Cases of violence against women up in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – The reported cases of violence against women and children in Baguio City increased in 2007 compared to the past years, said City Social Welfare Officer Betty F. Fangasan. Among the reported cases, physical violence topped the list with 361 cases followed by 127 cases of psychological violence, 24 cases of economic abuse and 20 sexual abuse cases. “There was a significant increase in the cases we received last year not because there was an increase in the rate of incidence of violence but because there was an increase on the number of women reporting the abuse," said Fangasan, adding more women are now aware of the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC) Act. With this law, women can now avail of a Temporary or Permanent Protection Order (T/PPO) at the barangay (village) level to prevent further abuse. Child abuse Fangasan said reported child abuse cases also increased with 78 cases of physical abuse and 56 sexual abuse cases, including incest rapes, from January to June of 2007 only. The total child abuse cases in 2006 were 286. Included in the list of child abuse cases are maltreatment, threats, negligence, child labor and trafficking. “We received an average of 50 cases a month for both women and child abuse," said Fangasan. Meanwhile, the Women and Children Protection Unit of the Baguio General Hospital attended to about 400 women and children victims of violence with 90 percent physical and psychological abuse cases and 10 percent sexual abuse cases. Culture of silence Mila Lingbawan, secretary-general of Innabuyog-GABRIELA, an alliance of women organizations here in the Cordillera, said abused women usually prefer not to report their cases because they fear being blamed for it. “This ‘victim-blaming’ is brought about by a macho society that still treats men as superior to women thus fostering a culture of silence," said Lingbawan. “It is good that women victims of violence are starting to come out," added Lingbawan, but she said that bringing the abusers to justice is another story. - Northern Dispatch/Bulatlat