Development Division of Davao City; Area Coordinator: Ms. Agnes Carlos – Butuan City; Paralegal: Ms.
Vera Gesite – Municipal Arts and Culture Coordinator, Alburquerque, Bohol; Service provider:Ms. Marie June Castro,
program officer, DAWN Foundation, Bacolod City; and NGO: Atty Arnold Abejaron, President of Men Opposed to
Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Davao.

Mr. Margarito Raynera, Programme Officer from the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines then delivered
closing remarks, through which he lauded the efforts of the Project Team and the participating organizations. For her part,
musician Istarte Abraham presented a cultural performance.

The Justice and Healing project aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-
sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW. #

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Categories : Human Rights
Justice and Healing Project holds FGD at the
Supreme Court
4122012

European Union-funded Justice and Healing Project held a focused group discussion with Supreme Court’s
Committee on Gender Responsiveness last November 21, 2012.

The event was graced by Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and 10 other committee members, as well as Atty. Dory
Avisado of the Transformative Justice Institute.

Through the event, the Project Consortium sought the Committee’s commitment to help address the healing needs of
victims of gender-based violence.

Project Implementers were led by Women’s Feature Service Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon. Women’s Crisis Center
was represented by Ms. Theresa Balayon, WomenLEAD Foundation by Attys. Claire Luczon and Minerva Quintela.
ASSIST was represented by Project Development Specialist Margaret Yarcia.
Funded by the European Union under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) programme,
The Justice and Healing project, aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-
sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW.

The Justice and Healing project is implemented by WFS together with its partners, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC),
Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation, and the Asia Society for Social
Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).#

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based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Justice and Healing, Mar Raynera, Margaret Yarcia, Margarito Raynera, Meg Yarcia, Olive Tripon, Olivia Tripon, Philippines
gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, VAW, VAW Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women
Philippines, women abuse, women lawyers philippines, women's rights, women's rights EU project, WOMENLEAD 
Categories : Energy, Water and Environment

Justice and Healing Project holds roundtable on

violence against women
8112012
The Justice and Healing Project, an initiative co-implemented by  Asia Society for Social Improvement and
Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), held a Round table Discussion on Justice and Healing for Victim-survivors
of Gender-based Violence on October 30, 2012 (Tuesday, 8:00am – 10:30am) at the Ortigas Foundation Library,
2nd Floor Ortigas Building, Ortigas corner Meralco Avenues, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Led by Project Lead Women’s Feature Service through Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon and NCR Project
Coordinator Ms. Angelica Carballo, it was graced by Department of Social Welfare and development Haven for Children
Center Head Ms. Evangelina Lawas, Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center and P. Supt.
Theresa Cid.

The Discussion aims to give information on the different issues of Violence Against Women (VAW) and the Justice and
Healing project. The organizers will also present the results of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) from the post-
barangay forum. It is also the final community activity of the Justice and Healing project, which will end on November.
Through this, the project partners sought the support of the stakeholders to sustain the Justice and Healing approach in
dealing with VAW cases.
Funded by the European Union under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) programme,
The Justice and Healing project, aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-
sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW.

The Justice and Healing project is implemented by WFS together with its partners, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC),
Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation, and the Asia Society for Social
Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).

Other attendees were local community leaders from barangay UP Campus and 172 of Malibay, Pasay, service providers
from the government, non-government organizations (NGOs), law enforcers, media, and other other stakeholders on the
issue of violence against women. Ms. Margaret Yarcia represented ASSIST. #

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based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Justice and Healing, Mar Raynera, Margaret Yarcia, Margarito Raynera, Meg Yarcia, Olive Tripon, Olivia Tripon, Philippines
gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, VAW, VAW Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women
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Categories : Energy, Water and Environment

Justice and Healing Holds Stakeholders Meeting, Last

Barangay Forum
18072012
The Justice and Healing Project conducted a stakeholders forum and the last of its 15 barangay forums last June
14 and June 26, 2012, respectively.

