Salient Features of The Barangay VAW Desk

Salient Features of
the Barangay
Violence Against
Women (VAW) Desk
Handbook
Juvilyn Salazar
Local Area Coordinator for Sarangani
PCW-AECID MCW Project
Philippine Commission on Women
Office of the President

Rape in the Philippines:
Numbers reveal disturbing trend
• Available official data on those that did

report their rape reveal a disturbing trend.
Based on data in the past 15 years, three
out of four rape incidents reported to the
PNP WCPC involved child victims.
Salient Features of
the Barangay
Violence Against
Women (VAW) Desk
Handbook
Juvilyn Salazar
Local Area Coordinator for Sarangani
PCW-AECID MCW Project

Background
August 14, 2009
Republic Act No. 9710: Magna
Carta of Women Section 9.d
mandated LGUs to create a
VAW desk in every barangay to
ensure that VAW cases are fully
addressed in a gender-
responsive manner
December 9, 2010
DILG, DSWD, DOH, DepEd and PCW signed
and issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-2
(JMC 2010-2): Guidelines in the Establishment of a
Violence against Women (VAW) Desk in Every
Barangay.
Purpose of the Handbook
• To assist barangay workers and
officials in the operations of their
VAW desk and in responding to VAW
cases
• To raise their awareness on the issue
so they can proactively respond to
the problem of VAW in their
communities and become advocates
for women’s rights and gender
equality
Content
Quick reference for barangay officials and workers on
1. Setting-Up the VAW Desk
2. Designating a VAW Desk Officer
3. Guiding Service Delivery
4. Financing VAW Desk Operations
5. Recording & Reporting Clients Served
6. Spreading the Word
7. Monitoring and Evaluating the Services of the VAW
Desk
8. Annexes

1. Setting-up the VAW Desk
This section presents a description of the physical
standards of a VAW Desk and a list of equipment,
furniture and fixtures and essential items to be
able to perform its functions
It is a physical facility located within the barangay hall
or near it. If there is no barangay hall, the VAW Desk
may be put up near or where the Punong Barangay
holds office.
It must be situated in a place where the confidentiality,
privacy and safety of the client will not be
compromised.
It must have a separate room where the intake
interview can be conducted.

What if there is no room available
for the VAW Desk?
Find an enclosed area within the compound or
the building where the barangay hall is located.
If there is none, it is possible to use an enclosed
area within the premises of another government
institution. Another option is to have it in a
private place approved by the Punong Barangay.
Have the initiative and be creative in making
sure that the privacy of the VAW victim-survivor
is upheld.
Because it is important that the right to privacy and
security of the victim-survivor is respected, the
following must be maintained:
1. An assurance of confidentiality throughout
the engagement with the client; and;
2. The intake interview, using the prescribed
intake form of the barangay, should be done in a
place where the client feels comfortable and
safe so she could relate her story without fear.

What are the Functions of the
VAW Desk?
1. Respond to gender-based violence cases brought to
the barangay;
2. Record the number of gender-based violence
handled by the barangay and submit a quarterly report
on all cases of VAW to the DILG City/Municipal Field
Office and the City/Municipal Social Welfare
Development Office (C/MSWDO);
3. Keep VAW case records confidential and secured,
and ensure that only authorized personnel can access
it;
VAW Desk?
4. Assist victims of VAW in securing Barangay
Protection Order (BPO) and access necessary
services;
5. Develop the barangay’s gender-responsive
plan in addressing gender-based violence,
including support services, capacity building and
referral system;

VAW Desk?
6. Coordinate with and refer cases to government
agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGOs),
institutions, and other service providers as necessary;
7. Address other forms of abuse committed against
women, especially senior citizens, women with
disabilities, and other marginalized groups;
8. Lead advocacies on the elimination of VAW in the
community; and
9. Perform other related functions as may be assigned.

SUPPLIES
• First Aid kit. In some instances, a VAW victim-
survivor needs immediate medical attention.
Thus, it is important that the VAW Desk can
provide first- aid assistance to her.
• Food (meals/snacks and drinks) for the
immediate need of the victim-survivor.

