The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), in partnership with the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC), leads the 2024 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW). This campaign, held annually from November 25 to December 12, aligns with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence initiative, which runs from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day). The campaign aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and encourage collective action to address it.
The campaign is rooted in several legal and institutional frameworks, including Presidential Proclamation No. 1172, s. 2006, which extended the 16-day global initiative to 18 days, and Republic Act No. 10398, which designates November 25 as National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of VAW. The Philippines has consistently strengthened its anti-VAW initiatives through laws such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262) and the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313). This year’s campaign theme, “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines,” highlights 20 years of progress since the enactment of RA 9262.
The 2024 campaign focuses on empowering survivors, raising public awareness, and fostering community-level action against VAW. It also aims to encourage safe interventions, advocate for positive masculinity, and launch the National Action Plan to End VAW (NAPEVAW). Schools, government offices, and private institutions are encouraged to participate in activities such as using campaign materials, organizing discussions, and promoting anti-VAW advocacies through online platforms with hashtags like #VAWfreePH and #VowToEndVAW.
The Department of Education (DepEd) actively supports the campaign by organizing events to prevent gender-based violence in the education sector. Regional offices and schools are urged to conduct anti-VAW activities that comply with DepEd guidelines. For more information on campaign activities and materials, stakeholders can visit PCW’s official social media channels. Through collective efforts, the campaign seeks to create a safer, violence-free environment for women and children nationwide.