IDC Gender and Development Program

On December 6, 2024, the IDC-GAD Program in collaboration with the GE Elect 2: Gender and Society Class and SW 314: Project Development and Management Class, spearheaded a seminar in line with the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women. Attended by the 70 students (BSSW-68; BSPsy-2) mostly second and third year students and some coming from the first years.

November 25 marks the start of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women with the 2022-2027 recurring campaign theme, “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines” spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). This year’s sub-theme, “VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras,” highlights the urgency of the advocacy in line with the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004 or RA 9262. Thus, this seminar’s theme was "Pagtugon ng mga Estudyante: Karahasan Laban sa mga Kababaihan at Kabataan Wakasan!,” challenging students to heed the call to end violence against women and their children.

The program began with a welcome remarks delivered by the Dean of Academics, Prof. Teresa C. Solijon, MAEd, followed by an overview of the 18-day campaign given by the GAD Coordinator, Prof. Diadem Rose C. Jontarciego, RSW, MSW, ThM. She is also the head of the Social Work Program of the College of Arts and Sciences. Ms. Ana Marie E. Ramos, RM, RSW, introduced the resource speaker, Ms. Winde Ivy B. Bracamonte, RSW, MPG., a Social Welfare Officer 1 of the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the focal of the city’s Council for the Protection of Children.

Ms. Bracamonte tackled the basics of RA 9262, the different types of violence against women and their children, protocols and how women and their children can be protected by the Anti-VAWC law of 2004. It was an interactive discussion wherein the speaker gave real-life examples on how she or her office, the CSWDO, handled such VAWC cases.

Lastly, before the end of the program, it highlights an act of commitment of the students in becoming IDCian GADvocates thru writing messages in the solidarity wall and thru dancing to the “Bangon, Babae, Bangon,” a 1-billion-campaign to stop violence against women. A synthesis of the seminar was given by Mr. Lawrence D. Dorego, president of the Junior Social Worker’s Association of the Philippines (JSWAP) – IDC Chapter and 3rd year BSSW student.

So, let’s embody the call where a ‘VAW-Free Community Starts with Me’!!

Today, November 25, marks the start of the 18-day campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) until Dec. 12. This year's sub-theme is "VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras" in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Anti-VAWC Act of RA 9262.

On December 6, 2024, the IDC GAD Program, in collaboration with the GE Elect 2: Gender and Society Class, will hold a seminar entitled, “Pagtugon ng mga Estudyante: Karahasan Laban sa mga Kababaihan at Kabataan, Wakasan!” This seminar aims to foster awareness on VAWC among students and empower them to protect the rights of all genders, especially women and children.

The IDC GAD Program encourages its students, faculty, and staff to advocate for gender equality and an inclusive society for all creating a VAWC-free environment.