Mapping of Violence Against Women (VAW) Services, Programs, and Facilities in the Philippines

One of the key recommendations in the Strategic Plan of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (IACVAWC) for 2017-2022 is the establishment of an integrated VAW referral system at the national and local levels. This is intended to strengthen the services being provided by various organizations for VAW victim-survivors.

An important step for the establishment of VAW referral system is the mapping of available services for VAW victim-survivors in the country. Information generated from the mapping activity will be consolidated into a national, provincial, municipal, and city directory of VAW services. The directory will reflect the existing public and private VAW facilities, service providers, and programs in the 81 provinces, 33 highly urbanized cities, and 5 independent component cities in the Philippines.

Eventually, results of the mapping will inform VAW victim-survivors on the availability of appropriate services and remedies which they can avail in their area. Hopefully, this information will encourage them to no longer suffer in silence because there are organizations, which are ready to help and protect their interest.

The mapping will not only cover services related to RA 9262 but will also include RA 8353 and RA 8505, RA 9208 and RA 10364, RA 7877, RA 9995, RA 9710, RA 7610, RA 9775, and Articles 336 and 334 of the Revised Penal Code.