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Violence Against Women (VAW)

 

A. Definitions, Types and Common Forms of Abuse

What is violence?

These are acts that;

  • Cause injury / harm
  • Intimidate / cause fear
  • Demean / Humiliate

What is violence against women?

  • Systematic violence directed against women and girls across class, education, culture, ethnicity
  • Any gender-based violence, whether physical, sexual or social, that results in suffering among women, including threats of such acts

What are types of violence committed against women?

  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Mental/Emotional

What are its common forms?

  • Wife battering
  • Rape and Sexual Harrassment
  • Incest and Child Abuse
  • White slavery and Pornography
  • Custodial Abuse

B. Psychology of Violence

What motivates a person to commit violence?

  • Need to establish / maintain power and control (50% or more)
  • Revenge (40% or less)
  • Mental instability, including drug abuse (5% or less)

What are the characteristics common to abusive persons?

  • Low self-esteem
  • Angry, hostile
  • Lack of impulse control
  • Lack of appropriate coping skills
  • Inappropriate expectation from spouse/children
  • Ambivalence towards marital/family responsibility
  • Stressed
  • Isolated from community
  • Abused as a child

C. Signs of Abuse

What are the physical signs?

  • Redness, swelling, bruises
  • Wounds, scars
  • Burns
  • Fractures
  • Loss of weight

What are the emotional signs?

  • Eating disorder
  • Sleeping disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

D. Interventions

Why should VAW be a public concern?

  • VAW affects Health - it mames, kills and causes chronic health problems
  • VAW affects Human Rights - it violates rights to security, freedom of movement, dignity, and pursuit of happiness
  • VAW affects Development - it disempowers women

What are some interventions for VAW?

  • Patient care
  • Medical care
  • Counseling
  • Patient education
  • Referral (medical, psychological, legal, shelter, financial/job opportunities)
  • Public awareness-building
  • Community / mass mobilizations
  • Networking
  • Policy advocacy
  • Legislative advocacy

E. VAW and the Law

Where can VAW find legal relief?

a. Family Code

  • Article 72 - Rights and obligations between husbands and wives
  • Article 55 - Legal seperation
  • Article 36 - Pyschological incapacity

b. Provisions of the Penal Code

  • Article 262 on mutilation
  • Article 263 on serious physical injuries
  • Article 265 on less physical injuries
  • Article266 on slight physical injuries needing medical attention
  • Article 246 on parricide (killing one's spouse)
  • Article 248 on murder
  • Article 249 on homicide
  • Article 247 on death or physical injuries inflicted under expcetional circumstances

c. RA 8505 - Rape Victim Assistance & Protection Act of 1998

d. RA 8353 - The Anti-Rape law of 1997

e. RA 7877 - Anti Sexual Harrassment Act of 1995

F. Where to get help in Region 8, the Eastern Visayas

Runggiyan collaborates with other NGOs and government agencies in the different parts of Eastern Visayas in providing help and support to women and children survivors of domestic violence. Should you need information, counseling, emergency shelter and other services , please contact :


Tacloban City, Leyte
- Women's Support Center, Runggiyan. Tel: 053-523-5903
Tacloban City, Leyte DSWD 8- Crisis Intervention Unit Tel: 053-325-2906
Palo, Leyte - DSWD’s The Haven and Home for Girls. Tel: 053-323-2872 or 053-323-3145
Baybay, Leyte
- Abanse! Pinay Women and Children Crisis Center. Tel: 053-335-4318
Calbayog City, Samar - Bantay Abuso Network Tel: 055-209-6440
Naval, Biliran - Crisis Center for Women Tel: 053-500-9014
Hinundayan, Southern Leyte - SPIADFI, Tel: 0920-517-9360


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