Violence vs women
IT is certainly heartening to know that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged barangay authorities to set up their own violence against women (VAW) desks.
Under DILG Memorandum-Circular (MC) No. 2023-104, provincial, city and town officials are expected to provide technical and financial assistance to barangay authorities.
All local government units (LGUs) are mandated to help barangays in developing and distributing information materials aimed at raising public awareness on VAW.
In MC No. 2023-104, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said village chairpersons ought to update their ordinances providing support for their respective VAW desks.
A VAW desk officer, preferably a female member of the barangay council or a female CVO (civilian volunteer organization), must be trained on handling gender-sensitive cases.
And the office of the village VAW desk must be near the barangay hall or close to the office of the barangay chairperson.
Of course, it is also necessary that the office of the VAW desk must be provided with the necessary resources to be able to assist victims, who are women and children.
Section 9 of Republic Act No. 9710 or Magna Carta of Women and its implementing rules and regulations mandate all LGUs to establish VAW desks in every barangay.
Strenghtening the country’s barangay VAW desks is a move in the right direction considering the increasing number of VAW cases in various parts of the country.
Huwag na huwag nating pabayaan ang ating mga kabataan at kababaihan, lalong-lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar sa kanayunan.
