De Lima to Filipinas: Band together to combat all forms of violence

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday rallied Filipino women to “create a stronger bond” to fight and eliminate all forms of violence against women, which has even worsened during the lockdowns when help desks have been shut down and quarantine has made reporting more burdensome.

De Lima said all attacks against women – whether “as a physical assault by a partner, or as a late night rambling of a man in power against a hardworking Vice President” – should be called out and condemned, and never be tolerated.

“We have come a long way from that dark period in history when women were deprived of their right to express themselves and become part of the decision-making process, the freedom to think and speak, the liberty to be something more than just a damsel in distress waiting to be saved,” she said.

“However, these victories have been overshadowed by the continued abuses perpetrated against women. Legislation and jurisprudence have both been ravished by the slights against women,” she added.

De Lima further stated that while “violence against women is as debilitating and catastrophic as a virus,” women have already learned through experience that “a virus has to be ripped off root and stem.”

The senator’s solidarity message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) was read by Jean Enriquez, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), last Nov. 25 at the Commission on Human Rights.

Citing a 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health survey, De Lima noted that with every four Filipinas aged 15-49, one has experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse by their partner or husband.

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