Violence against women in the Philippines
Authors: Isabel Kristine M Valdez, Hazel Joy A Encarnado, Michelle Ann B Eala, Josefina T Ly-Uson
Journal: The Lancet Public Health (2022)

Violence against women has intensified in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines is no exception.1CNN PhilippinesReports of violence against women, children to PH Commission on women almost tripled during pandemic.https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/12/pwc-violence-women-children-pandemic.htmlDate: 2020Date accessed: January 27, 2022Google Scholar Community lockdowns can increase violence against women, and exceedingly stringent stay-at-home orders have trapped victims with their abusers. The one-household-one-quarantine-pass policy, inadequate public transportation, and strict curfews have restricted both mobility and the ability to seek help,1CNN PhilippinesReports of violence against women, children to PH Commission on women almost tripled during pandemic.https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/12/pwc-violence-women-children-pandemic.htmlDate: 2020Date accessed: January 27, 2022Google Scholar, 2UN Women Asia PacificGendered dimensions of COVID-19 in the Philippines.https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/06/gendered-dimensions-of-covid-19-in-the-philippinesDate: 2020Date accessed: January 14, 2022Google Scholar, 3United Nations Population Fund PhilippinesGender & Inclusion Assessment (GIA) of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable women and girls.https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/publications/gender-inclusion-assessment-gia-impacts-covid-19-pandemic-vulnerable-women-and-girlsDate: 2021Date accessed: January 15, 2022Google Scholar as reflected by a 27·2% drop in reported cases to the Philippine National Police.1CNN PhilippinesReports of violence against women, children to PH Commission on women almost tripled during pandemic.https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/12/pwc-violence-women-children-pandemic.htmlDate: 2020Date accessed: January 27, 2022Google Scholar, 4Gomez JP Robredillo AK 'Fewer violence vs. women cases, but more unreported'.https://manilastandard.net/news/national/357417/fewer-violence-vs-women-cases-but-more-unreported.htmlDate: 2021Date accessed: January 27, 2022Google Scholar With government institutions prioritising the pandemic response, resources have been scarce for women experiencing violence. Reproductive health services have been largely inaccessible; many women have been left unemployed and economically dependent on their partners. Additionally, low level of trust in authorities means that many women are less likely to report cases to authorities,2UN Women Asia PacificGendered dimensions of COVID-19 in the Philippines.https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/06/gendered-dimensions-of-covid-19-in-the-philippinesDate: 2020Date accessed: January 14, 2022Google Scholar but internet queries associated with violence against women have risen by 63% during the pandemic.5United Nations Population Fund Asia and the PacificCOVID-19 and violence against women: the evidence behind the talk.https://asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/publications/covid-19-and-violence-against-women-evidence-behind-talkDate: 2021Date accessed: January 14, 2022Google Scholar The Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act was passed in 2004, in the Phiippines.6GOVPHRepublic Act No. 9262.https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2004/03/08/republic-act-no-9262-s-2004Date: 2004Date accessed: January 27, 2022Google Scholar However, follow-up data on implementation, which could guide the subsequent steps of action, are unavailable. Active surveillance and further research to create a robust data infrastructure on violence against women in the Philippines are needed. We agree with the Lancet Public Health7The Lancet Public HealthViolence against women: tackling the other pandemic.Lancet Public Health. 2022; 7: e1Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar that strategies to address violence against women must be multifaceted and centered on enduring solutions. Intersectoral collaboration between policy makers, non-governmental organisations, community leaders, women advocates, and the health sector must be intensified to deliver adequate and timely medical, psychiatric, legal, financial, and housing assistance for victims. We declare no conflicts of interest. Violence against women: tackling the other pandemic2021 marked the 30th anniversary of the campaign against gender-based violence. Violence against women is a global public health issue and one of the world's most prevalent human rights violations. According to WHO 's Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life. The UN defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life". Full-Text PDF Open Access