Group concerned over VAWC due to quarantine

CEBU, Philippines —  The Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA), a group of non-government organizations promoting equal rights and opportunities for girls and young women in the Philippines, has expressed concern over reported cases of violence against women and children due to quarantine measures.

As of June 11, the Philippine National Police had recorded 2,183 cases of violence against women and 2,077 cases of violence against children since the imposition of community quarantines in the different parts of the country.

The GAA has asked the national government, particularly the PNP, the DSWD’s Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography, and the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, to empower, effectively protect, and immediately respond to the needs of girls and young women during this health crisis.

In a statement, the group also noted of reports of police arrests of family members found trafficking and sexually abusing their own children and relatives online, all within the confines of their homes.

These are also evident in the influx of cases brought to the attention of NGOs.

Child-focused groups are receiving more and more reports of harassment and sex trafficking on social media, with many online perpetrators even promising ‘lifetime membership’ and ‘exclusive access’ to child sexual abuse photos and videos.

Citing reports from the DSWD, the group said that majority of trafficking survivors during COVID-19 are females.

According to the data gathered by the Philippine Commission on Women, the reported gender-based violence incidents include violations of the Anti-Rape Law, Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, Articles No. 334 and 336 of the Revised Penal Code, Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, and Safe Spaces Act.

The group added that even before the pandemic, girls and young women already face double burden of discrimination by being young and female. For years, they suffer from gender-based violence, particularly in the form of sexual abuse, trafficking, prostitution, and online sexual exploitation.

“We learned from past experiences that emergencies, including epidemics, tend to disproportionately affect children, girls, and women in many ways,” said Selena Fortich, Country Program Manager for Child Protection of Plan International Philippines.

She added that a home may not always be a safe space for everyone and that the reported cases prove that there are children, girls, and women who are currently trapped with abusers, thus facing greater risks of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.  GAN (FREEMAN)