BAGUIO CITY(PIA)-- Month-long activities are being planned out for the joint celebration  of  the  2023 National Children’s Month, 12th Juvenile Justice Welfare Consciousness Week in November 21-27, and 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and their Children (Nov. 25-December 12) in November.

In a meeting of the  interagency  Technical Working Group composed of members of the  Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee, Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children and the Regional Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women and their Children (RCAT-VAWC) identified initial activities.    

To  kick off the celebration will be a launching program and a Kapihan forum on November 3.

Other activities include  radio guesting over PIA Hour at Z-Radio,  NYC Hour at Radyo Pilipinas Baguio,  and PRO Cordillera Hour, a Parent Bata Talk dubbed as “PaBa Talk”,  and a short story filming for in-school children based on NCM theme highlighting  the rights of children.

A VAW Parade is set  on Nov. 25 followed by a Zumba at the Burnham Rose Garden to start  the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW.

To culminate the joint celebration will be a Women’s Health Convention: One-Stop-Shop Services for Women   on December 12 with the Department of Health Center for Health Development Cordillera (DOH-CAR) as  the lead agency.

The Women’s Health Convention features provision of health services such as Cervical Cancer Screening, HIV Screening, Family Planning Services  and counselling, eye check-up, basic dental services, Psychosocial (mental health), nutrition assessment,   and distribution of contraceptives, COVID-19 Vaccination, Universal Health Care   and PHilHealth Booth - Information dissemination, and Male Involvement Class or KATROPA.

It also includes legal counseling, social protection, personal grooming, birth registration, therapeutic, orientation on the Men Opposed to Violence against Women Everywhere (MOVE), and men and women empowerment.

Glenda Dacanay from the Women and Child Protection Program of DOH-CAR explained the activity  aims to raise awareness about VAW, its various forms, and its impact on individuals, families, and communities to help break the culture of silence around VAW and encourage people to speak out against it.  

It also intends  to empower survivors of VAW by providing information about available support services and legal remedies to help survivors feel more confident in seeking help and taking action to protect themselves. (JDP/MAWC-PIA-CAR)