The Interview

Today, I was interviewed by a government -run TV station about the priority agenda of the Women Sector Council of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). As the committee head of the working group on the localization of the Magna Carta of Women, I spoke in behalf of the 25 member council composed of grassroots women leaders from the different parts of the country. Joining me in the interview is the current Sectoral Representative of the NAPC Women Sector. Actually, the priority agenda includes the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, mainstreaming gender in disaster risk reduction and management as well as in climate change adaptation and lastly on achieving peace and security. 

The interview focused on the Barangay VAW Desk. Barangay is the Filipino term for village. The Magna Carta of Women mandates local government units to establish the VAW Desks in all of the villages in the country which will respond to cases of VAW in the community. The duty of the Barangay VAW Desk Officer is to provide immediate assistance to women who were harmed by their intimate partners. According to the records of the police, majority of reports are on physical abuse. There are also reports on economic, psychological and sexual abuse. The Barangay VAW Desk can also get the help of the community health worker in providing first aid and immediately refer the case to the Rural Health Physician and social worker.

Anyway, this story is not about the protocols and processes in GBV response. It is about the interview that happened today which can provide information to women and their communities that there is help available for them. That those who are experiencing abuse should not suffer alone or keep the problem to themselves. That there are people in the community whom they can trust with their story and can help them. That the VAW Desk Officers are there to help them. That they will treat their case with confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination and in non-judgmental manner.

Unfortunately, the VAW Desks are in various levels of functionality. The Women Sectoral Council initiated the development of a tool that will assess the level of functionality of VAW Desks. The tool is now being used by the Department of Interior and Local Government to monitor the functionality of VAW Desks annually. Members of the Women Sector Council reported that there are VAW Desk Officers who needs training on handling VAW cases. There are those which are not adequately supported with communication, transportation and other logistics.

The purpose of the interview is to tell the public that there should be a VAW Desk in their villages that must perform the following functions:

1. Assist VAW victims in securing Barangay Protection Order (BPO) and accessing necessary services.
2. Respond to gender-based violence cases brought to the barangay.
3. Record the number of gender-based violence cases handled by the barangay and submit a quarterly report on all VAW cases to the DILG City/Municipal Field Office and the City/Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (C/MSWDO).
4. Keep VAW case records confidential and secured, and ensure that only authorized personnel can access it
5. Develop the barangay’s gender-responsive plan in addressing gender-based violence, including support services, capacity building, and referral system; 
6. Coordinate with and refer cases to government agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), institutions, and other service providers as necessary;
7. Address other forms of abuse committed against women, especially senior citizens, women with disabilities, and other marginalized groups; 
8. Lead advocacies on the elimination of VAW in the community and perform other related functions as may be assigned.

Quiet a long list of responsibilities for a community volunteer that without adequate support, the Barangay VAW Desks will not be able to perform their functions effectively thus depriving women and girls of protection against the perpetrators of abuse.

The interview ended with a call to all women to equip themselves with knowledge about their rights, with information on what to do and where to go in case they experience abuse, to seek help from friends and family whom they can trust and more importantly, to have their own money that they can use for emergencies or run away from the perpetrators.

Here's hoping that people will get to watch the interview which will be aired on July 29 at 5:15 pm Philippine time and in the You Tube channel of PTV 4.

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This story was written to complete the assignment on Citizen Journalism conducted by @Kirthi Jakuyamar on #Training Tuesday today.