Zonta Club of Cebu II calls public for 18-day activism against gender-based violence in communities

CEBU CITY – The Zonta Club of Cebu II marks its advocacy for women’s rights with the 18-day activism against gender-based violence in communities on November 25 to December 12 highlighting the role and essence of the barangays as part of a VAW-free community adhering to the theme “VAW-free community starts with Me”. 

According to Zonta Club that aside from capacitating VAW Desk Officers and other barangay officials on how to handle VAW and GBV cases, the campaign reiterates everyone’s commitment and contributions to end VAW and calls on the public to make a personal commitment to end violence against women and children.

According to the Abay sa Kahayag Committee of Zonta Club of Cebu II that in the Philippines the national campaign starts on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10, Human Rights Day, of each year as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

However, this has been extended until December 12 to observe the International Day Against Trafficking via Proclamation No. 1172 signed in 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the campaign is now known in the country as the “18-Day campaign to End Violence Against Women,” Zonta Club added.

The Philippine Campaign aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels and to strengthen local work around gender-based violence against women.

It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Zonta Club joined the international community in commemorating the 18 Days of Activism to stop violence of women in 2017 and it is held every November 25 up to December 12 of every year.

“So far Zonta Club has reached out to more than 2,000 women in Mandaue City through seminar, workshops, symposia and various forums on gender-related issues and concerns,” Abay sa Kahayag committee co-chair Regal Oliva said.

Oliva went on that the Club has also adopted the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for Women as the Club distributed hygiene kits for the women who are deprived of liberty (PDL). 

The Club has also organized a series of activities and advocacy initiatives to highlight the perils and serious consequences of GBV (Gender-Based Violence) which focused on strengthening local mechanisms and building on the required competencies of barangay officials, Oliva added.

Zonta Club’s 18-day activism campaign kicks off on November 25 with a series of webinars, events and activities with the zoom webinar on the “Bawal Bastos Law” dissecting the proposed Safe Spaces Act or RA-11313 with Atty. Myles Esquivel at 3:00-4:30 p.m. presenting the salient points of Safe Spaces Act and with Senator Riza Honteveros-Baraquel giving the message at 4:30-5:15 in the afternoon

 RA 11313 seeks to prevent gender-based sexual harassment from occurring in streets, public places, online workplaces, and educational and training institutions regardless of the motive for committing such action or remarks.

It penalizes acts such as: cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent unwanted comments on one's appearance and other such acts.

On November 27, Zonta Club organizes a whole day event of “Tarp/Poster/Leaflet Distribution within Cebu City and on November 28 is an artist’s interpretation of the “VAW Free Community Starts With Me” theme, a design campaign to end all forms of gender-based violence.

December 1 is International AIDS Day.  It is celebrated with a zoom forum on “Beyond the COVID-19 Scare: Battling more Pandemics-- Psychosocial of Women with speaker, Persons living with HIV/AIDS.

December 4 is another zoom webinar featuring personalities who will share their stories and experiences of harassment either as victims or witnesses and how they dealt with the aftermath of the encounters.

This will be followed by a very informational presentation by Dr. Rhodora Masilang Bucoy, Former Associate Professor, UP Cebu and Past Chairperson Philippine Commission on Women (2016-2020), Recognized GAD Consultant on techniques and strategies for creating safe and secure physical, virtual or emotional spaces for all that will be inclusive, accepting and secure.

On the same day December 4 is the launching of the Music Video—“I am Woman” while on December 7 is the schedule for the “Final Reading” via zoom of the Safe Spaces Ordinance sponsored by the Mandaue City Sangguniang Panlungsod.

On December 12, “The Perils of Technology: Easy Access and Target of Human Trafficking zoom webinar with Atty. Katrina Legarda as the possible speaker; and on December 15 is the distribution of Christmas Cheers to Women PDLs at the BJMP Mandaue City to cap the 18-day activism campaign against all forms of gender-based violence.

With the series of activities Zonta Club of Cebu II hopes to enlist the support of active participants in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children; expand accountability and collective responsibility to include all government units, women’s groups, legal entities and non-government institutions.

Zonta Club also called on these groups to harness technology, social media, journalism, business and activism to draw attention to the many ways violence against women and children affects the lives of all people in all communities in the Philippines and around the world.

Zonta Club sends strong messages through the 18-day activism against gender-based violence that the solution to violence, harassment and abuse in all forms lies with all of us.

“It is imperative that society acknowledge that violence against women and children is not solely a government or criminal justice system problem, but a societal issue, and that failure to view it as such results in all efforts failing to eradicate this scourge in our communities,” Zonta Club said. (Photos: Zonta Club of Cebu)