STATE OF THE NATION | Violence against women and children by the numbers

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the Philippines’ ranking fifth in the World Economic Forum’s 2013 Global Gender Gap Index, the incidence of violence against women and children has continued to rise.

The research and training institution Center for Women’s Resources this week issued a press release reviewing reviewed the prevalence of VAWC (violence against women and children) last year, ahead of President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, his fifth.

It is noteworthy that he did not touch on the issue during last year’s SONA, though in earlier speeches he pushed for legislation governing the protection of domestic workers and women night workers, mandatory immunization for children, and reproductive health, among others.

“Violence against women and children increases as poverty worsens. So despite a high rating in the global gender gap index, our women and children still experience various forms of violence,” said CWR executive director Jojo Guan in the statement. “(A lack of) economic power put women in a more vulnerable position to be controlled or abused by their husbands. Since they are economically dependent on their spouses, women just bear the abuses or maltreatment inflicted upon them and their children.”

CWR attributed the increase in VAWC, particularly rape and sex trafficking, to the continued view of women as sex objects.

“It is the government’s major obligation to ensure their social protection,” said Guan. “(A)ny pronouncements of growth in GDP means nothing if every hour or every minute, there is a woman or child suffering from violence.”

Guan’s observations are borne out by government statistics, such as these from the “Fact Sheet on Women and Men in the Philippines,” released March 28 this year by the Philippine Statistics Authority (National Statistical Coordination Board). –Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon.com