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The Laws on Violence Against
Women in the PhilippinesBy: Rowena V. GuanzonGender Justice NetworkMember, Asia Cause Lawyers Network
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Reforms in laws due to democraticspace
1986 People Power Revolution toppledthe 14 year Martial Law dictatorship
1987 Constitution 1988 Elections of House of
Representatives, Senators and localgovernment officials
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Before 1995:
Gender based violence was notrecognized in Philippine laws.
Revised Penal Code covered offensescommitted against women, e.g.,physical injuries, rape, acts of lasciviousness, seduction, parricide,
homicide, murder
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Civil Law
Had discriminatory provisions onwomen, treated as subordinate tohusbands
Could not accept gifts from men otherthan their husbands without theirconsent
Husband had sole administration of the conjugal partnership
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1987 Constitution
Sec. 14 The State shall protectworking women by providing safe andhealthful working conditions xxx
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LAWS ON VAW since 1995
Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995
Anti-Rape Act of 1997
Rape Victims Assistance Act (1998) An Act penalizing matching of Filipinomail order brides (1998)
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
Anti-Violence Against Women andTheir Children Act of 2004
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RA 9262: Anti –VAWC Act
Effective March 27, 2004
A special law protecting women and
their children from all forms of abuse Criminal statute
Civil action – Temporary & PermanentProtection Order
With remedy of Barangay (village)Protection Order
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Types of Violence covered
PHYSICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL
SEXUAL ECONOMIC
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Def.: Violence Against Women& their children (VAWC)
any act or series of acts committed byany PERSON
against a WOMAN who is his wife,former wife, or with whom the personhas or had a sexual or datingrelationships, or
with whom he has a common child, or against her child/child under her care
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Def: VAWC
Which result or is likely to result inphysical, sexual, psychological harm orsuffering or economic abuse includingthreats of such acts,
Battery, assault, coercion, harassmentor arbitrary deprivation of liberty
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Elements
Relationship, past or present
Married or not; living in or not
Sexual or dating relationship Including lesbian relationships
With common child
Falling under Sec. 5 (punishable acts)
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Sec. 5 Acts of VAWC
Causing, threatening, attempting tocause physical harm
Placing the woman or her child in fearof imminent physical harm
Attempting or compelling the woman
or her child to engage in conduct whichthey have a right to desist from, or to
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Sec. 5 Acts
depriving or threatening to deprive thewoman or her child of custody oraccess to her family
depriving them of financialsupport;insufficient financial support
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Sec. 5 Acts
Depriving or threatening to deprive thewoman or her child of a legal right
Preventing the woman from engaging inany legitimate profession, occupation,business or activity, or controlling her
own money or properties or solelycontrolling conjugal or common assets
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Sec. 5 Acts
Causing or attempting to cause thewoman or her child to engage in any
sexual activity..., by force or threat,physical harm, intimidation directedagainst the woman, her child, orimmediate family *
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Sec. 5
Engaging in knowing or recklessconduct, personally or through another,that alarms or causes substantial
emotional or psychological distressincluding:
(1) stalking
(2)entering or remaining in the property
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Purpose of Protection Orders
to prevent further acts of violenceagainst a woman or her child.
to safeguard the victim from furtherharm
to minimize disruption in victim’s dailylife
give her the opportunity and ability toregain control over her life.
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Kinds of Protection Orders
Barangay Protecton Order – 15 days;not extendible
Temporary Protection Order – 30 days+ (shall be renewed by court)
Permanent Protection Order
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Protection Orders
Prohibition from threatening orcommitting, any of punishable acts
Removal and exclusion from theresidence regardless of ownership,temporarily or permanently where noproperty rights are violated
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Protection Orders
Stay away from petitioner, anydesignated family or household member
Temporary or permanent custody of child
Support – automatic remittance of salary or income by employer
Dept of Social Welfare & Dev to provideshelter and social services
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Who may file for ProtectionOrders (P.O.)
Offended party
Parents or guardians Ascendants, descendants, collateral relatives
within 4th
degree of consanguinity or affinity Social workers of DSWD or LGUs Police officers
Punong Barangay or kagawad
Lawyer, counselor, therapist, healthcareprovider
At least 2 citizens of the city or municipalitywho have personal knowledge of the offense
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Temporary Protection Order
Issued by the Court on the day of filing
Ex parte ; Priority over all other cases
Effective for 30 days; extendible
Stay away order, temporary custody andsupport to woman and/or her children, useof community/conjugal property
Bond to Keep the Peace Enforceable anywhere in the country
No mediation; no conciliation
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Permanent Protection Order
issued after notice and hearing
custody, support to the woman
and/or her children respondent to leave the residence
permanently
with Bond to Keep the Peace
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Battered Woman Syndrome(BWS)
justifying circumstance
Perpetrator of crime against a woman
with BWS shall not have custody of children
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Exemption from liability NO CRIMINAL, CIVIL,
ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY :
Any person, private individual, police
authority, barangay official acting inaccordance with law, who
responds or intervenes without using
violence or restraint greater thannecessary to ensure safety of thevictim
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Rights of victims
Right to be treated with respect & dignity;
Legal assistance; support servicesfrom DSWD, local governments
Privacy and confidentiality of records
Additional 10 day paid leave fromwork aside from present paid leavebenefits
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Effectiveness of the law:
The law is a product of cooperation of women’s rights organizations andlegislators, hence the comprehensive
remedies Protection Orders are being increasingly
used by women to protect themselves, getsupport, get back their minor children
Barangay protection order is available topoor rural women who have no easy accessto the courts
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Effectiveness of the law
Supreme Court issued a Rule onVAWC, governs the trial of the case
Government officials, including judges
are prohibited from mediating e.g. toinfluence the woman to give up herreliefs
Local government units are taskedwith education campaign to eliminateVAW
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Effectiveness of the Law
Mechanism for governmentimplementers and support services
Inter-Agency on VAW is provided inthe law; government implementershave Implementing Rules andRegulations enumerating their duties
Problem: lack of funds for training
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Problems, gaps, lessons:
The law does not provide forappropriations, funding for training of implementers and support services for
the woman
Corruption in the judiciary,prosecution service
Low level of gender sensitivity amongprosecutors
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Problems, lessons
Ignorance of the law by police officerswho are not in the women’s andchildren’s desks
Lack of quality gender sensitivityseminars for judges who are notfamily court judges, and prosecutors
Misuse of the laws and rules bylawyers, e.g. retaliation suits againstwomen who have protection orders
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Rowena V. Guanzon, LLB, MPA
Founding Member, Gender Justice NetworkFounding Member, Asia Cause Lawyers Network
Email: [email protected]
Weblog: www.bingguanzon.comFax (+632) 9290840Mobile: +63 9189018504
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