Posted on



Outstanding VAW-Responsive Local Government Units Awards


As duty bearers, it is incumbent on the State to protect the human rights of its citizens, both women and men, with particular recognition of the plight of women, who are especially vulnerable to gender-based violence. The Philippine government enshrines the protection of women in many laws, from the Constitution, to the specific laws that penalize gender-based violence and give protection to women, such as RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004), RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), RA 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995), and RA 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997).

Local government units (LGUs) are mandated to localize and implement these laws as they are primarily responsible for ensuring that their constituents, both women and men are protected. They should also be able to provide immediate services to victims of violence against women (VAW).

The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women in Asia-Pacific (CATW-AP) have come together to recognize local governments that have excellent gender-sensitive VAW initiatives, policies and programs. This will be done through an awards system, entitled the “Search for the Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs”. The year-long search was launched on November 25, 2008, during the kick-off program of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW. The “Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGU Awards” is the first of its kind in the country.


The Award Objectives

The “Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGU” Awards aims to:

  1. Showcase outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs;
  2. Recognize excellence and innovation in VAW-responsiveness of local government units following the benchmarks set in the VAW Performance Standards, among others;
  3. Encourage barangays, municipalities and cities to document their anti-VAW initiatives and programs and share their experiences with other LGUs; and
  4. Promote awareness and application of gender and anti-VAW principles in governance.

Excellence in VAW-responsiveness involves a systemic, holistic and gender-sensitive approach to VAW in three major areas: 1) policies which include mandates, local codes, ordinances and resolutions that uphold the human rights of women against violence and other forms of gender-based discrimination, 2) programs, services and facilities that include the availability and accessibility of crisis intervention and other basic services such as psychosocial services, medical services, legal assistance, temporary shelter, and women-friendly physical facilities and personnel, and 3) monitoring and client feedback which takes into consideration mechanisms for ensuring documentation, monitoring, assessment and client satisfaction. Excellence in VAW-responsiveness also includes outstanding initiatives that have produced progressive results which are sustained and enhanced over time.

The search will also recognize innovation of programs and methods of addressing VAW. This could include improvements on existing programs and methods that have worked well in other contexts but have been modified to fit the present context. Innovation also encompasses creative ways to address persisting problems and generate positive impact by involving not only women but also men in transforming their lives as well as societal structures.


The Awards Categories

  1. The Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGU Awards is open to all barangays, municipalities and cities with clear policies, programs, services and interventions, and implementing and monitoring mechanisms to address VAW.
  2. Cognizant of the differences in fiscal resources available to LGUs which affect their planning and service delivery, the Awards shall recognize Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs in six categories:
    1. 1st – 3rd class municipality
    2. 4th – 6th class municipality
    3. 1st – 3rd class city
    4. 4th – 6th class city
    5. Rural Barangay
    6. Urban Barangay

The Awards Search Committee

The Search Committee is composed of the following agencies/organizations:

  1. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women
  2. Department of Interior and Local Government – NBOO and BLGS
  3. Department of Social Welfare and Development
  4. Women’s Crisis Center
  5. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
  6. Coalition Against Trafficking of Women in Asia-Pacific

The Awards Mechanics

  1. Interested barangays, municipalities and cities that implement anti-VAW programs can secure entry/application forms from the DILG Provincial Office. The forms are also available at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office and can bedownloaded here
  2. Fully accomplished entry or application forms should be accompanied by a short narrative description of the LGUs’ anti-VAW policies, programs and services, and implementing and monitoring mechanisms in place in the past three years and their effects on the VAW situation. These documents may be submitted directly to the NCRFW or to the DILG Provincial Offices or to the DSWD Regional Offices, who shall forward them to the NCRFW office at 1145 J. P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila.
  3. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2009. This will be followed by a screening period from July to October 2009.
  4. The Awarding Ceremony will be held on November 25, 2009.

The Awards Criteria

The following are the criteria for the Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGU Awards:

  1. VAW-Responsive Policies
    1. LGU mandate conforms with and clearly articulates international standards and principles of women’s human rights based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action (BPA), and Philippine laws pertinent to addressing VAW
    2. The LGU has standards, guidelines, resolutions and ordinances supporting women’s human rights, and actions against VAW and trafficking of women and girl children
    3. The municipality/city has an existing Gender and Development (GAD) Code which has clear provisions addressing VAW
  2. VAW-Responsive Programs, Services and Facilities
    1. Presence of sufficient, well-equipped and well- maintained facilities that cater to VAW victims-survivors
    2. Sufficient, well-trained, gender-sensitive and child-friendly personnel in offices that deal with VAW victims-survivors
    3. Functional and comprehensive anti-VAW programs, services, protocols and referral system
    4. Positive results of implementation of VAW program/services
    5. Effective advocacy plan promoting human rights, anti-VAW principles and actions needed to combat VAW
    6. Multisectoral participation in VAW prevention programs
  3. Monitoring and Client Feedback
    1. Clear analysis of VAW situation using baseline and monitoring data
    2. Updated database of VAW cases for at least three years
    3. Functional M & E system
    4. Effective and client-friendly feedback mechanism

DateActivity
November 2008Launching of the Search for Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUsFinalization of Mechanics, etc.
December 2008 – June 2009Information DisseminationProduction and Distribution of Application FormsAcceptance of ApplicationsOrientation on VAW PS (per request basis)
July – August 2009First ScreeningSecond ScreeningSite Validation
September – OctoberFinal ScreeningPanel PresentationSelection of WinnersProduction of Materials for the Awards Ceremony
November 2009Awarding of the Most VAW-Responsive LGUs

For more inquiries, interested parties may contact the Policy Development and Advocacy Division of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) at telephone numbers 735-8918, 735-1654 ext. 109 / 128 or visit the NCRFW website at www.ncrfw.gov.ph.