Women’s congress marks milestone; help continues

The start of construction of a women’s crisis center in Sudlon, barangay Lahug in Cebu City and assistance to victims of abuse were among the accomplishments cited by the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission.

In yesterday’s annual Women’s Congress at the Capitol Social Hall, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, PWC co-chairperson said they lobbied for and won support for the women’s center which broke ground last March 1, the start of Women’s Month.

From an advocacy group that went from town to town to raise awareness on gender equality and protection of women’s rights, the commission evolved into an avenue for providing legal aid to women and children in crisis.

“We were passionately advocating women empowerment in the towns and even in the barangay level,” Magpale told 600 advocates at the congress.

She said the PWC also provided livelihood training and affidavit-taking training for police and social workers.

Accomplishments
Present during the congress yesterday were gender and development officers, women advocates, committee on women chairpersons, from different towns of the five districts of Cebu.
Magpale presented the PWC’s accomplishment report in the past year.

The council is presently handling 153 active cases.

She said the commission provided psychosocial and medico-legal intervention to 495 victims of violence through the Pink Room at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and Zonta Club.

Nearly 1,600 victims of child abuse and 16 adult victims of abuse and other forms of violence were given shelter.

The council also facilitated intervention for 694 victims of child abuse and 1,027 victims of psychological abuse.

Efforts of the PWC led to  the detention of eight offenders who await resolution of their cases.

One foreign offender was recently convicted.  Another one was deported, and one is the subject of a hold-departure order.  Two are out on bail while one foreign national remains at large.

Sad reality
Magpale said domestic violence still tops the list of cases the PWC is handling.

She lamented that  some victims prefer to stay silent rather than press charges against their abusive spouses.

“Cases are either settled amicably or are withdrawn for reasons of compassion and fear of being left alone. It’s a sad reality that some victims who are already being given help refuse to file a complaint,” she said.

She called on ordinary women to take to heart this year’s Women’s Month celebration theme: “Juana, ang imong hukom bililhon sa among kaugmaonon. Ikaw na!”

“Our theme isn’t just applicable to women leaders and decision-makers but to all women out there,” she added.