Law on anti-violence against women and their children underscored

To heighten the awareness of the public especially women and children, Atty. Elena Gerochi, Asst. Provincial Prosecutor, tackled Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act during the Semi-Annual Staff Development Seminar of Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) headed by Neneth Pador recently held in the capitol.

Gerochi said this Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, which was signed into law by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 8, 2004 and took effect on March 27, 2004.

She explained RA 9262 is any act/acts committed by any person against a woman who may be wife/former wife, or with whom the abuser has or had a sexual/dating relationship, or with whom the abuser has a common child; or the woman's child, whether legitimate or illegitimate.

Gerochi added the acts are committed within or outside the family residence and result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, economic abuse, threats of such act, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or deprivation of liberty.

Some of the violence against women and their children that she stressed include physical violence, sexual violence (rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating the woman or her child as sex object, making demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the victim's body, forcing the victim to watch obscene publications and indecent shows, forcing the victim to do indecent acts and/or make films thereof, forcing the wife and mistress/lover to live in the conjugal home or to sleep together in the same room with the abuser, and prostituting the woman or her child, among others);

Physical violence (intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, public ridicule/humiliation, repeated sexual abuse, marital infidelity and unwanted deprivation of the right to custody and/or visitation of common children, among others); economic abuse (preventing the victim from engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation, business or activity, deprivation of financial resources and the right to conjugal, community or property owned in common and destroying household property or controlling the victim's own money or properties).

Gerochi also discussed the violations and corresponding penalties provided under RA 9262.

On the other hand, Social Welfare Officer Eduardo Guevarra of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 6 gave the participants updates on Youth Programs being undertaken of the said office while Social Welfare Officer Joy Superio talked about the update on programs for children and women and PSWDO Planning Division Chief Nema Villan discussed feedback on Provincial and Regional Early Childhood Development Assessment.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada commended this endeavor that strengthens the knowledge of Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers because “the more you know, the more powerful you become.”

He said the provincial government will continue to support social welfare programs by providing livelihood and skills for women and upholding their rights and their children. (Capitol News)