The Stakeholders’ Meeting gathered representatives from the Project Team as well as the Department of Social Welfare
and Development, Philippine Commission on Women, and the European Commission, to discuss experiences from past
barangay forums, sustainability of anti-VAW advocacy, and the commitments of duty-bearers.

The barangay forum, on the other hand, convened officials and women’s advocates from Brgys. 169 and 172 in Malibay,
Pasay City, with the help of the Soroptomists International.

After Olive Tripon of Women’s Feature Service introduced the Project and the implementers, Lilibeth Santos and
Anamabel Garcia of the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) presented on the insights of service providers from their
experiences in handling cases of gender-based violence.
Meanwhile Atty. Claire Luczon and Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy and Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD)
discussed on the various laws on violence against women. Finally, Meg Yarcia of  Asia Society for Social Improvement
and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) led the workshop which saw the barangay officials presenting what they are
currently doing, and promise to do, in addressing cases of violence against women.

Through the forum, the Project Team hoped to engage various groups – the police, barangay officials, and women’s rights
advocates in a discussion to address violence against women (VAW) and the long journey in seeking justice and healing.

Supported by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), The
Justice and Healing project seeks to strengthen the components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-
sensitive services using the Justice and Healing perspective with respect to the VAW cases.

The project is implemented by WFS, WCC, WomenLEAD, and ASSIST.

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Categories : Energy, Water and Environment

Women’s groups open discussions on Justice and

Healing for VAW victims
29032012
As part of the women’s month celebration, the Justice and Healing Project Team hosted a forum-launch on its project
Justice and Healing for Victim-survivors of Gender-based Violence on March 28, 2012 at the AIM Conference Center in
Makati City.

The forum aims to engage various groups – the police, barangay officials, and women’s rights advocates in a discussion to
address violence against women (VAW) and the long journey in seeking justice and healing.

The program also served as the launch some of its project publications: “Springboards for Women’s Journeys Toward
Justice and Healing: A Baseline Report” on the experiences of survivors and service providers including lawyers,
prosecutors and judges with VAW laws, conducted by Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) and Women’s Legal Education,
Advocacy and Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD); “Compendium of Laws and Rules on VAW Litigation”
compiled by WomenLEAD for the Paralegal Skills Training in VAW Litigation for Community Service Providers,
and; Justice and Healing Legal Monograph — the first of three legal monographs on gender controversial aspects
identified by WomenLEAD that need to be addressed.

The event gathered leading advocates against gender-based violence, namely Olivia Tripon of Women’s Feature Service
(WFS), Atty. Claire Luczon of Women LEAD, Theresa Balayon of WCC. A response was given by Winnie Penaredondo,
a VAW survivor/advocate .
The Justice and Healing project seeks to strengthen the components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and
gender-sensitive services using the Justice and Healing perspective with respect to the VAW cases.

Funded by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the project
is implemented by WFS, WCC, WomenLEAD, and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable
Transformation (ASSIST).#

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Tags: abuse of women, EU Project Philippines, EU Project women, EU Project women's rights, Filipino women, gender violence, gender-based violence, gender-based violence
Philippines, Justice and Healing, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, Pia Cayetano, Sen Pia Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano, VAW, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women abuse, women's rights, women's rights EU project 
Categories : Human Rights, People's Development

Justice and Healing Project goes to Davao

5122011
The Justice and Healing (J&H) Project launched back to back activities in Davao City last December 2 and 3, 2011
for the Mindanao leg of its visibility and education campaigns.

J&H is a project funded by the EU’s (European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Programme and
implemented by the Women’s Feature Service (WFS) – Project Lead, Asia Society for Social Improvement and
Sustainable Transformation(ASSIST) , Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), and 3) Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy &
Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD).

It seeks to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver human rights-based and gender-sensitive services using
the justice and healing perspective with respect to VAW cases, and recognizes the crucial role of barangay-level service
providers and duty-bearers in creating a violence-free community.

