To enhance the protection of women and children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its lead disaster response arm — the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) — has brought its campaign to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) to all evacuation centers (ECs) nationwide.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the initiative supports the 18-day campaign to end VAW, which is observed annually from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12.

“This year’s powerful and deeply relevant theme – Sa EC, Walang VAWC (In Evacuation Centers, There is No VAWC) – is a direct and profound call to action that resonates at the very core of the DSWD’s mandate,” Dumlao said in a statement Wednesday.

She noted that as the bureau responsible for managing and overseeing ECs during typhoons, earthquakes, and other emergencies, the DRMB rigorously enforces the standard that ECs must not only offer refuge from physical hazards but also function as safe, dignified, and violence-free spaces for all evacuees.

“This visible commitment underscores the DSWD’s philosophy that disaster response is more than just providing assistance – it is, at its core, about safeguarding all people, particularly vulnerable populations,” Dumlao said.

To uphold the critical call for no VAWC in ECs, the DRMB continues to strengthen protection mechanisms through several integrated initiatives.

It implements a gender-responsive camp management, which embeds VAWC prevention protocols into all operations, including providing separate sanitation facilities, adequate lighting, and designated safe spaces for women and children.

The DSWD also activates protection desks managed by trained DRMB personnel and partner agency personnel who will offer immediate assistance, psychosocial support, and legal referrals.

In terms of capacity building, Dumlao said Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and camp management capabilities of the DSWD are enhanced through regular training on key legislation, such as Republic Act (RA) 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, and RA 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act, which emphasizes that VAWC remains a public crime even during disaster.

The department, she said, prioritizes the dissemination of information materials in ECs to ensure that anti-VAWC materials, hotlines, and reporting mechanisms are fully accessible to all evacuees.

“The 18-day campaign serves as a crucial reminder that the agency’s disaster response initiatives are always geared towards prioritizing the safety, dignity, and protection of women and children,” she said.

In support of the activity, DSWD personnel decorated their workstations with orange ribbons, the global symbol for the elimination of violence against women and girls, to express solidarity with the campaign. (PNA)