THE City Council has passed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to add three family courts at the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC) of Cagayan de Oro.
This after City Councilor Edna Dahino expressed concern over the snail-paced movement and resolution of the cases in courts. Dahino attributed the delay to the lack of family courts to handle the huge volume of cases filed almost everyday.
Dahino said it is important to resolve cases the soonest possible, so that families of the victims of violence can move on and recover from the pain.
Dahino's committee, the committee on women and relations, has also established the City's Integrated Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Referral System and Directory.
She said the referral system is aimed to have an integrated and coordinated community response to victims of violence against women and children.
It will also serve as a local directory so that in times of crisis, violated women or their children will know where to seek help and for response to be delivered immediately.
“The City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (CIACAT-VAWC) believes that it is very important that the vulnerable women and children exposed to any form of abuse and violence needing protection should have immediate access to courts,” she added.