This approach to dealing with survivors of gender-based violence was introduced in a visibility campaign for women
advocates, law enforcers and lawyers held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Matina, Davao City, and a forum held at the
barangay hall of Brgy. Buhangin.

ASSIST was represented by Communications and Visibility Associate Meg Yarcia. #

Comments : Leave a Comment » 
Tags: abuse of women, EU Project Philippines, EU Project women, EU Project women's rights, Filipino women, gender violence, gender-based violence, gender-based violence
Philippines, Justice and Healing, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, Pia Cayetano, Sen Pia Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano, VAW, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women abuse, women's rights, women's rights EU project 
Categories : Human Rights

ASSIST Justice and Healing initiative featured on

GMA 7
5122011
The Justice and Healing project co-implemented by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable
Transformation (ASSIST) was cited on GMA 7 as another initiative that contributes to the campaign against
domestic violence in Cebu City, where the Project Team held a barangay forum, media campaign and legal clinic
last November 24 and 25, 2011.
Designed to “educate and capacitate the various components of judicial systems so as to be able to deliver rights-based
and gender-sensitive services with respect to VAW cases”, the J&H Project is an initiative funded by the EU’s (European
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Programme and implemented by the Women’s Feature Service
(WFS) – Project Lead, ASSIST, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), and 3) Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy & Defense
Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD).

To view the coverage, click here: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/100421/kampanya-vs-domestic-violence-mas-

pinaigting-sa-cebu

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Tags: abuse of women, EU Project Philippines, EU Project women, EU Project women's rights, Filipino women, gender violence, gender-based violence, gender-based violence
Philippines, Justice and Healing, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, Pia Cayetano, Sen Pia Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano, VAW, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women abuse, women's rights, women's rights EU project 
Categories : Human Rights
Sen. Pia Cayetano graces Justice and Healing FGD
with Family Court Judges
25112011
Senator Pia Cayetano graced the Focus Group Discussion with Family Court Judges on the use of RA 9262 and
other laws on VAW (Violence Against Women) held last November 17, 2011 at the Pecson Room of the Philippine
Senate for the Justice and Healing project funded by the European Union (EU). 
 

Held in partnership with the Office of Senator Cayetano and the Philippine Commission on Women with the Inter-agency
Council against Violence Against Women (IAC-VAWC), the goal of the discussion was to draw insights from the
experience of judges in the litigation of the aggressors and administration of justice. For her part, Sen. Cayetano shared
her efforts in promoting women’s rights and raised points for the purpose of sponsoring amendments to further strengthen
laws on VAW, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations.

The J&H Project is an initiative funded by the EU’s (European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Programme and implemented by the Women’s Feature Service (WFS) – Project Lead, Asia Society for Social
Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), and 3) Women’s Legal
Education, Advocacy & Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD)

Philippine Commission on Women Deputy Director Manuela Silva welcomed the participants and Atty. Claire Luczon of
WomenLEAD served as the facilitator. Meanwhile, Ms. Olive Tripon of WFS delivered the closing remarks, and ASSIST
Communications and Visibility Associate Margaret P. Yarcia represented ASSIST

For inquiries about the FGD report, please e-mail meg@assistasia.org. #

Comments : Leave a comment 

Tags: abuse of women, EU Project Philippines, EU Project women, EU Project women's rights, Filipino women, gender violence, gender-based violence, gender-based violence
Philippines, Justice and Healing, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, Pia Cayetano, Sen Pia Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano, VAW, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women abuse, women's rights, women's rights EU project 
Categories : Energy, Water and Environment
ASSIST and Women’s Crisis Center wrap up EU-
funded USE RA 9262 project
16112011
The Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) and the Women’s Crisis
Center (WCC) held back to back activities to wrap up the USE RA 9262 project (Undertaking Survivors’
Experience in accessing Republic Act (RA) 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act).

With the theme “Approaches to Violence in the Family Revisited and Enhanced,” the National Network of Family
Violence Prevention Programs held a Partners Assembly at the Cloud 9 Resort in Antipolo City last October 17 to 20,
2011.

