Behind Every Bruise, A Story Of Silence Longs to Be Heard

 “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive," former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said. This statement speaks for itself that there is an urgent call to put into place a law such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004, more commonly known as Republic Act No. 9262 in the Philippines. The law has a significant role in criminalizing various abuses, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuses. This legal framework gives a guarantee of justice and protection to women and children from abusive situations. The significance of this law is very well realized during the annual 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women. This influential movement promotes awareness and urges action against the pervasive issue of gender-based violence with an aim to create a safer environment for all.

    The 18-day campaign leads directly to R.A. 9262, for that matter, since it happens to be an avenue towards the education of the community in terms of what lies in the provisions of the said law and what the former safeguards. It helps that it highlights the harsh truths behind violence against women because this is how survivors begin to seek help while upholding the fact that one has to make amends as a society to effectively stop such acts. In addition, it reiterates in every region that the elimination of violence does not just end there in being able to fulfill the obligation which is already established by the law itself, but rather as a moral duty.

    Apart from awareness, the campaign further encourages collaboration from different sectors: local governments, NGOs, and communities are now aligned in facing and fighting cultural norms that have been so strongly ingrained for such a long time and still sustain violence. The initiative goes very close to the heart of the global human rights movement and has been very well aligned with very important international instruments among which is the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW. In such efforts, the Philippines is not only raising public awareness on the issues but is also major contributions to developing a culture in the world whereby everybody values respect for every individual and fights against violence.

    Republic Act (RA) 8353, also known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, redefined rape as a crime against persons, emphasizing its severe violation of an individual’s dignity and human rights. This law expanded the legal definition of rape to include acts committed through force, intimidation, or when the victim is unconscious, mentally incapacitated, or under 12 years old. The law even recognized marital rape as a crime, hence ensuring that a married person is not exempted from responsibility.

    The law made rape a public offense, such that anybody who is cognizant of the commission of the crime can file a case. Prosecution could continue even if the victim forgives the offender or drops the complaint. It also provides for other forms of sexual assault, that is, those involving penetration using objects or other body parts, thus covering the different types of sexual violence. The penalty for rape may be reclusion perpetua (20-40 years imprisonment) or even death in capital cases such as rape by multiple offenders or when it results in the victim's death or insanity.

 Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, is enacted to protect individuals from sexual harassment in all types of settings such as workplaces, schools, and training venues. The law targets cases where persons with authority like employers, educators, and supervisors demand sexual favors through their influence. The law holds sexual harassment as illegal, whether or not it is connected to job security, academic performance, or benefits, and whether or not it creates a hostile and intimidating environment for the victim.

    RA 7877 imposes responsibility on employers and heads of institutions to prevent and address incidents of sexual harassment. This law mandates the formation of a Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) which will deal with complaints, ensure proper decorum and formulate clear procedures in solving cases. Offenders may be punished by imprisonment, fines, or both, and those who abet harassment by doing nothing may also be liable. Respect, equality, and dignity at the workplace and in academe are stressed under this law.

REFERENCES:

            Salengalaw. (2023, July 26). Understanding VAWC: Protecting Women and Children through RA 9262. Salenga Law Firm. https://philippinelawfirm.com/other/understanding-vawc-protecting-women-and-children-through-ra-9262/

      Republic Act No. 9262. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9262_2004.html

R.A. 8353. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1997/ra_8353_1997.html

                                              OB ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 18 - RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7877 (ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT OF 1995) - Supreme Court E-Library. (n.d.). https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/10/45610

https://isap.edu.ph/news/republic-act-no-7877-anti-sexual-harassment-act-of-1995/

https://hrep-gad.congress.gov.ph/category/homepage/laws/

https://www.dreamstime.com/fist-text-stop-violence-against-women-closeup-man-his-threateningly-closed-off-white-background-image164232645