The NCRFW Anti-VAW Awards search goes on

MANILA -The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) has announced that it will continue to accept nominations for its two anti-violence against women (VAW) awards.

The awards aim to strengthen the awareness of public officials in handling cases involving women’s rights and give merit to those who create positive impact by involving women and men in transforming their lives and the societal structures.

The Gender Justice Awards II (Search for the Most Gender-Sensitive Decisions on VAW Cases) and the Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs were simultaneously launched last year. The nominations for the Gender Justice Awards II will be accepted until May 31, 2009 while the Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs will be received until June 30, 2009.

For the Gender Justice Awards II, the NCRFW has partnered with the University of the Philippines-Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. (UPCWSFI) and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) to highlight the important role that the judiciary plays in addressing VAW. The search will recognize one judge each from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Shar’ia Courts, and one Sandigan justice who have rendered the most gender-sensitive court decisions on VAW cases from 2004-2008.

The nominated judges should exhibit integrity and moral character as a public servant and private citizen; have neither record of convictions nor any pending charges at the time of the nomination; and practice judicial decorum towards lawyers, litigants, witnesses and the public in general.
Meanwhile, the NCRFW has partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development, Women’s Crisis Center, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women in Asia-Pacific (CATW-AP) to recognize local governments that have excellent gender-sensitive anti VAW initiatives, policies and programs. The recognition likewise aims to encourage barangays, municipalities and cities to document their anti-VAW initiatives and programs and share their experiences with other LGUs.

The awarding on both searches will be held on November 25, 2009 during the annual celebration of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW.

Nominations should be forwarded at the NCRFW Office 1145 JP Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila. For more inquiries, interested parties may visit the NCRFW website www.ncrfw.gov.ph or contact the Policy Development and Advocacy Division of NCRFW at telephone numbers 7358918, 735-4767 local 109/128.