2023 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

Campaign Background

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.

Campaign Theme

To continuously advocate for the prevention and elimination of VAW in the country, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is calling for solidarity among every Juan and Juana as it leads the annual 18-day Campaign to End VAW with the 2022-2027 recurring campaign theme, “UNITEd for a VAW-free Philippines.”

This campaign theme is aligned with the “UNITE by 2030 to End Violence Against Women” initiative of the UN Women, a multi-year effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls worldwide. Launched in 2008, the UNITE initiative supports the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign worldwide and runs from November 25 to December 10 every year. November 25 is the International Day to Eliminate VAW and the country’s National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of VAWC by virtue of Republic Act 10398, while December 10 is declared International Human Rights Day.

The Philippine government began joining the global campaign in 2002 as intensive lobbying for policies and setting up mechanisms were conducted to address human trafficking and violence against women. Subsequently, in 2006, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1172 to extend the national campaign to 18 days until December 12, coinciding with the observance of the International Day Against Trafficking.

The date marks the adoption of the “Protocol To Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women, and Children“ in Palermo, Italy, in 2000. Hence, November 25 to December 12 of every year is now declared as the “18-day Campaign to End VAW” in the Philippines to address all forms of VAW and strengthen the government’s goal to protect the human rights of women as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, other laws, the Framework Plan for Women, other policies and programs, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Campaign Objectives

The 2023 campaign aims to:

• revisit the amendments and provide the public with updated information on laws protecting women and girls, specifically the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262), The Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353 as amended by RA 11648), Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313), Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877), and Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (RA 9208 as amended by RA 11862);
• aid in disseminating information about the status of VAW in the Philippines and the results of the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey data on VAW; and
• gather public support for the advocacy and solicit shared insights on their level of awareness and knowledge on VAW.

Campaign Activities

The PCW, in partnership with key stakeholders, will be conducting the following activities in support of the 2023 18-day Campaign to End VAW:

Online Campaign Launch

• The use of the #VAWfreePH and #VowToEndVAW to sustain the momentum of the previous years’ advocacy towards a VAW-free community.
• Showing of the PCW street interviews called “Alam Mo VAW?” to introduce VAW-related laws that will be tackled during the campaign period. This street interview endeavors to get a glimpse of the awareness and knowledge of the public on VAW-related laws such as RA 9262, RA 8353 as amended by RA 11648, RA 11313, RA 7877, and RA 9208 as amended by RA 11862.

“VAWck to Basics” Series

This online series aims to inform the public about the basics and updates on the 18-day Campaign and VAW-related laws. A dedicated number of days will be allotted to specific topics to equally emphasize all the vital information about VAW.

“Bawat Pilipino para sa VAW-free Pilipinas”

This is an onsite program in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC) that will be held on November 28, 2023. It aims to gather insights and pledges from duty-bearers and spotlight the means and ways to strengthen the enabling environment for VAW prevention in the country. It will also serve as a venue to (1) preview the public’s awareness on VAW-related laws and their reactions to VAW-related situations through the showing of the VAW Social Experiment and “Alam Mo VAW?” Street Interviews and (2) to launch the IACVAWC website.

VAWfreePH

This will be the official 18-day campaign hashtag to sustain the drive towards a VAW-free Philippines. GADvocates and the public are encouraged to participate in the online campaign and can use this hashtag on their online posts to signify their support for the advocacy.

VowToEndVAW Commitment Campaign

Every Juan and Juana who wants to make a vow against VAW is encouraged to post their photos online, posing with the “Stop VAW” sign and indicating in the caption their thoughts and suggestions on how to achieve a VAW-free Philippines under the hashtag #VowToEndVAW.

The Orange Exhibit: Journey towards a VAW-free Philippines

This timeline exhibit will be installed at the kick-off ceremony, featuring milestones from 2002, when the country started participating in the global campaign to end VAW, up to the present time. It will underscore how the 18-day campaign became instrumental in raising awareness on VAW, leading to the passage of landmark legislations like RA 9208 and RA 9262 and the popularization of other anti-VAW laws.