Highlights include small group and plenary discussions on moving forward with anti-VAWC campaigns, with special
emphasis on enhancing services for vulnerable groups, setting up courtwatches, instituting continuing education for
service providers, and maintaining the electronic monitoring system for cases. The partners also evaluated the project and
expressed commitments towards violence-free communities in a solidarity program.

As a culminating activity, ASSIST and WCC also conducted a roundtable discussion on Revisiting the Battered Woman
Syndrome as as a Psychological Concept and Legal Defense at the Sulo Riviera Hotel last October 21, 2011.

Advocates as well as members of the judicial system attended to share their thoughts on the definition, evolution, and
utilization of BWS in psychosocial interventions, in education, training, and advocacy, and in the courts.

Speakers include Ms. Lilibeth Santos, WCC Crisis Worker, Ms. Salvacion Baaco-Pascual, Former Program Coordinator
of WCC Feminist Research and Documentation unit, who presented research on the BWS, and UP’s Dr. Sylvia “Guy”
Estrada-Claudio, who provided a feminist clinician’s perspective.

Also present to share BWS as used in the legal practice were Atty. Arnold C. Abejaron, Atty. Claire Angeline P. Luczon,
Atty. Claire A. Padilla and Atty.  Rowena V. Guanzon, the latter, incidentally, being one of the consultants in drafting of
the RA 9262.

USE R.A.9262 or Undertaking Survivors’ Experiences (in accessing) R.A. 9262, a two-year research, capacity-building,
and networking project, is funded by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) of the
European Union.#

Comments : Leave a comment 

Tags: abuse of women, anti-VAWC, Anti-VAWC Act, Anti-VAWC Act Philippines, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, ASSIST, domestic
violence, domestic violence Philippines, EU Project Philippines, EU Project women, EU Project women's rights, European Union, European Union Philippines, European Union
project, gender violence, gender-based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Justice and Healing, Philippines domestic violence, Philippines gender-based
violence, Philippines Justice and Healing, Philippines Justice and Healing project, Philippines violence against women, project European Union, RA 9262, USE RA 9262, VAW, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women abuse, women's education, women's rights, women's rights EU
project 
Categories : Energy, Water and Environment

USE RA 9262 trains NATCCO officers, managers

10102011

by Sheena Opulencia
Cebu City, SEPTEMBER 24 – The Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable
Transformation (ASSIST) and the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) converged with the National Confederation of
Cooperatives (NATCCO) for an Awareness Training activity under the USE RA 9262 project with NATCCO Officers
and Managers on Republic Act (RA) 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC).

The Awareness Training focused on the relationship of NATCCO objectives and programs with the USE RA 9262 goals.
Ms. Mary Jardiniano of WCC facilitated the morning session by giving a thorough discussion about the law, its
provisions, implementing rules and regulations, and how it affects the plight of VAWC victim-survivors.  Participants
shared their own experiences about VAWC, highlighting the conditions of cooperative members who were also abused.

The afternoon session allowed the participants to be more interactive, with Ms. Sheena Carmel Opulencia of ASSIST
conducting the Training Design and Administration on RA 9262. Participants were asked to prepare Training Needs
Survey forms, perform Training Needs Analyses and Training Designs. The participants were encouraged to pattern their
designs according to the present conditions of their cooperatives and the general membership.

The one-day training involved officers and managers of NATCCO in the Visayas region, most of which are managing
cooperatives within communities. Ms. Emy Santos, Group Head for Member Relations and Networking of NATCCO,
coordinated with the USE RA 9262 project team as a part of their gender advocacy program. The awareness training is a
part of the USE RA 9262 indirect capacity building of other community stakeholders against VAWC. #

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Tags: anti-VAWC, Anti-VAWC Act, Anti-VAWC Act Philippines, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, ASSIST, domestic violence, domestic violence
Philippines, European Union, European Union Philippines, European Union project, gender-based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Philippines domestic
violence, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines Justice and Healing, Philippines Justice and Healing project, project European Union, RA 9262, USE RA 9262, VAW
Philippines, VAWC, VAWC Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women's education, women's rights 
Categories : Human Rights

News Commentary: Women targeted in sexual

violence in Conflict Situations
29092011
by Paula Bianca Lapuz

In Colombia, women are being sexually abused by the military, the revolutionaries and by members of a private armed
group but the government is mum about it.

