BEFORE, women took the cudgel to advocate for their protection, but now, it's the other way around.
In Silay City, there was a group calling themselves Move, or “Men Opposed VAW (Violence Against Women) everywhere,” spearheaded by Silay City Councilor Lyndon Bernardo was formed.
Bernardo is the only male councilor in the Province of Negros Occidental who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Women, Children, and Family.
He spearheaded this activity wherein Barangay officials who were all men were invited to an orientation to determine how they view, consider and value women in their families and community.
Bernardo was joined by Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, Councilor Ryan Gamboa, Vice Chair of the SP Committee on Women, Children, and Family, and Councilor Demes Aplaon, Committee member.
He said the activity is dubbed “I vow to end VAW,” organized.
“I have involved barangay officials who are men, city councilors who are men, and department heads in the 18-day campaign to end the violence against women and children,” he shared.
Part of the VAWC problems were created, caused, or involved men.
“Men should be part of the solution (and) this is also a campaign that we, too as leaders, will serve as a good example to our family and community,” he said.
For his part, Gallego said, the government is reaching out to the barangays and to the community on this matter, because this is vital in protecting the rights and welfare of women and children.
“I also advise husbands and wives if they have problems, they should talk about them and resolve them,” he said.
If there are cases of violence, the victims should report it immediately to the police so that it can be addressed and prevented from happening again, Gallego added.
Staunch women advocate and currently the Talisay City Social Welfare and Development Officer Dionela Madrona served as their resource speaker wherein the attendees shared their respective views, experience, and values they have for women.
The discussion was a combination of the good and the contrasting sides of women.
But based on studies, the abusers are 52% husbands; 12.1% fathers; 8.1 % employers, and 5.4% uncles.
She coursed the discussion revolving around Republic Act 9262 or an Act defining violence against women and their children, providing protective measures for victims, prescribing penalties therefore, and for other purposes. This Act will be known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
She also discussed how gender and sex differ from each other from the perspective of the male attendees. Some women attendees also spoke about their views and experiences with men.
She explained that there were gender biases that are still prevalent in society where men were stereotyped to be inflicting violence against women physically, psychologically, and emotionally. While women and children were still regarded and recorded as the most vulnerable sectors in the community in terms of the infliction of violence.