A deeper look into the Anti-VAWC Agenda #PartnershipForHumanSecurity

On June 21, 2022

The Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA) launched a research project on Violence Against Women as the inception to strengthen policies, projects, programs, and activities for women, children, and men in the City of Zamboanga.

On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Maria Frencie Carreon, the lead researcher of the research, entitled “Violence Against Women as a Shadow Pandemic and Responses of Barangay Local Government Units in Zamboanga City”, presented the findings of the research to the stakeholders and duty bearers, namely: the outgoing Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar, CSWDO Director, Maria Socorro Rojas, LGU-GAD Office, PNP, Commission on Human Rights R9 (CHR-R9), and the Anti-VAWC Alliance Technical Working Group.

Findings from the research uncovered that at least 28 of the 98 barangays in Zamboanga City have recorded VAWC incidents in 2021 with 80 VAW survivors who went through physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence, this has been a shadow pandemic to the current COVID situation.

The stakeholders and duty bearers shared their statements of support to the recommendations from the research such as the organizing of the Anti-VAWC Alliance in Zamboanga City as a sustainable strategy of anti-VAWC program of ZABIDA with duty bearers. Series of consultative meetings and capacity development activities for VAW and BCPC focal persons of our partner barangays are scheduled in the next months to come.

In response to this, Mayor Beng assured that her administration is committed to support the campaign to end violence against women and children as she cited the various anti-VAWC advocacies that the City Government through the CSWDO under Socorro Rojas implemented during her 9-year term.

As she will be exiting soon as the current Mayor of the city, ZABIDA, together with their stakeholders, expressed their gratitude and appreciation for her ever supportive administration, likewise wishing her the best of luck in her continued journey in public service through a different path.