The City Government of Davao, through the Integrated Gender and Development Department (IGDD) and partner national government agencies, security sector, and various organizations launched on Wednesday the 18-day campaign against violence against women at SM Ecoland.
Lorna Mandin, IGDD Head, told reporters on Wednesday that the event received warm support from participating stakeholders, including the barangay councils of women from the city’s 182 barangays.
She said that for years, the campaign helped remind women to speak-up and speak out their concerns.
She said that each year, an average of 2,000 cases of violence against women are reported and 70 percent of these are cases of economic abuse by husbands and intimate partners.
Mandin said the high number of reports is due to the high number of available means of reporting cases of violence against women.
“Tungod sa high level of awareness it will somehow lead to reporting. Because in other places pareho man ta nga nay balaod pero dili sila muadto sa mga ahensya para magreport, una mahadlok walay idea asa muadto no pero dinhi sa atoa rigid, active pud kayo ang atong partners atong NGO and CSOs sa kampanya so muabot gyud sa mga hilit na barangays mao na muduol sila kay na-popularize man nato unsa, kinsa kinsa ning mga service providers, muadto sila sa mga police sa hospitals muadto sila sa atong mga social workers mga BHWs. Pasabot daghan og entry points maskin in the barangay level ana ta’y VAWC desks (Because of the high level of awareness, it will somehow lead to more reporting. In other places, even though they also have laws, people do not go to agencies to report—first, because they are afraid, and second, because they have no idea where to go. But here, our system is firm, and our partners—our NGOs and CSOs—are very active in the campaign, so the information reaches even the far-flung barangays. That’s why people come forward, because we have popularized who the service providers are. They go to the police, to the hospitals, to our social workers, to the BHWs. This means there are many entry points. Even at the barangay level, we have a VAWC desks,” she said.
Mandin added that within the 18-day campaign, a survivor’s summit, which will showcase the experience of women and enable them to review delivery of services, will be held.
A multi-sectoral tourism forum on anti-online abuse will also be held. The observance of the campaign will end on December 12 which coincides with the International Day Against Trafficking.
Mandin said that in all of the observances on violence against women, they invite participation by men and boys as they are important in curbing these cases.
“Hinaot na muabot ta sa yugto na wala na’y pagpangabuso, ug pagpangdaog-daog–a violence free society (Hopefully, we will reach a point where there is no more abuse or mistreatment—a violence-free society),” she said. CIO
