2nd Quater THEMATIC ASSESSMENT

-Violence Against Women-

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajalaw.ph %2Fvawc%2F&psig=AOvVaw11oBVJYdHPzk7eR4WUY5jv&ust=1733406283790000&source=images&cd

  Violence Against Women (VAW) has become a greater social issue not just in the Philippines but in the world at large, affecting 1 out of every 3 women. Nearly 1 in 5 women in the released 2022 NDHS survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) experienced emotional, physical, or even sexual violence by their current or most recent husband or intimate partner. 8,055 cases in 2023 were reported to the Philippine National Police under the classification of Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004).

  While strides have been made through the years, much work is there to be done as one strides towards that difficult and weary road of equality. According to the Global Gender Gap 2024 Insight Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF), 134 years would be needed to reach the last step toward achieving complete gender parity. This abysmally high number means that it will take five generations beyond the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 target of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

  By 1987, the nation awarded the people constitutional guarantees of gender equality and made provisions for a new Family Code, which was supposed to eliminate many discriminatory legal provisions. Even before the campaign joining the global event, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, in 2002, the country had enacted ground-breaking legislation like RA 7877 (Anti Sexual Harassment Act of 1995) and RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997). In addition, RA 9208 (The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) and RA 9262 (The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) were also signed into law before the 16 Days National Campaign was extended to 18 days by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172, Series of 2006.

  VAW stands for Violence against Women, and recognized as one of the most veritable crime against public health, it is grievous violation of human rights also. Such a scenario is a manifestation of gender inequity, poking injuries to the disempowered status of women and girls in society. According to the definition given by the United Nations, "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to omen, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life" qualifies as a form of VAW. Every woman- young or old, black or white, regardless of gender identity or orientation, ethnicity or religion, able-bodied or disabled, wealthy or poor, personare chances of suffering from violence and threats of violence.

REFERENCE:https://pcw.gov.ph/2024-18-day-campaign-to-end-violence-against-women/

https://pcw.gov.ph/18-day-campaign-to-end-vaw/

-RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997)RA 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995)-

                                

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2F2021%2F02%2F13%2Fa-study-on-the-challenges-of-the-public-prosecutors-an

-lawyers-in-handling-rape-and-sexual-assault-cases%2F&

   To violate a person against persons with rape deprives the person of well-being and not virginity or purity alone. This law states that a person could include a prostituted person, non-virgin, or living an active sex life, and one of whom could be assaulted by rape. The law has declared that rape is an offense against persons. It no longer considers the crime as a private crime. Anyone who knows about the crime can file the case on behalf of the victim. The prosecution would continue, even if the victim withdraws the case or pardons the offender.

   Rape is committed by a man who shall have sexual intercourse with a woman through force, threat, or intimidation when the victim is deprived of reason or is unconscious. Through fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even if none of the above circumstances are present. By any person who, under any of the above circumstances, commits an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another person's mouth or anal orifice or any instrument or object into the genital or oral orifice of another person.

   Rape can fall upon any possible victim. However, most rape victims tend to be women and women in large numbers. There is no distinction between men and women when it comes to culpability for rape. It is also a possibility that while a man may rape his own wife, this is known as "marital rape." The penalty under the general provision of rape would apply to the offender who causes marital rape.

REFERENCE : https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-ra-8353-an-act-expanding-the-definition-of-crime-and-rape/

-RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act) in 2019,-

https://wlbonline.org/safe-spaces-act-design-campaign-posters-and-stickers/

   Law sees gender as a composite of particular characteristics, norms, roles, attitudes, values, and expectations with which men and women associate their social behavior. 

   Any action of a sexual nature or any act stemming from sex affecting one person's dignity, that is unwelcome, unreasonable, and offensive to others. 

Any unwelcomed pervasive behavior that invades a person's space and creates an intimidating, hostile, or humiliating environment.

   Besides that, the law explicitly mentions that the crime of gender-based sexual harassment can even be committed among peers, between the subordinate and superior officer, or by a trainee to a trainer. This certainly broadens the scope as compared to the earlier one laid down by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 that required that the offender should be senior to the aggrieved in order for it to be called harassment.

REFERENCE : https://ogletree.com/international-employment-update/articles/july-2020/philippines/2020-05-26/safe-spaces-act-increases-protections-against-sexual-harassment-online-and-in-workplaces-in-philippines/#:~:text