The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday, Nov. 25 expressed its support for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) as it kicked off a series of activities to highlight the urgency of a violence-free Philippines.
In a video message during its flag-raising ceremony, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed the agency’s commitment to addressing violence against women.
To mark the campaign's start, DSWD employees wore orange, symbolizing solidarity with the United Nations’ UNiTE by 2030 campaign to end violence against women.
DSWD said orange represents a brighter and violence-free future for women and girls.
“The DSWD, as the lead of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children, stands united with fellow government agencies and the private sector in this critical fight,” Gatchalian said.
This year’s campaign, which marks the 20th anniversary of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, carries the theme—“VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!”—to emphasize the need to take action against VAW.
During the campaign, a prayer to end VAW will be offered, and an all-women cast of “Lupang Hinirang” will be performed during the flag-raising and retreat ceremonies, held every Monday and Friday, respectively.
To raise awareness, the DSWD has set up an information desk in its main lobby, where employees and clients alike can access educational materials on VAW.
As part of its ongoing initiatives, the DSWD will host a press briefing on VAW during a media forum on Nov. 28 to increase public awareness and highlight its programs and services supporting VAW victim-survivors.
The DSWD is also organizing an “Orange Exhibit” contest to encourage all its offices to creatively showcase campaign materials in prominent areas of their workspaces to engage visitors and employees.
The agency is also launching the #VowToEndVAWCommitment contest, inviting staff members to post photos with anti-VAW messages and reflections on how to build a VAW-free Philippines using the campaign hashtag.
The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, declared under Proclamation No. 1172, is observed annually from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12.