Aklan Trains 400 Anti-Vaw Service Providers on VAWDOCS
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) rolls out the training for almost four hundred (400) Aklanon stakeholders coming from the 327 barangays, policewomen, social workers, DILG officers and members of the Aklan Gender Commission (AGADC) as the only province in the country to implement up to the barangay level the National Violence Against Women Documentation System (VAWDocS).
Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez welcomes the opportunity to showcase the VAWDocS implementation in Aklan and challenged all concerned of the historic action in promoting, protecting and fulfilling women’s human rights. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Aklan also supported the program by enacting Resolution No. 2012-228 “Resolution Adopting the Implementation of the National Violence Against Women Documentation System in the Province of Aklan and Ensuring its Sustainability and Efficacy” on September 5, 2012.
The province of Aklan is a pilot site of the Philippine Commission on Women-Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (PCW-AECID) project called “Institutional Strengthening of National and Local Governance on Human Rights and Economic Empowerment with a Gender Focus: Implementation of the Magna Carta of Women”.
According to Robert Mathew Romero, ICT head of PCW, the VAWDocS is a secure web-based documentation system that facilitates and integrates the collection and standardization of information from service providers that deal with VAW. It can generate accurate reports on the magnitude of VAW cases by removing double counting of data from different service providers. It also tracks the services given to VAW victim survivors.
Five batches of training were conducted from September until October 12 facilitated by experts from the PCW led by Ms. Nharleen Millar, Chief of PCW- Policy Development and Advocacy Division and her team Honey Castro, Vichel Juguilon, Darwin Tejerero, Vicky Atanacio, Mildred Corral, Clehenia Aurora San Juan, Marianne Kristine Delgado and Robert Romero. National laws and policies addressing various forms of VAW such as RA 9262: Anti-VAWC Law of 2004; RA 8353: Anti Rape Law; RA 7877: Anti Sexual Harassment Act; RA 7610: Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse; RA 9208: Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; RA 9775: Anti- Child Pornography Act; RA 9995: Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 and Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code: Acts of Lasciviousness were discussed.
The VAW Referral System based on DILG memo circular 2012-61 was also presented and simulation exercises were given to the participants.
The Philippine Commission on Women provided Aklan with technical support, two units of desktop computers and VAW Client card forms for all the service providers. Likewise, training cost and materials such as books on the VAWC laws were made available to all the participants.
Article by Teresita Grace Quimpo – Sr. Agrarian Reform Officer, DAR Aklan
