TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) held a learning event, “Tongtongan Ed Kordilyera Gait di IPMRs: Lecture and Forum on Social Protection Laws,” from August 14–15 at the M Hotel, Tabuk City.
The activity was attended by the social welfare officers, indigenous peoples mandatory representatives, and tribal elders in the region.
According to Social Welfare Officer Mary Ann Buclao from the Protective Services Division of DSWD-CAR, the activity aims to identify the policies or related laws against any form of violence and identify issues and concerns in handling gender-based violence in relation to cultural practices.
Also, the event aims to discuss the roles of community leaders in various social issues, particularly those concerning vulnerable sectors such as women, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and others, as well as to clarify their roles in eliminating or preventing violence as well as their limitations in handling cases in the community.
Buclao added that the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) affirms that indigenous peoples are equal to all other people who can contribute to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind.
The declaration recognizes the rights of IPs will enhance harmonious and cooperative relations between the state and IPs, based on principles of justice, democracy, and respect for human rights.
In the Philippines, based on violence against women statistics, 17.5% of women aged 15–49 have ever experienced some form of physical, serial, or emotional violence by their current or most recent husband/intimate partner, based on the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey.
In the Cordillera Region, the top 3 gender-based violence cases from 2019–2023 include domestic violence (67%), child abuse (18%), and rape (10%).
The DSWD recorded that among the cases, 82% happened at home and 10% in other places, including a neighbor’s house, school, church, workplace, evacuation center, barangay hall, relatives’ house, boarding house, vehicles, and others. 5% were committed in alleged perpetrator’s places, and 3% happened in open areas such as roads, mountain pathways, flood control/waiting sheds, and abandoned buildings.
Ninety-six percent of victim survivors belong to the female population, and 28% of victim survivors are minors who are under 18 years old. The youngest victim-survivor of sexual abuse in the region is 1 year and 7 months old.
Eighty-nine percent of the alleged perpetrators are men. 85% are related to the survivors, such as spouses, partners, or blood relatives. 4% of them are minors. The youngest offender for sexual abuse is 8 years old.
Meanwhile, Atty. Bryan Christopher Donggayao and Rocky Ngolab from the Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples discussed the interplay of customary practices and laws in the Philippine legal system.
Other topics from different resource speakers include child development, focus on children in conflict with the law, and child abuse risks and dynamics of abuse and emotional deprivation on children.
Also, the salient features of social protection laws such as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (RA 8353), the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act of 1992 (RA 7610), and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262) are part of the discussion.
Additional discussions in the forum include the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (RA 9344), the Anti-Child Marriage Law of 2001 (RA 11596), the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children, and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2022 (RA 11930). By Ian Addatu
