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MANILA, Philippines — The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
VAW is 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 private life.”
READ: DOJ highlights VAWC initiatives in 18-day drive to end violence vs women
The advocacy campaign is observed from November 25 to December 12 each year as part of the government’s goal to protect women’s rights and address all forms of gender-based violence, as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
Republic Act 10398, or the Act declaring November 25 of every year as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children, also mandates government agencies to raise awareness on issues of violence as well as the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
“The observance of the campaign started on November 25—the International Day to Eliminate VAW—up to December 10—the International Human Rights Day. The campaign is to emphasize VAW is a human rights violation and to ensure better protection for survivors and victims of violence,” the PCO said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in a statement last November 27, the Department of Justice also reaffirmed its commitment to champion women’s rights as it joined the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW.