Synchronized blowing of whistles to Culminate 2011 Anti-VAW Campaign

A synchronized blowing of the whistle in various government offices will culminate the 2011 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) on December 12. The “Blow the Whistle on VAW” activity will be part of the offices’ flag raising ceremonies at 8 a.m.

“Blowing the whistle is a symbolic gesture of our united commitment to stop violence against women,” said Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Remedios Rikken. She added that acts of VAW are public crimes that violate a person’s right to life, personal dignity and security in which people should “never be silent about.”

Other participating government offices in the advocacy activity aside from the PCW include the National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Human Rights, Civil Service Commission, Philippine National Police, and the Department of National Defense. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and the local government unit of Tala, Caloocan City will also be holding similar activities.

“The whistles serve as the voice of those who are afraid to speak out and also to expose the wrong doings of perpetrators,” Rikken said, urging everyone to take part in the said activity. The “Blow the Whistle on VAW” is the country’s contribution to the “UNiTE to End VAW” campaign of the United Nations, led by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW is commemorated annually, from November 25-December 12, to raise awareness and trigger actions on such pervasive human rights violation.