Forum on climate change highlights VAWC campaign
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
Cagayan de Oro City (25 November) -- A forum on transformative leadership, climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) will highlight the 18-day global campaign to stop violence against women and children (VAWC) that begins on Nov. 25 and ends on Dec. 12, this year.
The activity which will be held at the Patrick Cronin Hall, San Agustin Cathedral, this city on Dec. 2, aims to remind the public that everyone has a role to play and demand accountability along DRR and climate change adaptation.
Originally called the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" that starts on Nov. 25 up to Dec. 10, the dates symbolically link violence against women and human rights and emphasizes that violence is a human rights violation, Perigine C. Encarquez, Executive Director of TOUCH Foundation, Inc., said.
However, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172, the Philippine government has expanded it to include Dec. 12, thus making it into an 18-day campaign.
Meanwhile, Encarquez said the activities will start with the launching of the "White Ribbon Campaign to End Violence" on Nov. 25 at the Freedom Kiosk, Divisoria, this city, with the theme: "Commit, Act, Demand: We Can End Violence Against Women."
Spearheaded by the VAW partners and facilitated by TOUCH, the campaign aims to honor and celebrate the achievements made and encourage broad participation of all concerned, in various capacities to take action to end VAWC.
Also expected to signify their message of support and manifest their solidarity statement are representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Public Attorneys Office (PAO), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Xavier University Center for Legal Assistance (XUCLA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (PIA 10) [top]
