Baguio City, Philippines - A 12 percent decline in Gender-based violence (GBV) cases was observed in the Cordillera region in the first 8 months of 2023.
GBV or violence against women and girls is a serious violation of human rights and life-threatening issues, such as rape, sexual abuse, trafficking and forced prostitution.
From January - September this year, a total of 458 of these cases were recorded in the region, noting a 65 or 12 percent decrease compared to the 523 of the same period in 2022.
This is according to PMaj. Marcy Grace Marron of the Police Regional Office- Cordillera Women and Children Protection Desk who presented the data last Thursday, December 7.
Marron, during her interview with the Philippine Information Agency - Cordillera, said that the decrease in cases is a result of their public awareness programs and continuous advocacy campaigns by various agencies.
Some of their programs include orienting or re-orienting men about women rights, lectures to barangays and schools, social media information, among others.
As for the victims of such violence, Marron encouraged them to report their perpetrators to the authorities, while assuring them that the PNP is committed to providing them support and protection throughout the process.
“If you are a victim of abuse, get the courage to report because we are here—the PNP, the VAWC desk, and the other agencies and NGOs who are willing to help. If you do not report that, it might suggest that you are tolerating what the perpetrator does. We need to put an end to violence," she stated.
LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICKÂ ME
.png)
