Friday, May 16, 2008 IBP wants Bisaya primer on violence to reach grassroots
SO people in the grassroots will understand the law on anti-violence against women, lawyers translated Republic Act (RA) 9262 into Bisaya and distributed them in some barangays.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) believes that their project can give the people in the barangays and towns a better understanding of RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.
The IBP will implement the project with the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative (ABA-ROLI ).
Complaints
Jack Miranda of ABA-ROLI said it is important to educate barangay officials about the law as they are the first to receive complaints on violence.
IBP Visayas Region Governor Evergisto Escalon said that women and children are the usual victims of domestic violence, and should also be educated about the law.
Statistics from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed that one woman is battered every hour, one is raped every seven hours and another woman is sexually harassed every 18 hours.
The same report also showed that a child is battered every hour, one is raped every two hours and another one is sexually harassed every 18 hours.
The law aims to protect women and children from violence and punish offenders, Escalon said.
Accessible
With the theme “Batas Tao Abot Kamay,” the IBP national committee on legal aid aims to make the law accessible to as many people as possible and to make them understand their rights, said lawyer Rosario Reyes, its director.
The law will be translated into Bisaya through the IBP’s developmental legal aid program.
Copies of the primer will be given to all the barangays in the 44 municipalities and 3 cities of Cebu.
The Philippine National Police joined the launching of the primer at the Cebu International Convention Center. The Women and Children’s Desks of all police precincts will also be given copies.
In the future, Reyes said they hope to translate the primer into other dialects to broaden the reach of the project and increase the accessibility and understanding of the law.
At present, only the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar will get copies of the primer and the law. (STC Mass Comm Intern Strawberry Yap)
