Vowing for change: the fight to end VAW

Anika Uy

Women have always been depicted as society’s lesser counterpart, consistently stripped of their right to live and be recognized as human beings. In the Philippines, violence against women (VAW) is a pervasive issue due to the historical influence of toxic patriarchal norms embedded into our culture that perpetuate this damaging cycle.

According to the World Health Organization, VAW is referred to as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women.” Such acts occur in both public and private spaces and include but are not limited to threats, coercion, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

From November 25 to December 12, the country observes the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, following the 2022-2027 Theme: UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines, led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence against Women and their Children (IACVAWC). 

A culture enabling violence

The Philippines ranks 20th in the 2025 Global Gender Equality Index, featuring a slight improvement from the previous year. Though it maintains its title as one of the most gender equal countries in Asia, behind the numbers lies a harsh truth—gender-based violence remains deeply entrenched in patriarchal values that run the political machinery of the Philippine nation.

The simplest manifestations of male dominance begin in Filipino households, where gender roles are imparted to men as the main breadwinners of the family. Women are brought up to express themselves modestly and submit to the wishes of their fathers or husbands so as to not disrupt this power dynamic.

Most forms of violence against women, such as wife beating, are highly accepted in the Philippines when this sense of superiority is perceivingly threatened.  According to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) – 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have reported to have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from their partners.

In reality, the percentage could be even higher—dozens more cases of domestic abuse go unreported due to the suppression of help-seeking behavior. The expectation that women are to selflessly carry their burdens in the family and keep private matters to themselves creates a fear of shame and alienation from their community. 

This issue extends past the household and everyday institutions to the general public as people become increasingly desensitized to the issue of gender-based violence through mass media. The normalization of rape jokes, discrimination, and objectification of women regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, social class, or civil status perpetuates the societal label of women as subordinate to men, thus further condoning violence.

In response to this, Republic Act No. 10398 declared November 25 as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children. This was the law that became the basis for the campaign, in tribute to the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, but was extended by two more days in the Philippines in recognition of Proclamation No. 1172. 

The year after, Republic Act No. 9262 defined acts of violence against women and their children, implemented penalties against offenders, alongside steps for victims to avail protection orders. Pursuant to this law, the IACVAWC extends the services of other government agencies by providing emergency helplines, support services, and advocacy activities that cater to survivors of abuse.

Anti-VAW campaign objectives

This year, the IACVAWC and PCW remain steadfast in their objective to accomplish a whole-of-nation approach in eliminating VAW by mainstreaming its prevention across broader sectors of society, while also empowering grassroots movements at the local level to expedite the implementation of the National Action Plan to End VAW.

The 18-day Campaign seeks to mobilize the following key players: the youth to be advocates against violence, men to be figures of respect and supporters of gender equality, bystanders to take action and intervene in potentially harmful situations, and local leaders to be driven by policy-based solutions.

The 2025 Campaign Activities feature a series of advocacy-building events that call on key players to participate in. These include the Youth Forum against VAW for student leaders and youth organizations, a compendium of information, education, and communication materials, and the use of social media hashtags across all platforms through the #MrRespeto Challenge, #VowToEndVAW, #VAWFreePH and more. 

The PCW also encourages agencies and organizations to participate in the campaign by joining campaign flag ceremonies, preparing their own local activities, and displaying the campaign banner in their respective offices.

Despite existing measures to combat VAW, systemic barriers still persist in the educational, legal, and health sectors that hinder Filipinos from proactively preventing this issue. This is not only a fight on the part of our government agencies, but must be a collective effort to end gender-based violence in all its forms, so women may be rightfully honored for their humanity.