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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Advocacy on violence against women, kids intensified
SOME 50 participants, composed of barangay officials and volunteers, local and retained social workers, police and Department of Interior and Local Government personnel, and the chief of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes, attended a forum on "Anti-Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children" held last December 28, at the Jardin La Viña Hotel, Zamboanga City.
The forum was aimed at intensifying information and advocacy efforts through RA 9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003," so as to crack down on cases of human trafficking and RA 9262, otherwise known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004," to prevent incidents of violence against women and children. The resource person was Atty. Bienvenido Morillo of the City Prosecutor's Office.
A local situationer on trafficking of persons and cases of violence against women and children was presented, as well as the plans and initiatives of the Local Council on Human Trafficking in the city.
Zenaida Arevalo, chief of the Operations Division of DSWD in Region 9, discussed the roles of the different concerned agencies and the local government unit in the enforcement of the law.
Barangay officials play a very vital role in the enforcement of RA 9262, as the Barangay Council is authorized to issue a Barangay Protection Order (BPO), as an immediate and fast response to protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
To carry out this important task, barangay officials should be fully aware of the procedures on the issuance of the BPO. And since they are there in the community, they should be able to identify potential victims in their respective areas.
Arevalo strongly affirmed the significant roles and contributions of the local government of Zamboanga City, Inter-Agency Council on Anti-Trafficking (IACAT) and other advocacy groups and law enforcement agencies in the protection of victims and potential victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
She cited that in Region 9 alone, there are already 87 recorded cases of human trafficking, Zamboanga City being an exit point to neighboring countries down south. (Fe L. dela Cruz)
(January 10, 2006 issue)
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