While the protection of women is deemed a fundamental right, the Philippines, in 2004, promulgated Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act” (Anti-VAWC), to ensure that women and their children are protected from situations involving abuse. The Anti-VAWC Act provides victims with legal protection and acknowledges women’s and children’s rights to live free from violence. VAW includes but is not limited to threats, neglect or deprivation, mutilation, trafficking, forced marriage, and abuses such as physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, and economic/financial.

According to Amnesty International, the Philippine National Police Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (PNP-CIRAS) recorded 11,636 VAW-related cases in 2024, a slight increase from the 2023 record of 11,585. Even more serious, several cases failed to be reported, as “culture of silence,” or choosing not to speak among victims, is prevalent due to fear, stigma, and social pressure.

PS-DBM prides itself on being a safe space for women, as it remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating women’s abuse in all forms. This, among other ways, is manifested as it joins the campaign’s whole-of-nation approach in mobilizing diverse voices and key players—youth as changemakers, men as proactive allies, bystanders as empowered responders, and local leaders as catalysts for policy-driven transformation.

PS-DBM calls on its workforce and other key stakeholders in eliminating gender-based violence, empowering survivors, and promoting justice.