SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
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16-day campaign to eliminate violence against women
The Philippines joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November 2003) by having a 16-day Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women from 25 November to 10 December 2003.
Average monthly expense of around Php 9,000 per client is incurred at the Women's Crisis Center (WCC) Shelter. This includes food and transportation subsidy, medical assistance, therapies, utilities and other personal needs like tioletries, towels, slippers, etc.
The Government of the Philippines spends an estimate of six billion pesos to treat violence against women (VAW) survivors per year. it includes medical, psychollogical and crisis intervention alone (NCRFW-UNFPA, The Economic Cost of Violence Against Women, 1998).
(a) 64% were inflicted inside the home;
(b) 65% were accomplished by hand/fist and feet;
(c) almost 40% happened from 6PM-12MN;
(d) 16% occurred during Sundays;
(e) almost 50% were inflicted by husbands, relatives, live-in partners and fathers; &
(f) almost all perpetretors were males.
The UK government is also ensuring that sufficient policy and enforcement mechanisms are in place as its parliament considers the passage of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims bill. If the law is passed, it will cover gay couples and unmarried heterosexuals, as well as people who have never lived with their partners. Courts can order suspected offenders to keep away from their partners (sort of like giving a yellow card) but the government is trying to make such orders easier to enforce.
The main objective of this 16-day campaign is to lobby for the passage of the bills on Anti-Domestic Violence and Anti-Abuse of Women in Intimate Relationships. However, with the election fever inflicting both houses of Congress, even more than 16 days of drumbeating may not be enough. And in a country such as the Philippines where majority of politicians are elected based on sheer popularity, where most candicates can change from one political party to another, one doubts whether there is hope over the horizon for this bill.
posted by Allan at 9:18 AM (GMT+8)
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