Tacloban City, Philippines – The local media strongly advocates on the elimination of violence against women and children. This was the consensus of the media practitioners present during the PIA Media Forum on Women yesterday held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Office.
The tri-media practitioners manifested their support for women cause and pledged to be the voice of victims of violence against women and children who are usually mum and afraid to come out in the open.
As a symbol of their commitment, the media practitioners signed their names in the manifesto titled “I am a Media Women Advocate, I will be a voice of VAWC victims.” The PIA Media Forum which was moderated by PIA Region 8 Director Olive Tiu, dwelt on the topics, Communicating Violence Against Women and Children and the Psychology of Battered Woman Syndrome.
Communicating Violence Against Women was discussed by Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 8 Director Letecia Corillo who also informed the media of the Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) situation in the Region. She said that violence against women goes beyond those which have been reported because in most cases, victims remain silent and do not want to come out in the open.
The Psychology of a Battered Woman was presented by Department of Health Region 8 Assistant Regional Director Minerva Molon who enlightened the media practitioners that the causes of abuse are rarely physiological, nor does the use of alcohol cause the violence to occur. Alcohol and chemical abuse are often found with abusive behavior, and their use can be determined as "factors". However, the problems of violent behavior are not caused by the alcohol or chemical substance.
Violence is a learned behavior or learned response to stress, frustration and anger. In a broader context, it is a result of unequal power between men and women, Dr. Molon emphasized.
The media practitioners also listened to the taped interview of a battered woman who is a professional and is in the government service. Through the interview, the victim revealed the turmoil she and her two children went through, and how she was able to get out of the situation with the help of Republic Act 9262.
The Forum ended with Director Olive Tiu giving white roses to the media women in recognition of their being advocates of women causes.
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