Zonta Cebu 2

ZONTA CLUB CEBU II HOLDS A SEMINAR-WORKSHOP FOR POLICE WOMEN’S DESK OFFICERS OF REGION 7 PNP-WCPU

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Blaming the perpetrator of gender-based violence instead of the survivor, establishing a referral network and collective efforts to stop the violence are among the key takeaways during the seminar-workshop organized by the Zonta Club of Cebu II held Monday, November 28, 2022, at the Bai Hotel in Mandaue City.

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Female police officers assigned to the Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) of the Philippine National Police in different, cities and municipalities of Region 7 participated in the seminar-workshop “Strengthening PNP WCPU through Gender-Responsive Delivery of Service to VAWC Survivors.”

The seminar-workshop was conducted by Atty. Myles Gonzales-Esquivel, executive director of Miriam College Child Rights Advocacy Center and legal consultant of Child Protection Unit-Philippine General Hospital. She is also a member of the Philippine Commission on Women.

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The goal of the workshop was to equip service providers and frontliners with techniques to provide gender-responsive delivery of services. Gender-responsive service providers practice continuum care, respect, informed consent, non-judgmental attitude and gender-fair language.

People should not engage in victim-blaming, which is a devaluing act that occurs when the victim or victims of a crime or an accident is held responsible, in whole or in part, for the crimes that have been committed against them, Atty. Esquivel emphasized during the seminar-workshop.

“It is important to keep in mind that a person who has been affected by gender-based violence is never responsible for the perpetrator’s action. The responsibility and the accountability should be given to the perpetrator of violence and not to the victim-survivor,” Atty. Esquivel maintained.

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GBV and VAWC persist because of inadequate economic resources, which creates patterns of violence and poverty among women and LGBT+ people. When unemployment and poverty affect men, this can also cause them to assert their masculinity through violent means.

According to Atty. Esquivel, gender-based violence is an issue involving patriarchy, and relations of power and is based on a feeling of male superiority and dominance, with an intention to relegate the female to a subordinate role at home, at school and at work, in the community or in society as a whole.

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During the workshop, the participants were divided into groups to identify areas for improvement, and corresponding recommendations on how to ensure gender-responsive and socially-inclusive services to GBV and VAWC survivors. Since resources are limited those who work with VAW victim/survivors must set up a referral network involving other agencies for a more coordinated and cost-effective response to violence.