The Commission on Human Rights, as Gender Ombud condemns and calls for justice for the recent acts of violence committed against women and girls this holiday season.

On 22 December 2022, a four year old girl from Pangasinan was a victim of rape-slay. Three days later, 25 December 2022, a woman was shot to death by her policeman partner while she was filing a complaint for violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Law or Republic Act No. 9262.

These acts of violence in the midst of supposedly a season of love and joy highlight the continuing prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls. They underscore the continuing vulnerability of women and girls to violence in the hands of intimate partners, acquaintances, and even strangers. They remind us that despite passage of numerous laws that protect women and girls from violence, such as the amended Anti-Rape law which already raises the age of consent to 16 (Republic Act No. 8353/Republic Act No. 11641), and the Anti-VAWC (Republic Act No. 9262), which penalizes intimate partner violence and provides for protection orders, women and girls continue to be subjected to different forms of GBV, holidays notwithstanding. They remind us that even in instances that women are able to gather the courage and report an act of intimate partner violence, they continue to be vulnerable and at risk—in one of the cited case, the woman was not protected from violence even while she was already inside the police station.

While the Commission recognizes the swift action of the Philippine National Police in responding to these cases of GBV, the Commission takes this occasion to emphasize the need for collective and urgent action and response to all cases of GBV against women and girls. We call for intensified community-based campaign to prevent GBV. We call for better response and protection mechanisms for survivors and sexual violence and intimate partner violence. And we call for enhanced access to justice mechanisms in cases of GBV.

At the same time, we urge the public to refrain from sexualising minors through social media content, such as videos and memes, implying sexual conduct. While on the surface, these contents may be entertaining, these trends are barely targeted towards their own age group and are usually consumed more by mature audiences, which open children to risks of being sexual exploits and objectification—boys, girls, and LGBTQI youth alike. The government, together with the public at large, is reminded that we must always put forward the best interest of the child and ensure protection, as similarly codified in international treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and domestic laws, including, among others, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act No. 7610) and Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (Republic Act No. 11930).

Specific to the cases above, we call on the Department of Justice to ensure that these cases are duly prosecuted and that justice be accorded to the victims and their families and we call on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that financial assistance and psychosocial support is provided to the victims’ families. We remind the State, that all women and girls have the right to be free from all forms of GBV and that it is the duty of the State and all its instrumentalities to act with due diligence in response to cases of GBV against women and girls.