Orange Your Icon Advocacy Initiative

#OrangeYourIcon is an initiative aimed at sparking the public’s curiosity. It urges government offices and private organizations nationwide to color its major landmarks or iconic spots orange during the campaign period. It will also allow advocates to introduce and explain their advocacy to others.

Ano VAW? Anti-VAWlitaktakan Online Program

This online program features the VAW social experiment with respective resource speakers. It intends to directly engage with the public and gather their reactions, insights, and level of awareness on VAW-related laws through comments and calls. The program will be live via the PCW Facebook page and YouTube channel on December 5 and 12, 2023.

Do the Macho Choir Challenge

#DoTheMachoChoir is a video challenge inspired by the “Macho Choir,” a radio plug developed by PCW in 2018 featuring three 30-seconder nursery song lyrics about catcalling as a form of sexual harassment. Interested participants can sing, dance, act, or add their creative spin to the song and post their take on one or all radio plugs.

Proposed Campaign Activities for Participating Stakeholders

In line with the “UNITEd for a VAW-free Philippines” 2023 campaign, participating government agencies and instrumentalities, non-government organizations, sectoral groups, private entities, civil society organizations, and gender and development (GAD) and VAW mechanisms at the national, regional, and local levels are enjoined to conduct any of the following activities:

INCLUSION IN THE FLAG CEREMONY ACTIVITIES: Presentation of the 18-day campaign activities in their flag-raising ceremonies in November to encourage the participation of their staffers and stakeholders. The use of the “All-Women Cast Lupang Hinirang” video, which can be downloaded from the PCW Digital GAD Library during the campaign period, is strongly recommended.

DISPLAY OF BANNER: Print and display the official campaign banner at conspicuous places in their respective offices or localities (please see this link).

ONLINE CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION:

• Uploading of the official campaign logo, banner, advocacy videos, and other materials on their websites and social media accounts.
• Sharing of VAW-related news, articles, photos, and other relevant information online under the hashtags #VAWfreePH and #VowToEndVAW.
• The use of the 18-day Campaign to End VAW Facebook Profile Frame is also encouraged and available on the PCW Facebook page.

USE OF DIGITAL STICKER PACKS: Download, send, and use sticker packs that contain illustrations and meaningful messages about VAW on messaging platforms like Viber and Telegram.

IEC MATERIALS: Development, production, and distribution of campaign-related information, education, and communication materials to their staffers, their clients, and the general public (including PCW collaterals provided that the content, design, and integrity of the materials are retained when reproduced). In the development and reproduction of information materials, stakeholders are advised to ensure the use of updated references since some of the VAW-related laws have been amended in recent years.

VIDEO SHOWING: Public showing of PCW-produced and/or agency-produced videos on VAW, anti-VAW laws, and VAW-related services via electronic billboards, television/radio programs, and other platforms/venues managed by their offices (PCW-produced videos can be downloaded via PCW Digital GAD Library). PCW does not endorse any film or movies other than those produced by the Commission.

CONDUCTING FORUMS AND LEARNING SESSIONS: Organize orientations or forums on anti-VAW laws to inform internal and external stakeholders on its core provisions as well as the conduct of internal discussions, capacity-building activities, and learning sessions for government and private entities tasked to implement specific provisions of anti-VAW laws.

ORANGE EXHIBIT INSTALLATION: Setting up of “The Orange Exhibit: Journey towards a VAW-free Philippines” (design can be downloaded through this link) at their respective offices or selected public places within the campaign period. The stakeholders are also encouraged to develop their own “Orange Exhibit” featuring their agencies’ achievements in the fight against VAW and the available VAW-related services they offer.

HOLDING OF OTHER VAW-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Conduct relevant, timely, appropriate, and impactful activities related to the advocacy during the 18-day campaign period with internal and external stakeholders as participants.

For Regional GAD committees, Regional and Local Inter-Agency Committees on Trafficking in Persons and VAWC, regional/field offices, and LGUs: Coordination and collaboration with other government regional offices or LGUs in holding activities at their level.

For Men Opposed against Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Chapters: Gather support from fellow males and organize activities that emphasize positive masculinity and the crucial roles of male advocates in anti-VAW advocacy.