THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 6 listed some ways on how individuals, groups and institutions can fight violence against women (VAW). Here are some of them:
For woman/girl
* Empower yourself. Know your rights and available courses of actions in case these rights are violated.
* Speak out and report to the authorities in case your rights are violated.
* Encourage others to fight for their rights.
For man/boy
* Respect women and girls in your home, workplace, and community.
* Join male groups promoting anti-VAW efforts and participate in discussions to broaden your awareness on the advocacy.
* Enlighten/advise perpetrators to seek help and join the male Anti-VAW supporters.
Government agencies
* Equip yourselves with apt trainings and capacity development sessions to improve service delivery for your clients.
* Develop monitoring and evaluation strategy to assess the service to your clients supporters.
* Let people know that you provide the services. We need to inform the public that there are government offices that they can turn to and trust to assist them towards healing and seeking justice.
Barangay
* Ensure that your Barangay VAW Desk is functional. You can use the Barangay VAW Desk Handbook developed by the Philippine Commission on Women and Department of Interior and Local Government with partner agencies to guide you on what to do.
* Establish linkages with local and national government agencies, as well as other organizations near your barangay where you can refer victim-survivors of VAW for needed assistance which the barangay is not able to provide.
* Promote harmonious family and community relationships in your barangay which is grounded on mutual respect for human rights, and take proactive steps to attain a VAW-free community.
Private sector
* Support the anti-VAW efforts of the government and your immediate community.
* Establish your own Action Desks where employees and clients can go to in case VAW happens.
* Develop internal rules to proactively ensure that your workplace is VAW-free.
Academe/training institutions
* Include concepts of VAW and womenâs human rights in lesson plans/lesson guides of your teaching staff
* Continually conduct/spearhead anti-VAW advocacies in your campus, and if possible, to your immediate community through extension programs.
* Setup a Committee on Decorum and Investigation where students and employees can seek help./PN
