Every citizen has the “moral obligation” to guarantee that the world is safe for women and girls and ensure that they are protected against all kinds of violence, vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte stressed in a statement for the observance of the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on Thursday, November 25.

Duterte, chairperson of Lakas-CMD party, said the responsibility of making women and girls safe should not be assigned only to government, the media or the civil organizations. She said everybody should be involved in this endeavor.

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive problems in the world today. Attacks against women happen in workplaces, public spaces, churches and other places of worship, schools, and worse, at home,” she lamented.

Among the forms of violence committed against them are economic abuse, physical assault, sexual harassment and rape, the city mayor stated.

According to her the Philippines has made “progressive strides” in protecting women and girls, saying that the enactment of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act and RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women are among the “shining examples” the country has accomplished.

The vice presidential aspirant said Davao City has also made huge contributions in protecting women and children.

The passage of the Davao City Women Development Code (WDC) that gave birth to the Integrated Gender and Development Division was cited by Duterte.

The IGDD is a special division under the Office of the City Mayor is tasked to implement the WDC, especially in the monitoring and in responding to domestic violence cases in the city.

From 2014 to 2020, IGDD recorded a total of 12,174 VAWC cases. For last year alone, it recorded 1,193 cases — of which 85 percent were economic abuse, Mayor Duterte said.

“Social workers and law enforcement representatives must be readily available for women and children needing immediate rescue and help,” Duterte stated.

“It is also important that women uprooted from situations that impaled their economic independence are appropriately assisted to become economically empowered and independent — by giving them the chance to develop their skills and provide them with employment opportunities,” said Duterte.

“Allow me to emphasize that we have a moral obligation to ensure that the world is a safe world for women and girls. Not only the government, not only the media, not only the civil-society organizations — but all of us,” she stated.