Mindanaoaotoday.com | Campaign vs VAW launched in NorMin
By: Irene Joy Dayo
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking, Violence Against Women and Children and Anti-Child Pornography (RIACAT-VAWC-ACP)-10 launched, November 25 the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women through a program held at Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria, here.
Rosemarie Conde, Department of Social Welfare and Development-10 (DSWD-10) assistant regional director for operations, said that “violence against women and girls is not just a major public health problem but also a grave violation of human rights. It extremely manifests gender inequity, targeting women and girls because of their subordinate status in the society.”
Also present at the event was City Councilor Joyleen Mercedes “Girlie” Balaba, who is also chairperson of the Committee on Social Services.
Balaba said that she is pushing for free legal counseling for women in Cagayan de Oro City. There are many abuses that women encounter, and one is being abused economically by their husbands, a concern that special counseling can look into.
“If we are together in looking over the welfare for women, we can protect them and promote their rights. In this way, they will be productive in their lives, and we can assure the progress of our city through their contribution,” the councilor shared.
Together with Balaba, City Councilor and Chairperson for the Committee on Women and Family Relations, Imee Moreno, attended the ceremony.
She said that the kick-off activity is an indication that VAW has never stopped and will continue to pursue if actions are not taken, not only from the local government and national government but from all the stakeholders.
“As I was learning through the VAWC issues, I realized that yes, thank you to former Councilor Inday Dahino for creating the ordinance on VAWC desks in all barangays. However, I realized that maybe, one step closer to eradicating violence against women is empowering and strengthening our VAWC desk officers, because it is through these officers that our constituents are given more courage to come forward,” she said.
For her part, Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Uy said it has been years since Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-violence Against Women and their Children Law, was passed and enacted.
“The state values the dignity of women and children and guarantees them full respect for their human rights. So in particular, we have to protect our women and children from violence and threats to their personal safety and security,” she said.
The regional prosecutor also thanked everyone who participated in the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW and did so much in their own simple way to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.
“The law will never be effective without the support of the community and all the stakeholders. That means all of us here present. May we all take to heart that eliminating violence against women and children must be our common goal. This is an issue that concerns all of us, involves all of us, and thus requires all of us to work together to achieve this common goal of eliminating policy in our communities,” she said.
The launching of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW in Cagayan de Oro City also highlighted a motorcade around the city and the distribution of informational, educational, and communication materials to hotels and inns to entice them to get involved in the campaign, which will culminate on December 12. (IJBD | PIA-10)
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