DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Nov. 29  (PIA) -- The province of Negros Oriental has joined the nationwide observance of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) with a series of activities focusing on this year’s campaign slogan, “Filipino Marespeto; Safe Spaces, Kasali Ta.”

The campaign to end VAW is observed annually from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12 nationwide.

This will be highlighted with a Kapihan Forum on Dec. 1 and a Women’s Summit on Dec. 3 with officials from the Provincial Commission on Women (PCW) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as convenor.

This year's campaign seeks to raise awareness of the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313 or SSA) among the general public as well as the organizations tasked with enforcing the law.

Part of the celebration also include site validation and screening for the entries of this year’s search for “Babayeng Garbo and Babayeng Garbo Katilingban” which is already on its fourth year.

The search aims to honor outstanding woman individual and groups working for the advancement of gender equality and women empowerment in a community or province.

Meanwhile, the Kapihan aims to raise public concern and support towards the protection of women and girls rights against all forms of violence to attain VAW-free province.

The panel of discussants invited during the Kapihan include PLt. Mariela Mira of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who will discuss updates on VAW cases in the province; Prof. Phoebe Tan, deputy chair of the Provincial Commission on Women, who will tackle the theme of the celebration and the major provisions of the said law; Provincial Gender and Development Focal Person Josefina Columna who will talk on the programs that promote Safe Spaces Act in the provincial government and ways to practice gender-fair language in the workplace; and Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Farrah Gentuya who will share DILG’s directives for local government units to promote Safe Spaces Act at the 18-Day Campaign to end VAW.

Other activities lined up for the celebration are Gender Sensitivity Training and Orientation on Women’s Laws for provincial government employees on Dec. 9-10 and program review and assessment on the functionality of Inter-Agency Trafficking in Person and Violence Against Women and Children on Dec. 15. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)