BAGUIO CITY – The Sectoral Committee on Social Development of the Regional Development Council (RDC) approved a proposed resolution enjoining all regional line agencies (RLAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs) to organize Men Opposed Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) as partner in eliminating cases of gender-based violence during its 3rd Quarter Meeting on August 10 at the RDC Hall here.
Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Director Leo L. Quintilla, the Chairperson for Social Protection Committee, said the creation of MOVE aims to institutionalize and to support the national quest for a Violence Against Women(VAW)-free Philippines by integrating the Gender and Development programs of national agencies, LGUs and other government instrumentalities.
Republic Act 9710, known as “The Magna Carta of Women” declared that the State shall ensure that all women shall be protected from all forms of violence and all government agencies are mandated to implement their duties related to women’s human rights as stated in the Act, Quintilla explained.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) also requires nations to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in all areas and promotes women’s full enjoyment of human rights
The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women describes VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
Quintilla shared that the Regional Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (RCAT-VAWC) data from 56 LGUs in the Cordillera showed that cases of gender-based violence increased from 2021 to 2022 by 25 percent, and 96% of the victim survivors are women.
The RCAT-VAWC is a policy-making body established under the Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 to coordinate, monitor and oversee the implementation of RA 9775 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, and other gender-based related laws in the region.
The RCAT-VAWC Cordillera strongly recommends for all the RLAs, SUCs, and LGUs to organize their own MOVE as part of the prevention mechanisms in the elimination of any form of gender-based violence in the communities. The fund necessary for implementation of said policy shall be included in the 5% GAD fund of the RLAs, SUCs and LGUs(JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR)
