Caraga GADCC sets activities of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Sunday 16th of September 2012

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 16 (PIA) -- The technical working group of the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) Caraga lined-up activities for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), on November 25 to December 12.

The GADCC is under the Regional Development Council (RDC) chaired by Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga Regional Director Atty. Marylin Pintor.

Pintor said that every year, the Caraga GADCC spearheads the 18-day campaign to end VAW.

It is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991.

“The observance will start on November 25, in time with the International Day against Violence against Women, and will culminate on December 10 which is the International Human Rights Day,” said Pintor.

Pintor also recalled that the Philippines has joined the international community in the observance of the 16-Day Campaign Against Violence Against Women, from November 25 to December 10 to emphasize that violence against women is a human rights violation, and thereby, to raise awareness on gender-based violence as a human rights violation, and to ensure better protection for survivors/ victims of violence.

In 2006, the Philippine government expanded it by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172 to include up to December 12, which marks the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Crime, thus making it an 18-Day Campaign.

Pintor added the event will kick-off with a “Fun Walk” activity at 5:30 p.m. from Guingona Park going to the Philippine Ports Authority grounds.

A short program will follow after which will be highlighted by the floating of flowers with candles while a thanksgiving prayer will be delivered by the GADCC secretariat.

On December 1, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga will spearhead the World AIDS Day with a short program.

Meanwhile, the culmination activities for the 18-day campaign will be divided into two parts.

The morning activity is the forum dubbed "Women Empowerment in Health and Development on Gender Equality" on Dec. 12 at the Luciana Convention Center, Butuan City. This will be participated by the GADCC and Men Oppose to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) members.

Also, a press conference is scheduled on November 23, 2012 at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Caraga Regional Function Hall, this city.

With this development, GADCC encouraged the general public to support this campaign and promote gender equality. (JPG-PIA Caraga)