ILOILO City – Each person can contribute to the campaign to end violence against women (VAW), according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 which is spearheading an 18-day drive to raise public awareness on the problem.
While the latest statistics showing a drop in VAW in Western Visayas appeared encouraging, the problem should still be viewed as alarming, said May Rago, regional information officer of DSWD-6.
The goal is to totally eliminate VAW.
Data from the Police Regional Office 6’s Women and Children Protection Desk showed a 60.34 percent drop in VAW cases this year in the region – 1,540 incidents so far in 2018 from 3,883 incidents recorded in 2017.
Iloilo province had the most number of reported cases at 423, although this is much lower than the 667 cases recorded last year.
Negros Occidental had the most number of VAW cases last year at 1,067. So far this year, 242 only cases had been reported.
Other provinces’ VAW cases were as follows:
* Aklan – 193 this year from 533 in last year
* Antique – 62 this year from 166 last year
* Capiz – 187 this year from 389 last year
* Guimaras – 59 this year from 101 last year
* Iloilo City – 321 this year from 470 last year
* Bacolod City – 53 this year from 491 last year
The 18-day campaign against VAW kicked off on Nov. 25. The campaign theme is “VAW-free Community Starts with Me.”
According to Rago, the theme, as adopted by the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women (IACVAW), elevates the campaign to a positive advocacy.
It enjoins everyone to pursue the common vision of a community free from violence against women and girls, and highlights what can be done to achieve such, said Rago.
IACVAW, composed of concerned government agencies, was created by virtue of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) to ensure the effective implementation of the law.
Individuals or groups are encouraged to organize their own event and invite others to join that event.
Government agencies, non-government organizations, sectoral groups, private and civic organizations are also enjoined to conduct their own activities in line with this year’s campaign theme and focus.
One can get in touch with the Regional and Local Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking in Persons, VAW council, and Child Pornography (regional/local IACATVAW) in their area to know how to participate in regional and local activities./PN
