PopCom: Protect Filipino women vs bias, violence

The Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) has renewed its call to protect Filipino women from gender bias and violence as the country marks Women’s Month.

In a survey by the Social Weather Stations that PopCom commissioned, 1 out of 4, or 25 percent of Filipino adults, said harmful acts in various forms are among the most pressing problems of women during the coronavirus pandemic.

Eleven percent of surveyed mentioned that physical violence is a top concern for Filipinas, while 14 percent cited sexual and emotional violence.

PopCom noted an increase in cases of gender-based violence, citing figures from the Philippine National Police that showed 19,743 cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) were committed in 2019.

According to the fifth annual report on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law released last year, VAWC is not just a violation of human rights, but also a public health concern.

PopCom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez 3rd said while the country led the global community in championing the causes of women, it has been counterbalanced by the prevalence of gender bias and gender-based violence especially during the pandemic.

Perez lauded PopCom’s level 4 out of five ranking by the Philippine Commission on Women in terms of advancing the country’s gender and development agenda, which meant that the agency has already institutionalized “gender mainstreaming while encouraging other organizations to continuously elevate and improve theirs.”

“As an agency being looked upon by the national government in promoting women’s rights, Popcom will do its best to guarantee their protection, empowerment and provision of opportunities needed to achieve their utmost in life,” he said.