LAOAG CITY—The Zonta Club of
Ilocos Norte, a local women organization here is advancing the cause of fellow
women here through a series of activism against gender-based violence.
As part of the culminating
program of the 18-day campaign, a forum on human rights, trafficking in persons
and parliamentary procedures related to gender-based violence will be discussed
today by selected women leaders at the Laoag City hall auditorium.
Ana Carmela Ventura-Remigio,
one of the spokesperson of ZCIN said reports reaching the Women and Children
Protection Desk of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office increased by 110
percent comparing the 10-year period of 2004-2014 versus the 2015 to October 2016.
“Based on statistics, violence against women
and children rose by 110 percent. In a way it’s alarming because it increased
but if you think about it also, it increased because there’s a bigger
awareness. It prompts us to work even harder,” said Mrs. Remigio.
Over the past two weeks, the
ZCIN in partnership with various local government units and other interest
organizations here rounded up the two cities and 21 municipalities here to
promote greater awareness on stopping violence against women and children.
Aside from the distribution
of campaign banners which include hotline numbers of the city and municipality
Women’s Desk of the Philippine National Police and the Social Welfare and
Development Office where abused women and children could turn to, officers and
members of the ZCIN has also urged chief executives and local councils here to
pass resolutions and ordinances in support of the Sustainable Development Goal
5, under the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development including reinforcement of the Philippine Republic Act
No. 9710, otherwise known as the “The Magna Carta of Women” that promote
empowerment of women and pursue equal opportunities for women and men.
“Although there are still
some women who are not yet that aware or liberalized, at least we can see that
more and more are becoming aware of their rights and say no to violence against
women,” says lawyer Valenie Blando, also an active member of ZCIN.
Based on cases filed for
violations of RA 9262 or the so-called anti-violence against women and
children’s act, Ms. Blando reported they have also observed an increase which
shows that “more women are not afraid anymore to fight for their rights.”
She however noted that
conviction rate remains low apparently due to economic reasons.
“Women are becoming more
empowered. We hope that through our continuing efforts, we will be able to
help more women become strong and be free from violence,” said Ms. Blando. (PNA)
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