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Campaign Background
According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index Report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines continues to lead as the most gender-equal country in Asia, with a 79.1 percent gender parity, and is ranked 16th out of 146 countries worldwide. However, it is essential to acknowledge that violence against women (VAW) and girls persists in the country in various forms. This pressing reality reinforces the collective responsibility of every Juan and Juana to take a dedicated stance against VAW. This concerted effort aims to pave the way toward a VAW-free Philippines.
Defined by the United Nations as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life,” VAW remains a pervasive social dilemma that violates women’s rights and fundamental freedoms up to this day.
In the Philippines alone, 18 percent of women (1 in 5) aged 15-49 have experienced any form of physical, sexual, or emotional violence by their current or most recent husband/intimate partner, as reported on the 2022 Philippine National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Globally, 30 percent of women (about 1 in 3) have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, as indicated by estimates published by the World Health Organization.
In summary, VAW is considered a major public health problem as it:
1) affects a woman’s attitudes, behaviors, and sense of self;
2) limits her potential, growth, and personal development;
3) jeopardizes her health, safety, and welfare, and;
4) impacts not only her family but even her community.
Nonetheless, with the united efforts of the government and the citizenry, VAW can be prevented and eventually stopped from happening.