QUEZON CITY – The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) joins the nationwide observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) with the 2022-2027 recurring campaign theme, “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines” and its 2024 sub-theme, “VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!”, led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) from November 25 to December 12.

In line with its commitment to gender equality and the eradication of violence against women, the ILS’ Gender and Development (GAD) Committee has prepared a series of activities designed to raise awareness, foster practical solutions, and empower participants to take action against VAW and related issues, including Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).

Schedule of Activities

• November 25: GAD Kick-off Activity (Orange Exhibit)

The campaign begins with the Orange Exhibit, a creative and participatory activity for ILS staff to reflect on and interpret the sub-theme “VAW Bigyang-Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!”. The exhibit seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of the challenges faced by women due to VAW while fostering a sense of urgency for action.

• November 28: The SELF SAFETY: Self-Defense Strategies for Personal Safety This hands-on session aims to empower the ILS staff by teaching personal safety strategies, including risk assessment and situational awareness. Through practical self-defense techniques and de-escalation strategies, the session equips participants with the skills needed to navigate real-life situations confidently. The class also aims to enhance the participants’ physical and de-escalation skills and strategies by teaching practical self-defense techniques that are easy to remember and apply to real-life situations.
• December 2: Public Webinar – Beyond the Screen: Identifying and Responding to Online Gender-Based Harassment and Violence

The webinar aims to discuss with the participants the important provisions of the Safe Spaces Act and ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) on online gender-based harassment and violence (GBHV) by underscoring the various forms of GBHV and providing effective response strategies for addressing, reporting, intervention/de-escalation of different forms GBHV, and providing practical support to victims of GBHV, aligning these strategies with the preventive measures encouraged by C190 and Safe Spaces Act. In addition to online GBHV, the activity aims to afford digital literacy to the participants in recognizing and reporting online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

• Starting from 4 December: Podcast Series – #GADSpaceWednesdays: Voices of Change – Women in Transition

A project of the ILS GAD Committee, the podcast series aims to highlight the intersectionality of climate change impacts, economic transition, care, and VAW while amplifying women's voices as key agents of change in environmental sustainability. Likewise, it seeks to discuss how climate-related stress exacerbates genderbased violence and identify pathways to advance a gender-responsive and gender-transformation just transition for all.

Additionally, the Institute participated in the #OrangeYourIcon advocacy initiative to show its full support. ILS also actively shared VAW-related news, articles, and advocacy campaigns of PCW through the ILS’ Facebook page and other online channels.

A National Commitment to End VAW

The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW supports the Philippine government’s goal of protecting the human rights of women and girls by upholding its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. 

By virtue of Republic Act 10398 or the Act declaring November 25 of every year as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of VAWC, government agencies are mandated to raise awareness on the problem of violence and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.

For more information on Institute’s lineup of activities for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), you may visit the ILS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ilsdoleofficial/

To know more about the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), please visit https://pcw.gov.ph/18-day-campaign-to-end-vaw/ 

To file a report, please refer to the following VAW Hotlines: 

VAW Helplines (Per Region): https://pcw.gov.ph/violence-against-women-helplines/ 

Hotlines for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs):  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fw3h315WK6LIHPMfA0Hh-34Uf9fW2UVL/view 

###