Battle with VAW: Types of abuses under the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-VAWC Act
The public often associates violence against women and their children (VAWC) with assault and battery.
However, physical abuse is only one of the acts of violence women, and in some cases, their children experience said Jay Balleza, president of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) San Jose chapter during the Philippine Information Agency – Occidental Mindoro Kapihan sa PIA.
Under Section 3 of the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004, there are three other types of VAW in addition to physical violence. These include sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and economic abuse.
Psychological violence
Under the law, acts causing or likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the victim fall under psychological abuse. This includes, but is not limited to intimidation, stalking, or forcing them to witness or watch acts of violence.
King David J. Agreda, chairperson of the Education, Training, and Capacity Building Committee of MOVE Philippines explained that repetitive demeaning, cussing, and using insensitive words are some examples of emotional mistreatment.
“ ‘Yung mga emotional abuse, ito yung isa sa mga uri ng abuse na akala natin napakasimpleng bitawan pero ito yung mga talagang namumuhay sa kalooban ng mga possible victims,” Agreda said.
(Emotional abuse is one of the forms of abuse that can be easily committed yet latches deep into the hearts of possible victims.)
Economic abuse
Any act that tries to control a woman by withdrawing or depriving financial support is economic abuse. Balleza said that many people are not aware that this is a type of abuse.
“Nakakalungkot, may mga kakilala po ako na nireklamo ng mga dati nilang partner po kasi hindi nagbibigay ng sustento, so ‘yon ‘yung nagiging ground sa pagpa-file ng case,” he said.
(It is saddening, I know people who received complaints from their former partners because they did not provide financial support and that became the basis for filing a case.)
Preventing a woman from having a job or a business without a valid reason, destroying household property, controlling the victims’ own money, or solely controlling conjugal money or properties also falls under this type of abuse, as defined by the law.
Sexual violence
An estimated one out of three women globally have been subjected to either physical and sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, according to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 25, 2024.
The law states that sexual violence is any “act which is sexual in nature, committed against a woman or her child.”
Rape, sexual harassment, threatening or forcing a woman or her child to watch pornography or perform indecent acts, and touching a woman’s private parts are some of its examples.
Agreda underscored that the Anti-VAWC Act protects not only those in wedlock but all women in any relationship.
“Pwede po diyan ang dating, sexual relationships, have [or] had relationships, kahit po live in partner, kahit mag-boyfriend-girlfriend ‘yan protektado po ang mga kababaihan diyan,” he explained.
(Those who are still courting, in a sexual relationship, have or had relationships, live-in partners, even those who are dating, are protected by the law.)
Seek help immediately
The barangay VAWC desk is the fastest support available, in addition to the Municipal Police Station (MPS) or the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, to anyone experiencing any of these types of abuse, said Agreda. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
