Increasing awareness: VAWC symposium held

RationaleWith the undisputable increasing cases of abused and trafficked persons, specifically women and children across national and international boundaries, foreign and local authorities intensify their measures to combat such societal predicament.

Originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991 wherein the participants chose the dates – November 25 as the International Day Against Women and December 10 as the International Human Rights Day, such gathering prods a 16-Day Activism Against Gender Violence and makes it as an international campaign.

As such, the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT), along with the TESDA Provincial office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Agusan del Sur organized a multi-faceted campaign: increasing trainees’ awareness concerning issues on violence and trafficking of women and children, gaining trainees’ active participation through various activities as well as equipping former victims of violence with livelihood skills.

Local Celebration

Spearheaded by the Gender and Development (GAD) focals -- Mrs. Tessie C. Aton of ASSAT and Mrs. Cheri Ann P. De Guzman of TESDA Provincial Office in participation of the ASSAT Trainees’ Organization (ATO), the school gives the trainees a much-needed hiatus from pure vocational training and teamed up with other local agencies for injecting inputs on socially relevant issues via activities.

November 25 kicked off with a Fun Run Walk as the trainees assembled within the campus grounds and ran along the Government Center premises which were fronted by instructors Ms. Maricel Balinton and Mr. Jemar P. Sumando as well as ATO president Ms. Gemma Tigol. Such activity is closely followed by a poster making contest held in the multimedia room of which the winning piece depicted the theme in his work.

In the meantime, classes were shortened on December 6 as three competing teams strut in the quadrangle as they vied for the jingle competition which was attended by the representatives from TESDA provincial office Ms. Cheri Ann P. De Guzman and Ms. Cheryl G. Tizon. Meanwhile, a few selected VAW victims attended an organized skills training as their personal enhancement inside the multimedia room on December 10.

Further, December 11 marked the culminating activity of which highlighted a symposium on Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262) which was discussed by a Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office representative Ms. Laluyan. Ms. Laluyan gave a comprehensive discussion on the forms and cycle of violence which is not entirely exclusive to married couples but such abuses are also present between live-in partners or between persons having an intimate relationship. Such given definition garnered quizzical looks from trainees which prompted Ms. Laluyan to expound her discussion by citing sample cases in which she have encountered as a social worker.

On the other hand, Ms. Razel O. Montemor of the same office tackled the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 (RA No. 10364). Ms. Montemor revealed the modus operandi commonly used by the busted human traffickers -- who are often repeat offenders. She further explained that the root causes of such activity are numerous but economic and political factors based from international, national and local statistics contribute to the said rising problem. Citing that an unstable economic status of an individual plays as a major culprit for trafficking, she encouraged the trainees who wishes to work abroad to transact only with agencies registered by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

Meanwhile, GAD-Focal Mrs. Tessie C. Aton awarded the prizes to the winners of the different activities.

by report: Anicet D. Mariano