Aklanon Men Sustain The Fight To End Violence Against Women and Children

The Men Opposed to End VAW, Inc. Aklan chapter in partnership with the Aklan Gender and Development Commission (AGADC) will spearhead the observance of the 18 Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women in the province with the theme UNITE: End VAW Now! Since its formation in 2007, MOVE Aklan is in the forefront in its campaign to eliminate gender based violence and this year, series of activities are lined up to mark the event (November 25-December 12). The kick-off activity is the MOVE Orientation for the Municipality of Kalibo on November 25, Media Guesting at Kapihan sa Kalibo on November 26, Tree Planting to End VAW in Aklan on November 27, the 3rd MOVE Provincial Congress on November 28 followed by Dugo Para sa Kababayen-an ag mga inunga (Annual Blood Letting of MOVE members). The campaign will culminate on December 12 with the Forum for Youth on Anti-Human Trafficking.

Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, Honorary Chair of MOVE Aklan declares that there remains a case of alarm for all Aklanons as to date, the PNP-Aklan WCPD documented a total of 411 cases of abuses committed against women and children from January to 12November of this year. Recorded are 172 violence committed against children and 239 against women. "We have to be aggressive in our campaign to fight VAW", he enthuses. The town of Kalibo and the island of Boracay are among the areas with high incidence of VAWC.

At the national level, January to August 2011 data from PNPWCPD recorded 8,687 VAW cases, while in 2010, the highest VAWC cases reached 15,104. Out of the said cases, 9,974 were on RA 9262 (Anti-VAWC Law), 2,018 were on physical injuries (non RA9262) and 1,061 were on rape. The data is not conclusive of the total number and trend of increase or decrease of VAW incidence in the country because they are based only on what is reported to the PNP.

MOVE Aklan Chapter President Franklin Quimpo maintains that while they continue to reach out to the men and other Local Government Units and communities, the fight to eliminate VAW should be upheld by all sectors since VAW is a human rights issue and affects the personhood of the victims. He likewise recognizes the commitment of the Provincial Government in supporting this campaign for a truly VAW-free province of Aklan. /MP