PERSONAL AMENITIES
• Clothing,
• Toiletries such as tissue
paper, sanitary napkins,
rubbing alcohol, cotton,
toothbrushes, toothpaste,
towels and soaps; and
• Beddings like pillows and
blankets.
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
Vehicle. VAW cases should always be treated with
urgency. There should be an easily accessible mode of
transportation whenever the situation calls for the
victim- survivor to be relocated due to security reasons
or to get immediate medical attention.
The means of transport could either be the barangay
patrol car, or a public or private vehicle that could be
relied on during cases of emergency;

ADVOCACY AND
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
• Anti-VAW posters, banners, leaflets, brochures
and other IEC materials;
• Flowchart on anti-VAW services;
• Flowchart on how to apply for a BPO (see
Annex G); and
• A simple chart showing a summary of VAW
cases in the barangay as well as the number of
cases that the Barangay VAW Desk had attended
to.
Sample of Summary of VAW Cases
Month # of VAW # of BPO Referred to Referred to
Cases PNP Hospital
September

Qualities of a VAW Desk Officer:
• Sensitive to the situation and needs of the victim-
survivors
• Committed
• Passionate in helping the victim-survivors
• Responsive without being judgmental
• Willing to learn and be trained
• Honest and efficient in using the budget
• Resourceful in providing the needs of victim-
survivors

Designation of a VAW Desk
Officer:
The Punong Barangay shall designate a VAW
Desk person who is trained in gendersensitive
handling of cases; preferably a woman barangay
kagawad or a woman barangay tanod. In cases
where there are no trained personnel, ensure
that the person assigned shall undergo basic
gender sensitivity training and orientation on
anti-VAW laws.

Does the VAW Desk Officer
have to be a woman?
Preferably, the VAW Desk Officer should be
female simply because in most VAW cases, the
perpetrators are male. VAW victim-survivors
may be more comfortable relating their
experiences to a fellow woman.

What if there is no woman barangay kagawad or
woman barangay tanod? Can any woman resident
of the barangay be appointed as a VAW Desk
Officer?
Yes. It is possible to assign community

volunteers, provided that they possess the
qualities of a VAW desk officer. They shall also
undergo basic gender sensitivity training and
orientation on anti-VAW laws. A male VAW Desk
Officer may also be assigned provided that he
possesses the qualities of a VAW Desk Officer.

How many VAW Desk Officer/s can the
Punong Barangay appoint?
The Punong Barangay can appoint at least one
VAW Desk Officer. However, the Punong
Barangay may designate as many as needed
depending on the size of the barangay, the
number of VAW Desks, and the number of VAW
victim-survivors.

Must the VAW Desk Officer know about VAW
laws before his/her appointment?
Not necessarily. However, They should undergo
training and attend seminars and workshops to
be more sensitive in handling cases, change
traditional mindsets, and better understand the
issues related to VAW.

The following are the laws that VAW Desk
Officers must be acquainted with:
• Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act(RA9262)
• Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710)
• Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA9208)
• Anti-Rape Law (8353) and the Rape Shelter Act (RA8505)
• Anti-Child Abuse Act (RA7610)
• Anti-Child Pornography Act (RA9775)
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Law (RA7877)
• Gender-related provisions of the Revised Penal Code (e.g.
physical injuries, acts oflasciviousness)
• Relevant provisions of the Family Code

What are the competencies and attributes
of VAW Desk officers?
They should be properly and thoroughly
educated on gender-based violence. Through
their insights, they can help create change in
their communities, including a change in
attitudes, beliefs, and practices that would
reject all forms of violence.
• To be effective and efficient, VAW Desk
Officers must undergo Gender Sensitivity
Training (GST).
Minimum contents of the GST are the
following:
1. Sex and Gender;
2. Social Construction of VAW;
3. Manifestations of Gender Bias;
4. Discussion on VAW;
5.Legal Frameworks (e.g. CEDAW and MCW);
6.Vision of a Gender-Fair Society.

c. Guiding Service Delivery
• Given the many functions of the Barangay
VAW Desk, the VAW Desk Officer must report
for duty from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to
respond to complaints and assist clients.
He/she must be accessible through landline
and mobile phones and should be on call in
case an incident occurs after working hours.

Protocols and Procedures
What is done when a victim-survivor seeks help
from the VAW Desk?

Sample
BLOTTER VAWC LOGBOOK VAWC INTAKE FORM

(per page)
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2014-002 2014-002 2014-002

d. Financing VAW Desk
Operations
The cost of the establishment and operation of
VAW Desk shall be charged under the LGU’s
Gender and Development (GAD) Budget (JMC
2010-2 ).

How is the GAD Budget accessed?
After the barangay GAD Plan is approved and
the budget allocated, the VAW Desk Officer can
access funds for the Desk’s planned projects and
activities.

What are the steps taken before and after
accessing the GAD Budget?

e. Recording and Reporting
Clients Served

Addressing VAWC
Early
Prevention Response
referral
Targeted Rehabilitatio
Awareness, n and
education & intervention
restoration:
risk s: victim,
victim,
assessment offender, offender,
community community
Continuing advocacy
and education Continuum of care services
services


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