CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) kicked off on Nov. 25 and will run until Dec. 12.
Anchored on the 2022–2027 recurring theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines” and the 2024 sub-theme “VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!” the advocacy campaign aims to help victims and encourage them to seek support from government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs).
In a Kapihan sa PIA on November 20, Dr. Glory Sacris of the Women and Children Protection Center at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center highlighted the challenges the victims face in reporting abuse, with many cases remaining undisclosed for years due to fear of retaliation from family members.
“Ang pinaka common man gud nga perpetrators sa sexual abuse aside sa neighbors are their own family members. Maong lisod kaayo para sa ilaha na asa man ko mo sulti na ako mismo gi abuso man ko sa akong pamilya,” said Sacris.
(The most common perpetrators of sexual abuse, aside from neighbors, are often the victims’ own family members. This makes it incredibly hard for victims to report because their abuser is someone within their family.)
She also pointed out that while abuse cases surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent statistics have surpassed those troubling numbers.
Physical abuse also is more prevalent among adults, while children are more frequently subjected to sexual abuse.
Dr. Faith Ronolo, medical officer III of the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7), discussed the long-term psychological impact of abuse on children, explaining how it perpetuates a cycle of violence.
“The trauma of a child who has been abused, it will cycle. The child would think that it’s normal, that it’s okay to rape, it’s okay to violate, that it’s okay nga e-abuse si mama. But when he or she grows up, they will also do that to their partner,” Ranolo explained.
Sacris stressed that the root cause of abuse often stems from dysfunctional family dynamics, observing that many perpetrators were themselves victims of abuse during childhood.
“Usually the alleged perpetrators who do bisan unsa na abuse, come from a dysfunctional family. So, pasabot ana pagkabata pa lang na experience nasad na nila sa ilaha. Walay nakasulti nila na, oy di mana maayo,” Sacris added.
(Most perpetrators come from dysfunctional families, meaning they likely experienced abuse as children. No one taught them that such behavior is wrong.)
Ronolo supported this view, stressing that children raised in abusive households often imitate the behaviors they witness, further normalizing the cycle of abuse.
Both doctors underscored the importance of discipline in raising children but emphasized that it should never cross into becoming abusive.
“So, kung madapatan man gani, explain to the child why and always confirm and affirm na love sila,” Ronolo advised.
(If you discipline a child, explain the reason and always affirm your love for them.)
The campaign serves as a call to action for society to address abuse and its deeply rooted causes while extending much-needed support to victims. (MYP/PIA7)
