DILG Urges LGUs to Participate in the 18-day Campaign to End VAW

To support the nationwide 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling on all local government units (LGUs) in the country to observe and participate in the annual campaign from November 25 to December 12, 2015 to increase awareness and take action to end VAW.

Through a memorandum circular, DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento enjoined all provinces, cities and municipalities to initiate activities for synchronized efforts to boost the campaign with the theme “End VAW now, It’s Our Duty…Gains and Ways Forward.”

Sarmiento also urged Metro Mayors to send participants to the 18-day kick-off activity, an assembly of anti-VAW advocacy supporters on Wednesday (Nov. 25) at 1PM to be held in Aliw Theater, Pasay City.

Based on his memo, Sarmiento said the LGUs may also participate in the ORANGE YOUR ICON FOR 18 DAYS advocacy, and hang streamers in front of their municipality, city, or provincial hall announcing the campaign and join in the online campaign to end VAW by uploading the official logo and relevant information in LGUs website, Facebook and Twitter accounts with official hashtag #endVAWph.

The LGUs, he said, may also include the 18-Day Campaign and other VAW IEC materials in LGUs publications or newsletters, conduct advocacy campaigns and production/dissemination of information materials about VAW to constituents, employees, clients and other stakeholders.

LGUs with organized Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere (MOVE) chapters are also requested to allow MOVE members among their employees to organize or join activities focused on male responsibility in ending VAW as well as co-organizing or joining regional and local advocacy events with members of the regional and local Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (RCATVAWC/LCATVAWC).

Metro Manila LGUs are also encouraged to participate in the following activities led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the lead agency in the annual campaign: a) Kick off Activity – Assembly of Anti-VAW Advocacy Supporters on November 25, 2015; b) Promoting Safe Communities: A Forum with Male Advocates Against Violence Everywhere, AFP Theatre, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (Open to all MALE Officials and employees) on December 1; c) Barangay VAW Desks Persons Congress (guidelines for participation of Barangays to be issued by DILG and PCW) on December 2 and; d) Cine Juana 2015 Film Festival (open to public, free admission, PCW to issue announcement on films and screening schedules) on December 8-10, 2015.

Furthermore, Sarmiento urged the LGUs to submit a calendar of activities to PCW to map out various campaign activities throughout the country and are advised to feature announcements, reports, photos, and videos of their respective campaigns in their official agency websites, and send a link to the PCW site at media@pcw.gov.ph.

LGU expenses related to the annual VAW campaign may be charged to the Gender and Development (GAD) budget as reflected in their respective GAD Plan for 2015.

Pursuant to RA 10398, November 25 to December 12 of every year was declared as the 18-Day National Campaign to End Violence Against Women. The Philippines has been joining the annual worldwide campaign since 2002.

Source: www.dilg.gov.ph