(Philippine Commission on Women) A silent problem takes national attention today with the 18-day campaign to end all forms of violence against women (VAW). Victims of VAW usually suffer in silence because of many factors, one of them fear and shame for having been abused, usually by a partner, spouse or even a parent. Another is that complaints are usually not taken seriously by society and the victim is made to feel shame. Violence against women remained a problem in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Manila Bulletin article reported that there were more than 12,000 VAW cases in 2021 while 5,339 cases were recorded in the first half of 2022. The world has recognized violence against women as a serious problem with the United Nations supporting the campaign. This year, the UN’s theme of the campaign is UNiTE by 2030 to End VAW campaign (UNiTE). The Philippines observes the 18-day campaign to end VAW, which started Nov. 25 and will end Dec. 12, with the theme: “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines," which aims to emphasize the effects of combining individual efforts to achieve a VAW-free country. The campaign is led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in coordination with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence against Women and Children. In 2020, PCW said that 9,176 VAW cases were reported from March 15 to Nov. 13. It also said that calls reporting violence against women and children had tripled in the year. The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defined VAW as any “act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Forms of VAW Violence could be in the form of, but not limited to, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. According to the UN, it can happen inside the family, within the community, and even by the state. These are activities constituting VAW: •Intimate partner violence or domestic violence that includes battering, marital rape, psychological abuse, and femicide or intentional killing due to gender •Sexual violence and harassment like “rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment” •Human trafficking like slavery and sexual exploitation •Genital mutilation in females •Child marriage SC supports campaign The Supreme Court (SC) has announced its “full commitment and support” to end violence and discrimination against women. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the judiciary “has been undertaking the necessary reforms mandated under several laws affecting women and children.” Gesmundo said reforms include the “promulgation of new or amendment of existing procedural rules, the establishment of family courts to handle exclusively cases involving family, child, juvenile and women victims of violence, as well as the adoption of policies pursuant to the Gender and Development Program.” Many government agencies, local government units, schools and private organizations are supporting the campaign. The 18-day campaign to end violence against women was declared under proclamation no. 1172 signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006. In addition, Republic Act No. 10398 in 2013 declared Nov. 25 as the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.