Photo from Philippine News Agency (Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/photos/40303)
Joining the fight on violence against women, Global Peace Foundation Philippines partners with government agencies and civil society organizations in hosting the Stop Crimes Against Women Summit 2019 on April 23. Hundreds of representatives from local government units, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector participated in the first summit which aimed to empower women and women advocates to speak out and act against injustices and mainstream partnerships for Gender and Development in the Philippines towards greater impact in all aspects of progress.
The summit was organized in response to the recent reports that violence against women is an “epidemic” in the Philippines as cited by the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (Rappler, 2019, March 8). According to experts, one way to address violence against women is to start tackling the issue at home, where attitudes towards violence against women can be addressed and changed. Affirming that “peace begins in the home,” the Global Peace Foundation, through Global Peace Women, therefore seeks to engage women and other stakeholders to create a supportive cultural environment to strengthen and empower women’s leadership as a fundamental resource in advancing peace and human development.
In her speech, Dr. Nona Ricafort, chairperson of Global Peace Women Philippines, underscored that the development of any nation is an outcome of progressive efforts made by units of society, both men and women. “We all know, that this can only be achieved through concerted efforts in our crusade for the elimination of feminized poverty, gender-based violence, and inequality toward economic and political empowerment of women,” Dr. Ricafort emphasized.
She added that the aim of the gathering is not only to build and strengthen bridges of friendship, but also to share each other’s “heroic experiences, successes, and strategic ways towards mainstreaming women’s social participation and development.”
Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chair, Ms. Cory Quirino, delivers her keynote speech at the Stop Crimes Against Women Summit 2019 in Manila Hotel, Philippines
One of the outcomes of the summit is the creation of a think-tank which will present a Seven-Point Agenda for Change that will further the cause of women in the Philippines to President Rodrigo Duterte. The focus areas of the seven-point agenda are: legislative and executive, enforcement, ethics and values, culture and sports, communications, family and marriage, and economics. The summit ended with a signing of the attendees to the “Pledge of Commitment” to support the recommendations.
The Stop Crimes Against Women Summit 2019 was co-convened by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Public Attorney’s Office in partnership with Global Peace Foundation Philippines, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Rotary District 3830, Inner Wheel Club District 380, and The Way to Happiness Foundation in Manila Hotel, Philippines.
Reference:
Rappler. (2019, March 8). Latest News – Philippines. Available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/225275-expert-violence-against-women-epidemic-philippines