by Litz Ty-Flaviano

Butuan City (1 September) -- A "Comprehensive Pilot Intervention Plan Against Gender-Based Violence in the Caraga Region" has been launched recently by Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) in partnership with the Spanish Embassy and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which was participated mostly by women who are actively or indirectly involved in the advancement of women's rights and welfare.

Mr. Miguel Barba, Project Officer for Caraga Region AECID of the Spanish Embassy in his opening statement said it has earmarked a total of P130 million for three pilot projects for gender development and livelihood assistance in a span of 10 years, which include the indigenous people's group in all Caraga Region, he stressed.

the other hand, Prof. Aurora de Dios, WAGI, Executive Director, said WAGI is Miriam College's specialized center for advocacy on women's issues, gender equality and non-sexist education. It offers a cross-discipline perspective on women's empowerment that is interlinked with democracy, human rights, governance and value formation.

. De Dios further said that part of the study is a research component on the extent and magnitude of the incidence of violence against women in selected sites of the region as well as an in depth study of the intervention strategies developed by public entities and NGOs at the regional, municipal, and provincial levels.

said another important component of the project is the training needs analysis, which aims to improve and upgrade the delivery of services of crisis centers as well as legal and other services in assisting victims of violence particularly of domestic violence and trafficking. This will be done through a systematic analysis of the gaps, issues, and challenges facing such institutions, Prof. De Dios added.

Dr. Nanette Dungo, WAGI Consultant also explained the Research Component of the program and recalled how her involvement with women who were victims of violence from their spouses, children being maltreated, etc…shifted her studies from economics to advocacy in Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) when most of those who came in contact with her were victims of abuses, she disclosed.

While Dr. Miraluna Herrera, NORMISIST Regional Center for Capability and Development, GAD Focal Person also divulged the areas the studies would be conducted in the region including Barangay Obrero of Butuan City, she stressed.

Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were also conducted among the participants where relevant issues have been brought out and thoroughly expounded with possible solutions where also presented.

the past eight years, the number of violence against women cases reported to the police continues to decline after it peaked at a record high of 9,132 cases in 2001. The decline is computed at 2.5 percent annually from 1999 up to 2006. From January to October 2007, the PNP documented a total of 4,687 VAW cases and is expected to reach the 5,000 mark before the year ends.

The downward trend, however, does not necessarily indicate a decreasing VAW incidence in the country because data are based only from what was reported to PNP.

Physical injuries and/or wife battering remains to be the most prevalent case across the eight-year period accounting for more than half (58.5%) of all reported VAW cases nationwide. Reported cases of physical injuries and/or wife battering have been decreasing in the latter years – from 5,668 in 2001 to 1,892 in 2006. During the first three quarters of 2007, there were 1,498 cases reported to the police.

Reported rape cases accounted for about 14.7 percent of total reported VAW cases from 1999 to 2006. There is also a downward trend on reported rape cases – from 946 in 1999 to 659 in 2006 at a rate of 5 percent per year. From January to October 2007, 639 cases of rape were reported to PNP.

Acts of lasciviousness ranked third at an average of 615 reported cases accounting for 9.4 percent of all reported VAW cases from 1999-2006. The comparative figures also indicate a downward trend of the reported cases at 5.9 percent decrease rate per annum.

From January to October 2007, there were 1,443 reported cases of Violation of R.A. 9262, otherwise known as "Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004".

data showed that there is also a downward trend on the number of women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDC) served, from 7,763 cases in 1999 to 5,378 cases in 2006. The rate of decrease is estimated at 5.1 percent per annum.