18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)

The 18-day campaign is observed annually from November 25 to December 12 to raise awareness among all stakeholders that VAW is a public issue of national concern. It supports the Philippine Government’s goal to protect the human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence. The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women (IACVAWC) adopted the theme “VAW-free community starts with Me” for the annual campaign from 2016 to 2021. The theme elevates the campaign to positive advocacy as it enjoins everyone to pursue the common vision of a community free from violence against women and girls, and highlights what can be done to achieve such.

The campaign aims to: 1) give the public a glimpse of a VAW victim-survivor’s ordeal to later develop in them the virtue of compassion or malasakit; 2) promote awareness on the forms of violence women and girls experience, provide information on the laws protecting women and girls, and feature VAW-related services that people can access and avail; and 3) gather public support for the campaign.

For 2018, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) shall conduct the following key activities in partnership with key agencies and organizations: 1) VAW Experiential Museum, 2) Cine Juana Film-screening and Forum on VAW, 3) VAW: Unspoken Words I and II, 4) 18-Day Campaign to End VAW Recommended Films, 5) Orange Your Icon for 18 Days Advocacy Initiative, 6) production and distribution of advocacy materials, and 7) online advocacy.