ILOILO City — Human rights violations against women, particularly cases involving violence against women and their children (VAWC), have emerged as the leading human rights concern in Western Visayas, with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) citing a surge in complaints in recent months.
The trend, according to CHR, reflects both the persistence of gender-based violence and the growing number of women now emboldened to seek legal remedies.
Atty. Jonnie Dabuco, regional director of CHR, said the violations — especially offenses under the Safe Spaces Act — have consistently topped the list of human rights complaints monitored by the agency.
“While we have seen issues such as red-tagging and the arrests of senior activists, the data clearly indicates a significant increase in complaints concerning human rights violations — specifically those affecting women and children,” Dabuco said.
Under Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, violations includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse committed by spouses, former partners, or persons with whom a woman has or had a relationship. The law also covers violence directed at a woman’s children.
CHR attributed the increase in complaints partly to greater awareness among women about their legal rights and available remedies.
“Mas confident na sila mag-file ng case. Isa siguro sa mga factors doon is ang mga kababaihan are getting empowered. We are still in a patriarchal society (but) medyo wise na rin sila. Because of the media, schools and civil society organizations, napapaalam natin sa mga kababaihan ang rights nila, may mga remedies. (So) lumalabas na sila to file complaints,” Dabuco said.
Amid the rise in complaints, Amnesty International Philippines warned that violence against women continues to worsen nationwide.
“Violence did not start in the streets; it began with harmful rhetoric from those in positions of authority. The alarming increase in violence against women is not limited to Western Visayas but reflects a nationwide trend influenced by societal attitudes that normalize such violations,” said Ritz Lee Santos III, spokesperson and section director of Amnesty International Philippines.
Amnesty International Philippines said Filipino women continue to face domestic abuse, workplace discrimination, economic inequality, and limited access to reproductive health services despite gains in education and professional representation.
The organization also cited Philippine National Police data showing 11,585 VAW-related cases recorded in 2023, which slightly increased to 11,636 in 2024. However, experts believe the actual number of cases may be significantly higher due to underreporting caused by fear, distrust in authorities, and the difficulty of pursuing legal action.
Marginalized sectors such as indigenous women, women with disabilities, trans women, and women living in poverty face even greater barriers in accessing justice, the group noted.
The rise of online gender-based violence has also intensified concerns, with reports of cyber exploitation, online blackmail, threats, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images increasingly affecting women in the digital space.
CHR stressed the need for stronger and more comprehensive efforts to combat violence against women, expressing hope that increased awareness and empowerment initiatives would eventually lead to meaningful social and cultural change./PN
