Congress of MEN Opposed

To Violence In Boracay

The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) and the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women (VAW) Everywhere (MOVE) in partnership with the Provincial government of Aklan is observing the 18-day Campaign to End VAW which started on November 25 to December 12, 2008, Mr. Franklin L. Quimpo, President, MOVE Aklan chapter revealed.

On Dec. 5, 2008, the first National Congress of Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere (MOVE) with the theme “Kilos Mga Kalalakihan! Sugpuin Ang Karahasan Laban Sa Kababaihan” will be held. This MOVE Congress will be held simultaneously in four sites which are in 1. Astoria Plaza Hotel, Metro Manila; 2. Quezon Province; 3. Davao City; and 4. La Carmela de Boracay, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. These four sites will be linked together through a video teleconference.

At 12:00 noon to 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Friday, Dec. 5, simultaneous press conference will be held. Vice president Noli de Castro will deliver the keynote speech which will be heard via satellite. Governors from the three provinces will deliver their respective messages, five minutes each from Quezon, Sultan Kudarat and Gov. Carlito S. Marquez from Aklan. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reynato Puno, Sen. Manuel Villar, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Civil Service Commission chair Ricardo Saludo, DND Sec. Gilberto Teodoro, Gen. Alexander Yano, Gen. Jesus Verzosa, and NCRFW chair Myrna T. Yao will also give their respective messages at 5 minutes each. MOVE president, Atty. Dennis E. Pulma of the Sandiganbayan will welcome the participants.

Several topics highly relevant to VAW will be presented such as VAW Issues and Concerns; Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace; Domestic Violence and Rape. Engr. Roger M. Esto of MOVE Aklan will discuss “Prostitution and Human Trafficking”.

Reactions to the presentations will follow after the discussions by a panel. The afternoon will be devoted for action planning.

According to MOVE Aklan president, Franklin L. Quimpo, VAW is a human right issue which strikes on the personhood of women. It limits human development, but not limited to physical abuse. It can be emotional, verbal, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse. It occurs in the family within the private sphere. /MP