DSWD7 Heads 18-Day Campaign to End VAW

As the lead agency in social welfare protection, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII spearheads the 18-Day campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW) with the theme End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty!: Gains and Ways Forward in cooperation with the members of the Regional Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (RIACAT).

As a kick-off event DSWD7 leads a parade today (November 25, 2015) from Jones Avenue to Plaza Sugbu where the opening ceremonies will be conducted. The parade is expected to start at 6:00AM.

RIACAT members like Department of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Education, Philippine National Police among others are expected to grace the event.

The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) is observed annually from November 25 to December 12. The objective of this annual event is to raise awareness among all stakeholders that VAW is a public issue of national concern. It supports the Philippine Government’s goal to protect the human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of VAW. The following issuances provide the national legal mandates for the annual campaign:

• Proclamation 1172 s. 2006 – Declaring 25 November to 12 December as the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)
• Republic Act 10398 (2013) – Declaring November 25 of Every Year as National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children

In the Philippines, the campaign is considered as another turning point in our anti-VAW advocacy. The expected change in leadership at the national and local levels by mid-2016, makes this year’s campaign a fitting time for duty-bearers and advocates to reflect and take stock of milestones and accomplishments in the last five years (gains), continue looking forward to our vision of a VAW-free community, and identify concrete / actionable steps towards reaching that vision (ways forward).

Stakeholders at the national, regional and local level are encouraged to highlight these topics in their respective activities, and make their reports available online through their official websites. By identifying our gains and making these results available online, we will be able to recognize the efforts of duty-bearers in fulfilling their mandates and inform the public that programs and services are in place and available for them. Identifying our ways forward on the other hand will help us keep on track, set our goals and accountabilities.

Moreover, every year women’s groups from different regions of the world observe 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 to December 10). It originated from the First Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. The campaign links November 25 (International Day Against VAW) and December 10 (International Human Rights Day) to emphasize that VAW is a human rights violation.

The global campaign was further strengthened with the launching in 2008 of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End VAW Campaign which envisions a world free from all forms of violence against women and girls. The UN believes that the campaign can only be realized through meaningful actions and ongoing political commitments of national governments, backed by adequate resources.

In support of the activity the Philippine Commission on Women is encouraging everyone to wear orange starting today until December 12.

The idea to use orange is to attract the public’s curiosity and get involved. The color also represents a future free from violence against women and girls. (Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer)