Did You Know? Today is the Int’l Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Today (Wednesday), November 25, 2020, is the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” according to the United Nations.

Violence against women (VAW) is defined by the United Nations, Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

Based on the National Demographic Health Survey 2017 which was released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, 1 in 4 Filipino women, aged 15-49, has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence from their husband or partner.

Moreover, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 3 women (35%) worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner in their lifetime.

This violence is among the most widespread human rights violations in the world today that it is even one of our country’s pervasive social problems. However, according to the United Nations, it remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma, and shame that surround it.

The Campaign to End Violence Against Women

So for this year’s observance of the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”, the Philippine Commission on Women of the Republic of the Philippines has employed an advocacy campaign to address VAW and they call it the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women”.

The said campaign was mandated by Proclamation 1172 s. 2006: Declaring November 25 to December 12 of Every Year as the “18 Day Campaign to End Violence against Women and it was done by Former President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

2020 18-Day Campaign to End VAW

“The 2020 Campaign comes at a time when the country is reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic that aggravated underlying gender issues and affected marginalized and vulnerable sectors. Women may experience different forms of VAW while locked down in their homes with the perpetrators. The implementation of varying community quarantine measures also hindered victims to seek help.”

– Philippine Commission on Women of the Republic of the Philippines

Thus, the commission revealed that this year’s campaign is aligned towards strengthening local mechanisms and building on the required competencies of barangay officials in responding to VAW/GBV-related situations, with the theme “VAW-free community starts with Me”.

For More News and Updates

Keep up with what’s happening within and beyond the City of Baguio. Feel free to explore our Baguio City Guide website and our Baguio City Guide Facebook page to catch more news and updates.

 

Source: United Nations, Philippine Commission on Women| Republic of the Philippines, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations| Human Rights| Office of the High Commissioner