How is the situation of women’s mental health in the Philippines? Every 29th of November, the world celebrates the international day of elimination of violence against women. Globally, 49.6% of the population are women. However, according to statistics, 1 out of three women report being victims of violence and more than 50% are not reported. Do you know that according to Philippine Statistics Authority, in the Philippines alone, one in four Filipinas have undergone physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from their male partners? The patriarchal society has led women to repress their incidents of violence out of fear of retaliation or being victim-blamed, as common in Filipino mental health myths.
Violence is defined as an offensive-defensive assault towards a person which may result in injury. This can be physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Physical violence can look like hitting, spanking, punching, slapping, and other bodily harm. Emotional violence can be, lowering their self-esteem, gaslighting, manipulating, verbal bullying, blaming, etc. Sexual violence includes rape and unconsented sexual acts. Violence on mental health has a negative impact. It can lead to social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts if left untreated. In this blog, we will be talking about, how violence affects women’s mental health, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 of the Philippines, and ways to report violence against women.
How Violence Affects Women’s Mental Health
According to a study at the University of Kentucky, violence against women has made a significant impact on women’s mental health. The acts of stalking, assaulting, raping, manipulating, and all other acts of domestic violence are strongly perpetrated against American women. However, not all women have the same degree of incidents and responses post violence. Some don’t even report it to authorities. The psychological health effects that come with the abuse are drastic, although it may vary from woman to woman. One of these psychological outcomes is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. This disorder affects the quality of life of a woman through making her withdrawn to affection, wary of relationships, the difficulty of sleeping, and connecting with others. The decline of women’s mental health affected due to violence can lead to a myriad of psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
A study conducted in 11 countries found out that a range of 15-75% of women suffers from physical and sexual abuse. Victims of violence against women are more likely to have male partners who suffer from PTSD in childhood, There are many factors that create child abuse, and if left untreated, can persist unto adulthood. It can affect personal relationships. PTSD in men is most likely why women suffer from maltreatment or abuse at home.
On the other hand, war veterans are most likely to have PSTD, making them prone to instigate domestic violence on their female partners. To add up, a male veteran with a depression diagnosis may also be violent to their female partners. No matter what the causes are, tolerating violence against women is unaccpetable. In fact, studies say that women who suffer from domestic abuse tend to have poor mental health rather than developing mental health disorders. Women’s mental health is important.
Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 Philippines
The Philippines has a law protecting women and children from violence. Any acts that pose harm whether it be physical, sexual, psychological or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty with the suspect being an intimate partner of a woman is considered violence against women. This included the assault of women’s mental health as well as physical well-being.
Moreover, the law also covers their children or the children that they are caring for. Children who are part of a unit with the woman who is a victim of violence are also part of the incident. The children referred to this mandate is below 18 years old and incapable of caring and defending themselves. Guilty person of charge will serve jail time and a fine ranging from five thousand pesos to fifty thousand pesos. However, as felt in the Philippine society, women and their children are afraid to speak up, making this law absent even though its implemented.
How to Report Violence Against Women and Children
If you know a woman and/or child suffering from violence, it’s time to act. You can save their lives. The following steps are suggested to report violence against women and children to proper authorities:
1. Gather evidence
If you have any form of evidence that proves that the woman is being abused, it can be used to verify reports and blotter the assailant. Evidence can be any form of media like pictures, video, and audio recording. Other kinds of evidence include written letters and digital messages. You can also be a witness to the case.
2. Know where to report VAW (Violence Against Women):
Mechanisms to Address VAW
- Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children
- Inter-Agency Council Against-Trafficking
- Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and VAW
- Barangay VAW Desk
VAW Hotlines
- VAW Hotlines during Community Quarantine
- Service Providers in Region 7
- Hotlines for Overseas Filipino Workers
For VAW hotlines, refer here:
POLICE/INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE
PNP Hotline: 177
Aleng Pulis Hotline: 0919 777 7377
PNP Women and Children Protection Center
24/7 AVAWCD Office: (02) 8532-6690
Email address: wcpc_pnp@yahoo.com / wcpc_vawcd@yahoo.com / avawcd.wcpc@pnp.gov.ph
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)
Hotline: (02) 8929-9436 local 106, 107, or 159 (local “0” for operator)
(+62) 9393233665
Email address: pao_executive@yahoo.com
REFERRAL SERVICES
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their
Children
Mobile numbers: 09178671907 | 09178748961
Email address: iacvawc@pcw.gov.ph
Got Emotional Wounds from Violence?
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