Proteksyon sa mga kababaihan at kanilang anak na biktima ng karahasan

NAKAAALARMA ang nagaganap na mga insidente ng karahasan laban sa mga babae at kanilang mga anak.

Ayon kay Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, sa kabila ng pagsasabatas ng Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children) noong 2004 ay marami pa rin ang nagiging biktima ng pang-aabuso, pananakit at iba pang uri ng karahasan. Pinansin niya ang ulat ng Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) na noong 2013 ay umabot sa 16,517 RA 9262 cases ang naitala ng Philippine National Police.

Siguradong marami pang kababaihan at kanilang mga anak na nagiging biktima rin ng karahasan pero hindi dumudulog sa mga otoridad dahil sa hiya at dahil na rin sa takot na baka lalo silang pag-initan ng salarin na kanilang isusuplong.

Kaugnay nito, isinusulong ni Jinggoy ang Senate Bill 2476 (Address confidentiality program for victims of violence against women and their children).

Aniya, “Women and children who have reported to be victims of violence deserve all the support and protection they need. One of these is the confidentiality of their abode to prevent further threat or damage and to allow them to live life as normal as they can.”

Alinsunod sa panukala:

A.) The Department of Justice shall establish and administer the Address Confidentiality Program for victims of violence against women and their children… and provide them with substitute address to be used when interacting with government agencies and a new mailing address which keeps their actual address confidential and free from the risk of discovery by third parties.

B.) Eligible to the Program are victims attempting to escape from actual or threatened violence, or fear for their children’s safety, and/or who recently established a new residence unknown to the abuser.

C.) The DOJ shall not make any records in a program participant’s files available for inspection or copying unless directed by a court order.

D.) The DOJ shall designate the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide counseling and shelter services to the victims.