This is a concrete example of women being completely, totally vulnerable in armed conflicts. A CNN report states that
this problem has become “widespread and systemic” that majority of cases go unreported (Castillo 2011). Women and
girls were perceived as “trophies of war,” notes Amnesty International, and such crimes were sustained by a culture of
impunity.

It is sad that such atrocities would still exist up to this day and age, but violence against women is probably one of the
most shameful acts that anyone can commit especially in the context of a war where death and suffering are most felt by
the combatants themselves.

What is even more appalling is the refusal of the government to associate these cases to the perennial war. Seemingly, the
government will not lift a finger to resolve this problem. Most probably because their own men are involved and perhaps
raping women is just among the consolation prizes in the battle field.

If this will continue, it is likely that Colombia will be on its way to its natural death as a society. When abusing women
becomes politically acceptable, all forms of moral foundations will erode. Families will be destroyed. This phenomenon
might probably be breeding a generation that’s accustomed to violence and moral degradation. In no way is this safe for
women and children.

Ideally, international players must be able to put pressure on the government especially when trade agreements are at
stake. But most noticeably, the United Nations has not done so much, in order to arrest the issue. What is even curious is
Colombia’s election to the United Nation Security Council in 2010, for a one year period, to represent Latin America and
the Caribbean from 2011 to 2012 (WELSH 2010) despite reports of such the abuses.

Human rights groups on the other hand can only do so much, especially when violence can erupt anywhere at any time.
Thus, the challenge to survive is even greater. Without external help, Colombian women will probably be subjected to the
same horrors time after time, generation after generation. #

Works Cited

Castillo, Mariano. CNN Latin America. September 21,

2011. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/21/world/americas/colombia-sexual-violence/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 (accessed
September 22, 2011).
WELSH, TERESA. Colombia Reports News Section. October 12,
2010. http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12326-colombia-elected-to-un-security-council.html (accessed
September 22, 2011).

Comments : Leave a comment 

Tags: anti-VAWC, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, ASSIST, domestic violence, domestic violence Philippines, European Union, European
Union Philippines, European Union project, gender-based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Philippines domestic violence, Philippines gender-based
violence, Philippines Justice and Healing, Philippines Justice and Healing project, project European Union, VAW, VAW Philippines, VAWC, violence against women, violence
against women Philippines, women advocate, women's advocate, women's education, women's rights 
Categories : Human Rights, People's Development

USE RA 9262 Project holds Barangay Campaigns from

September 16-18
16092011
Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST)and the Women’s Crisis Center are
holding Barangay Campaigns for the USE RA 9262 (Undertaking Survivors’ Experience in accessing RA 9262 – The
Anti-Violence against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC) Act) Project on September 16, 17 and 18 in Brgy. UP
Campus, Brgy. Bagong Silangan and Brgy. Sta. Lucia, respectively.
Through this activity, the Project Team hopes to advocate for changes in the law and legal procedures relevant to
addressing violence against women and their children.

Funded by the European Union, USE RA 9262 is a two-year project set to end on November 2011. It seeks to establish a
monitoring system on RA 9262 that is anchored on women’s experiences and on the enhanced capabilities of non-
government organizations handling domestic violence cases, leading to the implementation of the law that works for
women victim-survivors in reclaiming their rights.

