The campaign against violence against women and children will kick off next week on November 25 to December 12. The choice of dates is significant: Nov. 25 is the feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria who died a violent death at a very young age for her steadfast faith and defiance of a tyrant ruler. She is known as the patroness of young women, philosophers and preachers. She was also one of the voices heard by St. Joan of Arc, who led her people against the tyrants ruling her country.
Cebu Province came up with a Women Development Code in 2005 per Provincial Board Ordinance No. 2005-18 through the efforts of the Provincial Women’s Commission headed by Hon. Agnes Magpale, with consultations among women’s groups in the province. The Code came out much earlier than the Magna Carta of Women in 2008.
Article II of Chapter II of the Women Development Code centers on Violence Against Women. Twenty-five sections define various forms of violence: physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse; sexual and psychological battering; trafficking in women; sexual harassment ; pedophilia; prohibition of printing, publication, display and distribution of pornographic scenes on Movie/TV trailers/shows, cyberspace, posters, billboards and other materials and similar literature. Other sections define pornographic and indecent shows; live shows, comprehensive support to women-survivors of violence; prostitution as a violation of women’s rights; local monitoring board for violence in media; assignment of female police officer; and the creation of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral coordinating council on family violence.
Despite these laws and ordinances, reports of violence against women and children continue. For the election season ahead, it is imperative to look into sections of the Women Development Code of Cebu Province that involve more concerted action from the community.
For example, comprehensive support for women-survivors of violence includes: immediately conducting an investigation within 24 hours, providing for counseling, legal and medical services for the offended party; gather evidence for the arrest and prosecution of the offenders. A report of the investigation, on the basis of the offended party’s testimony and additional evidence, if any, should be endorsed to the proper prosecution office within 36 hours from the time of filing, regardless of the evaluation of the case. The investigation officer or the examining physician, if possible of the same sex as the offended party, ensures that only persons expressly authorized by the latter are allowed inside the room where the investigation or medical or physical examination is being conducted.
Women victims-survivors shall be registered in a community-based psychological program that shall assist the women in holistically rebuilding and empowering themselves. All investigations/court trials involving rape cases and other forms of violence against women conducted in the police stations, Prosecutor’s Office and the trial courts shall recognize the survivor’s social support groups as expressly allowed or requested by the offended party. A temporary shelter with appropriate support services for women in crises shall be built under the management and supervision of the Provincial Social Services and Development Office. To address domestic violence, the Code called for the creation of a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral coordinating council on family violence. It will also design protocols and mechanism for identification, assessment and interventions on family violence through the Provincial Gender and Development Office in coordination with women NGOs.
The Legal Alternatives for Women Center, Inc. (LAW Inc.) which was instrumental in establishing the Code has been using the Code in its programs and projects for empowering women. In fact, its executive director Lolet Aliño, discusses the Code in the radio program “Tingog sa Kababayen-an” every Sunday on Bantay Radyo from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The program is a school on the air regarding women’s rights, issues and concerns. I am honored to have been invited to co-anchor the program.
To make the Code meaningful to women, I am translating it into Cebuano (to date, I am halfway done with the translation). Hopefully, the complete Cebuano version will see print, be distributed, discussed, and used as reference in gender-sensitive orientations in the community, the schools, the work place, and at home.
Several years ago, the Women Development Code was used in dealing with the case of the bikini show in Bantayan Island on a Black Saturday. Those who have not read the Code should start now. Copies are available at the Office of LAW Inc. or you can contact [email protected].
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