DSWD-7 calls on men to become strong allies to end VAWC

 CEBU – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII called on men to become strong allies to end violence against women and children (VAWC), as it joined the nationwide observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) from November 25 to December 12, 2025.

This call to action is issued in Central Visayas through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking–Violence Against Women and their Children (IACAT7-VAWC), co-chaired by the DSWD-7 and the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

The IACAT7-VAWC, in a Convocation Program at the DSWD-7 on November 24, flashed the iconic “STOP VAWC” messages to align with Republic Act 10388 declaring November 25 of every year as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of the VAWC in the Philippines.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero urged all staff and inter-agency members of the IACAT7 council to actively participate in the campaign by amplifying advocacy activities on social media and wearing orange shirts on designated dates in solidarity with the campaign. 

VAWC situation in PH

According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), there were 8,055 reported VAWC cases in 2023, with 2,791 cases under the Anti-Rape Law; 473 under the Safe Spaces Act, and 59 under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, VAWC is a significant concern in the country.

The 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals that 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from their intimate partners.

PSA reports that from 2016 to 2023, there were 116,903 cases under the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act or RA 9262; 20,083 rape cases under the Anti-Rape Law or RA 8353; 1,031 cases under Safe Spaces Act or RA11313; 620 sexual harassment cases under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act or RA 7877; and 2,031 trafficking cases under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or RA 9208.

The government has implemented various mechanisms to address VAWC, including the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children, Barangay VAW Desks, and VAW hotlines.

The 18-Day Campaign to End VAWC

According to Lucero, the 18-Day Campaign to End VAWC is an annual advocacy campaign in the Philippines, observed from November 25 to December with the key objectives to highlight 20 years of achievements in addressing VAW under RA 9262; raise public awareness about the impact of VAW and encourage interventions. 

It also wants to promote a comprehensive response to VAW with a focus on prevention; empower survivors with information on support services and to launch the National Action Plan to End VAW (NAPEVAW).

Campaign activities include flag raising ceremonies with VAW related presentations and videos; distribution of IEC materials; online participation using hashtags like #VAWfreePH and #VowToEndVAW; the “The Orange Exhibit: Journey towards a VAW-free Philippines; the "Do the Macho Choir" Challenge to address catcalling and harassment and advocate for positive masculinity and male involvement.

The campaign aligns with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the UN's "UNiTE by 2030 to End VAW" initiative in partnerships with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), IACAT-VAWC, Department of Education (DepEd), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and SM Cares.

Lucero added that the campaign also highlights the importance of various sectors--youth as changemakers, men as allies, bystanders as empowered responders, and local leaders as drivers of policy reforms, all united in the mission to protect women, empower survivors, and uphold justice. (Photos: DSWD7-FB/Google Images)

 

 

DSWD 7 strengthens awareness, advocacy against trafficking

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII continues to strengthen its awareness and advocacy campaigns against the increasing number of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), Trafficking in Persons, and Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC)
in the country.

“There is a critical need to enhance advocacy efforts with direct services. Beyond these services, we are also intensifying our advocacy efforts to combat trafficking, OSAEC, and gender-based violence, particularly VAWC. This is crucial because women and children continue to be highly vulnerable to these issues,” Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD7 regional director said in an interview. 

DSWD7 through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking-Violence Against Women and their Children (IACAT7-VAWC) bared that as of August 31, 2025, the agency has assisted 179 individuals through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), providing a total of ₱823,000.00 in aid.

Of the 179 served, 123 were victim-survivors of OSAEC, 33 were victims of sexual exploitation, 16 were cases of debt bondage, and seven individuals were intercepted, Lucero said that DSWD7 is collaborating with LGUs to monitor the families and communities on possible unreported cases. “The victims must be identified and assisted as soon as possible,” she added.

DSWD7 and the IACAT7-VAWC worked closely with the law enforcement agencies in conducting rescue operations, while several cases were referred by LGUs for intervention because trafficked individuals undergo assessment by social workers to determine appropriate interventions, Lucero said.

Labor Trafficking, a major concern in the region

According to Lucero, Labor Trafficking remains a major concern in the region as seen in the the 2023 Sulu Case, where victims, many from the island communities in the region, were rescued from Tubba Lubok Island after being deceived into joining large-scale fishing operations and subjected to exploitative labor conditions.

In 2024, DSWD 7 also provided assistance to foreign nationals rescued from illegal POGO operations in Lapu-Lapu City. Both foreign and local victims were provided with appropriate assistance.  Fishermen rescued from Sulu arrive at the Cebu City Port, while foreign nationals from illegal POGO operations in Lapu-Lapu City receive psychosocial counseling.

Fishermen rescued from Sulu arrive at the Cebu City Port, while foreign nationals from illegal POGO operations in Lapu-Lapu City receive psychosocial counseling.

Despite intensified efforts, cases of OSAEC and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) remain prevalent in communities, with data showing a continuing upward trend. To ensure support, RRPTP provides social welfare services for victims and their families, including livelihood, medical, and educational assistance.

It also offers employment and skills training, logistical support during court hearings, and psychosocial counseling during rescue operations.  Victims are also accommodated in temporary shelters through DSWD 7’s facilities, such as the Haven for Women, Home for Girls, Reception and Study Center for Children, and the Center for Women and Children.

Lucero said that in expanding advocacy reach, DSWD7 promotes awareness through community forums, radio and television programs, and advocacy caravans in schools, amplifying public awareness and rallying support.

“We do not only aim to reduce and prevent cases of trafficking and abuse but also empower the public through increased awareness,” Lucero explained.

She concluded that by making people informed and given access to reporting mechanisms, the greater the chances of reducing the number of victim-survivors referred to the agency for intervention. (Photos: DSWD7/Kerwin Macopia)