Saying no to violence on women and children
Women and children are important in the socio-economic development of the country. This is apart fro the fact that they, too are God's precious children.
However, women and children, in many parts of the world, are still considered as the weaker sectors of society, thus they become victims of violence.
So, how do we say no to violence on women and children?
First is to recognize that the Philippine government protects their rights through Republic Act 9262. This law protects a woman and child from any act of violence. This is called the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, whereby a victim can seek protection for one's safety and security through a protection order. Here are some important contents of the law that one should know.
DIFFERENT ACTS OF VIOLENCE
PHYSICAL. Refers to acts resulting in bodily and physical harm.
SEXUAL. Refers to an act which is sexual in nature -- rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, making sexually-aggressive remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the victim's body, treating a woman or her child as a sex object;
Forcing her and or her child to watch obscene publications and shows, forcing her or her child to do indecent acts and or make lewd films, forcing the wives and mistress or lover to live or sleep together in the same room or in the conjugal home, or prostituting the woman her child.
PSYCHOLOGICAL. Refers to acts causing, or likely to cause mental or emotional sufferings through intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, and repeated verbal abuse and marital infidelity, or allowing the victim to witness physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a family member, or even to witness abusive injury to pets.
ECONOMIC. Refers to acts that make, or attempt to make a woman financially dependent through withdrawal of financial support, or preventing the victim from engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation, business or activity, except in cases wherein the spouse or partner objects on valid, serious and moral grounds. This also includes acts of deprivation of financial resources and of the use and enjoyment of property owned in common, acts that destroy household property, acts that control the victim's own money or properties, and acts that solely control conjugal money or properties.
REMEDIES
The remedies that are available to prevent further acts of violence are applying for a protection order, filing a criminal case against the offender or both. A protection order is issued to prevent further acts of violence against a woman and her child, and to grand other necessary reliefs to safeguard the victim from further harm.
There are three types of protection orders. First is the Barangay Protection Order 9BPO) issued by the village chief ordering the offender to desist from committing acts of violence resulting to physical harm or threats of physical harm. One can get this from the Punong Barangay or the village officials were the respondent lives or works. This order is good for 15 days.
The second is the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) which is issued by the court to prevent the commission of violence. The Regional Trial Court of Family Court issues this and is good for 30 days.
The third is the Permanent Protection Order (PPO), which is issued by the court after notice and hearing. The Regional Trial Court or Family orders this and is valid as long as the respondent is alive or until revoked by the court.
RELIEFS
A victim will be provided reliefs from the issuance of protection orders. Some of these are: prohibiting the abuser from harassing, annoying, telephoning, communication with the victim; removes or excludes the respondent from the residence of the petitioner temporarily or permanently; directs the respondent to stay way from the petitioner, and any designated family our household member, at a distance, and to stay away from the residence, school, place of employment or any specific place;
Directs the possession and use by the petitioner of an automobile and other essential personal effects, regardless of ownership; grants temporary or permanent custody of a child or children to the petitioner; directs the respondent to provide support to the woman and or her child, which may be automatically deducted from respondent's salary and remitted directly to the petitioner; prohibits respondents to pay for actual damages caused by the violence; and directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide petitioner temporary shelter.
WHERE TO SEEK HELP
In Iloilo City, these are the agencies where one can seek help: PNP Women and Children's Desk located at the Iloilo City PNP Compound, General Luna Street; DSWD Crisis Center in front of the BIR Building in Molo; Commission on Human Rights in front of City Hall at the 3rd floor of the DBP Building; Public Attorney's Office at the Hall of Justice; PNP Women and Children's Desk of the town or municipality; Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of the town; Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC); and Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC); and the Women and Children's Protection Unit at the Western Visayas Medical Center, Mandurriao.
The above mentioned information were provided y the Zonta Club of Iloilo II Inc., a non-government corporation that works for the welfare of women.