25/11/2022
Carcar Water District in cooperation with the CWD Gender and Development Focal Point System (GAD-FPS) supports the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) from November 25 - December 12, 2022.
The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW supports the Philippine governmentโs goal of protecting the human rights of women and girls by upholding its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. By virtue of Republic Act 10398 or the Act declaring November 25 of every year as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of VAWC, government agencies are mandated to raise awareness on the problem of violence and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
Globally, the 16-day action against gender-based violence has been acknowledged to support the international campaign that originated from the first Women Leadership Institute at Reuters University, New Jersey, USA in 1991. The observance of this campaign started in November 25, which is the International Day to Eliminate VAW up to December 10, which is the International Human Rights Day, to emphasize that VAW is a human rights violation and to ensure better protection for survivors and victims of violence.
In 2002, the Philippine Government, through the Philippine Commission on Women and key stakeholders joined the global campaign, initially to push for laws and the establishment of institutional mechanisms to address VAW.
In 2006, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1172, extending the national campaign to 18 days, thereby including December 12, a historic date that marked the signing in the year 2000 of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, to supplement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes.
The campaign was further strengthened in 2008 when the United Nations Secretary General launched the UNiTE to End VAW Campaign, which envisions a world free from all forms of violence against women and girls. For the UN, this vision can only be realized through meaningful actions and ongoing political commitments of national governments, supported by adequate resources.
2022 Campaign Theme and Objectives
The 2022 campaign will highlight the strides made in anti-VAW efforts in line with the Philippinesโ 20th year of participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. In 2002, the Philippine government joined this global campaign with the call to action to immediately pass the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Republic Act 9208 was enacted in 2003. The succeeding years of the campaign became instrumental in advocating for the passage of other anti-VAW laws and promoting or popularizing the same.
This includes the enactment of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act or RA 9262 in the year 2004, the adoption of RA 9208 and RA 9262 Implementing Rules and Regulations, and the creation of Inter-Agency Councils and Committees and the national, regional, and local levels to oversee the popularization and implementation of the laws.
With this milestone, this yearโs campaign also aims to gain insights as to where the country is in understanding and acting on VAW. The major activities will endeavor to gauge the awareness of citizens on VAW and its forms and manifestations as well as underscore the gains attained in the journey towards a VAW-free community.
Objectives
The 2022 18-Day Campaign to End VAW aims to:
1. Promote awareness on the forms of violence women and girls experience, provide information on the laws protecting women and girls, and feature VAW-related services that people can access and avail;
2. Gather insights on the general publicโs level of awareness on VAW, specifically on the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (Republic Act 9262 ) , Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act 11313), and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act 9208 as amended by Republic Act No. 11862)
3. Highlight the gains and milestones in the efforts to prevent and address VAW and the Philippinesโ participation in the global campaign to end it.
source: https://pcw.gov.ph/2022-18-day-campaign-to-end-violence.../
