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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Wednesday urged communities to actively monitor women in their jurisdiction as only one in 10 cases of violence against women gets reported.
In a Palace briefing, PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla raised concerns about unreported cases of abuse involving women.
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鈥淲e have a problem with recording the numbers. According to the Philippine National Police, only one out of 10 cases gets reported,鈥� she said.
She explained that reporting is still a challenge because such issues are often kept within the family due to shame.
鈥淥thers don鈥檛 report because they lack trust in the authorities they would report to, or they simply don鈥檛 know what to do. They are also uncertain about the outcome of seeking help from those they confide in,鈥� she added.
Ermelita suggested a community-based monitoring of women who are suspected victims of abuse.
鈥淪o, what we really need to do is monitor the violence happening, even if they don鈥檛 report it because the community knows when there is violence against women occurring. As long as they can document the data, even if it鈥檚 unofficial, at least we will have a basis,鈥� she explained.
According to Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, violence against women is 鈥渁ny act or a series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child, whether legitimate or illegitimate, with or without the family abode.鈥�
It covers physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence.