Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo will prioritize providing holistic empowerment for the survivors of gender-based violence in the country if she wins the presidency.

During a virtual forum with supporters in Bataan, Olongapo, and Zambales attended by multi-sectoral groups representing the youth, fisherfolks, farmers, LGBTQIA+ community, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), among others, Robredo explained how she would respond to their needs and issues, especially those who are victims of sexual exploitation if she becomes the president.

“Ako talaga number one kasi sa akin talaga, economic empowerment, kasi ito yung nakita ko na pinakamabisa saka pinakamabilis na paraan na yung babae nalalampasan niya yung trauma na pinagdaanan niya, pag siya ay nabibigyan ng malaking opportunity para magkaroon ng sarili niyang hanapbuhay (For me number one is economic empowerment, because this is what I can see as the most effective and fastest way for a woman to overcome trauma she's experiencing, if she is given a huge opportunity to secure a job),” Robredo said.

The aspiring president noted the importance of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act as well as other laws that punish not just physical and sexual violence, but also includes psychological and economic abuse often experienced by women.

Aside from economic empowerment, Robredo emphasized the importance of holistic empowerment, including healing from trauma, as well as advocacy and self-organizing, as critical areas needed for successfully addressing inequalities.

She furthered that access to women’s organizations on the ground for a support system also adds another layer of protection for survivors of abuse.

“Pero ako, ang naging mabisa para sa akin, in my observation, napakaimportante ng mga organisasyon on the ground, organisasyon na mga kababaihan na pag merong nagiging biktima, may sumasalo sa kanila at may napupuntahan sila kasi ito yung nagpapalakas ng loob nila (In my observation, the most effective, the organizations on the ground are very important, organizations for women that reach out to victims and assist them because this gives them courage),” Robredo said.

The Vice President also expressed plans to strengthen capacity-building for these organizations to create more spaces of support and feminist care for gender-based violence survivors.

In an online economic forum, Robredo said, “Women empowerment is the one weapon that women need for them to thwart the abuses that they have been getting from their abusers.” She added that women empowerment includes economic autonomy, which can only be achieved if they are given equal access to opportunities.

“And when we say opportunity, it’s really access. It’s access to skills training, it’s access to capital, it’s access to mentoring, it’s access to markets.” Robredo explained.

Robredo is known as a staunch advocate of women empowerment, one of the priorities of Angat Buhay, her flagship anti-poverty program.

In 2018, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) launched #RespetoNaman, a nationwide campaign against gender-based violence. In partnership with the University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies (UP-CWGS), her office also created Angat Bayi, a program centered on capacity-building for women political leaders.

Robredo vowed to continue and create more of these efforts when elected President.