Cases of violence vs women down — police
Luige del Puerto
Inquirer
THE CASES of violence against women (VAW) such as wife battery and sexual abuse have decreased in the last three years, according to police statistics.
VAW incidents reported to the police during the first three quarters of 2005 numbered 5,146, lower by 7.6 percent compared to the same period in 2004, and lower by 20.2 percent compared to the same period in 2003.
“There is a need to determine the real causes for this decline. During the last 10 to 12 years, from 1991 to 2003, the number of VAW cases rose,” said Superintendent Ildebrandi Usana, head of the Philippine National Police-Juvenile and Gender Sensitivity Division.
Usana said the number of abused women could be higher but they were unreported. Studies showed that women preferred to keep quiet about their ordeal because of the humiliation and the belief that this would cause more problems for the family.
The officer listed down three reasons that could explain the recent statistics:
* The passage of Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act last year;
* The aggressive campaign by government and private groups to raise awareness about VAW and to educate women about their rights and what they could do to protect themselves.
* The unwillingness of victims to report their abusive partners because victims don’t want their partners to end up in jail.
“Based on our experience, many women just want to give their partners a lesson,” Usana said. “This could be why they do not want to report. Remember, the intention of the law is to provide heavier penalties so that VAW does not happen.”
Victims also didn’t want their partners locked up for a long period because of its possible effects on the family, the children in particular, Usana added.
Police statistics showed that of the 5,146 cases reported during the first nine months of 2005, 35.64 percent involved physical injuries or wife battery and 16.40 percent involved cases of rape and attempted rape.
One in every 13 cases involved acts of lasciviousness. Less than one percent accounted for sexual harassment, according to statistics.
There were 5,563 VAW cases reported to the police in 2004 and 6,447 cases in 2003, the same statistics showed.
Last week, the FJGSD presented a study showing that up to 16 percent of women police officers had been physically abused by their partners at one time or another during the last 10 years.
No Comments, Comment or Ping
Lyda J. Canson
we are looking for grants for violence against women and their children. Hope your organization could help us. thanks very much.
may your tribe increase…
lyda j. canson
Dec 23rd, 2008
Lyda J. Canson
we are looking for grants for violence against women and their children. Hope your organization could help us. thanks very much.
may your tribe increase…
lyda j. canson
Dec 23rd, 2008
Reply to “Cases of violence vs women down — police”