The Laws on Violence Against Women in the Philippines

1. The Laws on Violence Against Women in the Philippines By: Rowena V. Guanzon Gender Justice Network Member, Asia Cause Lawyers Network

2. Reforms in laws due to democratic space • 1986 People Power Revolution toppled the 14 year Martial Law dictatorship • 1987 Constitution • 1988 Elections of House of Representatives, Senators and local government officials

3. Before 1995: • Gender based violence was not recognized in Philippine laws. • Revised Penal Code covered offenses committed against women, e.g., physical injuries, rape, acts of lasciviousness, seduction, parricide, homicide, murder

4. Civil Law • Had discriminatory provisions on women, treated as subordinate to husbands • Could not accept gifts from men other than their husbands without their consent • Husband had sole administration of the conjugal partnership

5. 1987 CONSTITUTION:State Policies • Sec. 2 “adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land (CEDAW, CRC, other Conventions) • Full respect for human rights • Sec. 14. “fundamental equality before the law of women and men”

6. 1987 Constitution • Sec. 14 The State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions xxx

7. LAWS ON VAW since 1995 • Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 • Anti-Rape Act of 1997 • Rape Victims Assistance Act (1998) • An Act penalizing matching of Filipino mail order brides (1998) • Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 • Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004

8. RA 9262: Anti –VAWC Act • Effective March 27, 2004 • A special law protecting women and their children from all forms of abuse • Criminal statute • Civil action – Temporary & Permanent Protection Order • With remedy of Barangay (village) Protection Order

9. Types of Violence covered • PHYSICAL • PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL • SEXUAL • ECONOMIC

10. Def.: Violence Against Women & their children (VAWC) • any act or series of acts committed by any PERSON • against a WOMAN who is his wife, former wife, or with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationships, or • with whom he has a common child, or • against her child/child under her care

11. Def: VAWC • Which result or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering or economic abuse including threats of such acts, • Battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty

12. Elements • Relationship, past or present • Married or not; living in or not • Sexual or dating relationship • Including lesbian relationships • With common child • Falling under Sec. 5 (punishable acts)

13. Sec. 5 Acts of VAWC • Causing, threatening, attempting to cause physical harm • Placing the woman or her child in fear of imminent physical harm • Attempting or compelling the woman or her child to engage in conduct which they have a right to desist from, or to

14. Sec. 5 Acts • depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child of custody or access to her family • depriving them of financial support;insufficient financial support

15. Sec. 5 Acts • Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her child of a legal right • Preventing the woman from engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation, business or activity, or controlling her own money or properties or solely controlling conjugal or common assets

16. Sec. 5 Acts • Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child to engage in any sexual activity..., by force or threat, physical harm, intimidation directed against the woman, her child, or immediate family *

17. Sec. 5 • Engaging in knowing or reckless conduct, personally or through another, that alarms or causes substantial emotional or psychological distress including: • (1) stalking • (2)entering or remaining in the property

18. Sec. 5 Acts • Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule, humiliation including repeated verbal and emotional abuse* • denial of financial support or custody of minor children or denial of access to the woman’s child * • * PRESCRIPTION PERIOD: 10 years. All others, 20 years

19. Purpose of Protection Orders • to prevent further acts of violence against a woman or her child. • to safeguard the victim from further harm • to minimize disruption in victim’s daily life • give her the opportunity and ability to regain control over her life.

20. Kinds of Protection Orders • Barangay Protecton Order – 15 days; not extendible • Temporary Protection Order – 30 days + (shall be renewed by court) • Permanent Protection Order

21. Protection Orders • Prohibition from threatening or committing, any of punishable acts • Removal and exclusion from the residence regardless of ownership, temporarily or permanently where no property rights are violated

22. Protection Orders • Stay away from petitioner, any designated family or household member • Temporary or permanent custody of child • Support – automatic remittance of salary or income by employer • Dept of Social Welfare & Dev to provide shelter and social services

23. Who may file for Protection Orders (P.O.) • Offended party • Parents or guardians • Ascendants, descendants, collateral relatives within 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity • Social workers of DSWD or LGUs • Police officers • Punong Barangay or kagawad • Lawyer, counselor, therapist, healthcare provider • At least 2 citizens of the city or municipality who have personal knowledge of the offense

24. Temporary Protection Order • Issued by the Court on the day of filing • Ex parte ; Priority over all other cases • Effective for 30 days; extendible • Stay away order, temporary custody and support to woman and/or her children, use of community/conjugal property • Bond to Keep the Peace • Enforceable anywhere in the country • No mediation; no conciliation

25. Permanent Protection Order • issued after notice and hearing • custody, support to the woman and/or her children • respondent to leave the residence permanently • with Bond to Keep the Peace

26. Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) • justifying circumstance • Perpetrator of crime against a woman with BWS shall not have custody of children

27. Exemption from liability • NO CRIMINAL, CIVIL, ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY : • Any person, private individual, police authority, barangay official acting in accordance with law, who • responds or intervenes without using violence or restraint greater than necessary to ensure safety of the victim

28. Rights of victims • Right to be treated with respect & dignity; • Legal assistance; support services from DSWD, local governments • Privacy and confidentiality of records • Additional 10 day paid leave from work aside from present paid leave benefits

29. Effectiveness of the law: • The law is a product of cooperation of women’s rights organizations and legislators, hence the comprehensive remedies • Protection Orders are being increasingly used by women to protect themselves, get support, get back their minor children • Barangay protection order is available to poor rural women who have no easy access to the courts

30. Effectiveness of the law • Supreme Court issued a Rule on VAWC, governs the trial of the case • Government officials, including judges are prohibited from mediating e.g. to influence the woman to give up her reliefs • Local government units are tasked with education campaign to eliminate VAW

31. Effectiveness of the Law • Mechanism for government implementers and support services • Inter-Agency on VAW is provided in the law; government implementers have Implementing Rules and Regulations enumerating their duties • Problem: lack of funds for training

32. Problems, gaps, lessons: • The law does not provide for appropriations, funding for training of implementers and support services for the woman • Corruption in the judiciary, prosecution service • Low level of gender sensitivity among prosecutors

33. Problems, lessons • Ignorance of the law by police officers who are not in the women’s and children’s desks • Lack of quality gender sensitivity seminars for judges who are not family court judges, and prosecutors • Misuse of the laws and rules by lawyers, e.g. retaliation suits against women who have protection orders

34. Rowena V. Guanzon, LLB, MPAFounding Member, Gender Justice NetworkFounding Member, Asia Cause Lawyers Network Email: rowena.guanzon@gmail.com Weblog: www.bingguanzon.com Fax (+632) 9290840 Mobile: +63 9189018504