To learn more about the project, kindly visit www.ra9262.com. #

Comments : Leave a comment 

Tags: Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, ASSIST, domestic violence, domestic violence Philippines, European Union, European Union
Philippines, European Union project, gender-based violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Philippines domestic violence, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines
Justice and Healing, Philippines Justice and Healing project, project European Union, VAW Philippines, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women's
education, women's rights 
Categories : Human Rights, People's Development

Justice and Healing Project holds 5-day Paralegal

Skills Training on VAW Litigation
22082011
WomenLEAD Foundation successfully spearheaded a five-day Paralegal Skills Training in VAW Litigation for
Community Service Providers, in El Cielito Hotel, Makati City, Philippines under the Justice and Healing Project on
August 15 to 19, 2011.
Highlights of the training include interactive discussions on what it takes to be a good paralegal, experiences of a
practicing paralegal, and the modules: Women’s Human Rights Framework and VAW (which featured talks on CEDAW
and VAW, and the Feminist Perspective of the Law), salient provisions of the different Laws on VAW, including RA
9262 (The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004); RA 9208 (The Anti-Trafficking Law of
2003); RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997); RA 8505 (The Rape Victims Assistance Act of 1998); and Article 36,
Family Code (Psychological Incapacity).

The training also delved on Evidence Gathering for VAW Cases, Civil and Criminal Procedures in VAW Cases, and
practical aspects of the paralegal practice were also covered by sessions on drafting an application for protection order
(under RA 9262), service and filing of pleadings, interviewing a VAW Survivor, and drafting an affidavit.

Participants also visited the courts and prosecutor’s offices to gain a deeper understanding of the litigation process by
witnessing an actual court proceeding or investigation proceeding in the court or at the fiscal’s office, respectively.

As a culminating activity, the participants were given case studies to work on, with them choosing the applicable legal
provisions to different cases, to follow the appropriate processes and procedures including interviewing the victim-
survivor, preparing the necessary documents, filing the case in court/fiscal’s office, and assisting the survivor in the court
process.

The participants displayed a firm grasp of the concepts, legal provisions and procedures in handling VAW cases and in
providing rights-based, gender-responsive services to women and children victims of violence. They also commended the
speakers and organizers for a thorough and comprehensive training that was also truly interactive and easily
understandable.

Participants included representatives of organizations and local government units committed to offering gender-
responsive services to women and children: BATIS Center for Women; Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia
Pacific (CATW-AP); Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA); CRIBS Foundation;
EBGAN, Inc.; Faithful Companions of Jesus Learning and Development Center; GABRIELA Women’s Organization;
GALANG Philippines; Institute for Social Studies and Action (ISSA); KALIPI-Abra; Lesbian Alliance Movement; Local
Government Unit and the Philippine National Police of Guinobatan, Albay; Marang Family Circle, Quezon City;
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC); MSWDO, Local Government of Tanay; and the University of the Philippines
Center for Women’s Studies (UP-CWS).

ASSIST helped prepare the instructional materials for the training.#

Comments : Leave a comment 
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and Healing, Philippines gender-based violence, Philippines violence against women, VAW, VAWC, violence against women, violence against women Philippines, women
abuse, women's rights, women's rights EU project 
Categories : People's Development

Justice and Healing Project Barangay Forum held

in Davao
4082011
Justice and Healing Project conducted another Barangay Forum in Barangay Dumoy, Davao City last July 22, 2011.

Please see photos below:

Project Lead Women's Feature Service Executive Director Olive Tripon introduced the Justice and Healing project.
 ASSIST Group Associate Paula Bianca Lapuz discusses the workshop guidelines.

 
 

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Tags: Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, ASSIST, European Union, European Union Philippines, European Union project, gender-based
violence, gender-based violence Philippines, Justice and Healing, Justice and Healing Philippines, Justice and Healing project, Justice and Healing project Philippines, Philippines
gender-based violence, Philippines Justice and Healing, Philippines Justice and Healing project, project European Union, VAW Philippines, violence against women, violence
against women Philippines, women's education, women's rights 
Categories : People's Development

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