NMP Joins 18-Day Campaign Against VAW

NMP Officials and employees ablaze in orange to support the start of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women (VAW)

TACLOBAN CITY, 25 November 2019 – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) kicked-off the annual nationwide campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) by supporting the “Orange Your Icon Advocacy Initiative” of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), thus, emblazing the NMP’s flag raising ceremony early this morning with the “orange” VAW-Free Community statement t-shirt.

The campaign theme “VAWC-Free Community Starts With Me,” shifts the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW to positive advocacy as it enjoins everyone to pursue the common vision of a VAW-free community, and highlights what can be done to achieve such. The campaign is observed annually from November 25 to December 12.

NMP Executive Director, Joel B. Maglunsod encouraged all NMP personnel to fully commit and support the importance of the campaign.

“It is our duty and responsibility to stop violence against women, let us all be advocates for this cause, and it should start within our homes.” ED Maglunsod said.

During the flag raising ceremony, one of the entries to the PCW’s Cine Juana Digital Shorts Competition entitled “Tanikala ng Kahapon” was played. A story of a family that struggled with an abusive father. A child who grew up witnessing how his father beats his mother which led to an unfortunate event, the death of the latter.

Also, as part of the Gender and Development (GAD) programs of NMP to continuously educate its trainees and personnel – both men and women, a Lecture on Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC Act of 2004) and Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877) and other related laws is set to be conducted on 28 November 2019 at Room 109, NMP Training Building, Cabalawan, Tacloban City.

Resource Person from the Tacloban City Prosecutor’s Office who is adept and experienced in handling family court cases particularly on violations of the aforementioned laws will be invited. Said speaker is also expected to discuss international laws on VAWC with jurisprudence on decided cases in the maritime setting.

The conduct of the said activities is pursuant to Proclamation No. 1172, series of 2006 which declares November 25 to December 12 of every year as the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)” and Republic Act No. 10398, series of 2012 which declares November 25 of every year as the “National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children”.

Meanwhile, with sustained commitment and hope for gender equality and along with the need to address gender related problems and issues in the maritime sector, specifically the low level of awareness on GAD concepts among seafarers caused by lack of interventions for seafarers as a specialized workforce group, NMP regularly conducts Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS) to its enrolled trainees and motorboat handlers / operators and fisherfolks from the different local government units of Region VIII.

GSTS is a non-STCW training course developed by NMP to increase the level of awareness and appreciation on GAD concepts as well as to encourage advocacy among Filipino seafarers, specifically NMP trainees, on the promotion of gender equality directed towards developing a gender sensitive maritime sector. GSTS is being conducted by NMP for FREE. For this year, a total of four hundred fifty-four (454) trainees took the said training as of 22 November 2019.