#Wagpo: Group launches program vs sexual abuse on women, children


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A newly-formed women’s rights advocacy group has launched a program aimed at addressing rape and sexual abuse, which it said, remain to be one of the most prevalent crimes in the country today.

Dubbed as #Wagpo, the program was launched at the Department of Justice  Action Center (DOJAC) Lecture Series at San Sebastian College of Law on Sept. 30.

“The initiative calls on the country’s future lawyers to take an active role in preventing and addressing rape and sexual violence by empowering individuals to speak out against perpetrators,” the group Kababaihan said in a statement.

“The campaign aspires to spark a nationwide movement that confronts and condemns the alarming normalization of rape and sexual violence in the Philippines,” it added.

Based on the data of the Philippine National Police (PNP), nearly 9,400 rape cases were reported last year, or an average of almost 26 daily  incidents.

Meanwhile, DOJ data in 2023 showed over 20,800 rape cases were filed, with nearly 10,000 cases recorded this year alone. 

The PNP and the DOJ figures, according to Kababaihan, do not account for the many cases that go unreported.

The group said the situation is even more dire when it comes to the sexual abuse of children, citing the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC) which revealed that 21.5 percent of respondents, or one in five children, have experienced sexual abuse.

According to the Cameleon Association, an international organization addressing sexual violence against children, approximately seven million children are sexually abused in the Philippines each year.

Part of ther program launching was a video which depicts a young girl playing the traditional Filipino game ‘Langit, Lupa’ with her friends. 

As the children scatter to their respective bases, the mood shifts from playful to ominous. The camera focuses on the girl’s terrified expression before capturing her scream of “Wag Po.” The scene then shifts to amoving swing, with the girl’s shorts lying on the ground.

The poignant video underscores how easily children can become victims of sexual abuse and violence, highlighting their vulnerability and theexploitation of their innocence. Often, these children are unaware of the abuse they have suffered.

“The #WagPo campaign urges everyone to break the cycle of abuse by empowering individuals to take action against rape and sexual violence. By raising our voices, we can advocate for those who are silenced and bring attention to the resources available within the Kababaihan community,” Kababaihan said.

“This initiative not only highlights the importance of prevention and support but also fosters a collective effort to create safer spaces and offer assistance to survivors,” it added.