DILG strengthens women, children protection desks

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen and expand its Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPDs) nationwide by forging partnerships with volunteer groups and by continuously training and familiarizing police officers on promoting the women’s and children’s rights.

Puno said the PNP should ensure that its WCPDs are functioning in every municipality as “one-stop shops” for the investigation and treatment of victims of child abuse, violence against women and other similar crimes.

“Our Women and Child Protection Center (WCPC) project is among the most important programs of the PNP. These women and child protection centers will be strengthened in every municipality,” Puno said.

Headed by a woman general — Chief Supt. Yolanda Tanigue — the WCPD is directly involved in formulating relevant training programs for police personnel handling cases of women and children and supervises over the strict enforcement of laws and investigations to protect these sectors from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

WCPDs across the country are staffed with female police officers and most have temporary facilities to shelter women and take care of children.

“Our training of police personnel manning these WCPDs are continuing and the PNP is expanding its linkages with women’s organizations to promote women’s and children’s rights,” Puno said.

One of the more prominent cases now being investigated by the WCPC is a complaint filed by actress Yasmien Kurdi against actor Baron Geisler for acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment and unjust vexation.

The WCPC counts among its numerous accomplishments the launching and dissemination of the Guide for Media Practitioners on the Reporting and Coverage of Cases Involving Children and the establishment of human rights offices nationwide to serve as focal points for coordination and dialog on women’s and children’s concerns.

The PNP is also currently drafting a Protocol on the Handling of Children in Armed Conflict.

Moreover, the PNP entered into a memorandum of agreement last February with the International Justice Mission on equipping police personnel with the necessary skills to effectively enforce laws governing the protection of women and children. –Daily Tribune