Violence Against Women (VAW) is a serious problem; not only in the Philippines, but around the world. Moreover, studies show that the perpetrators of VAW are mostly men — including men that the victims know, such as husbands or other family members.
In response to this issue, Republic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” mandated the Department of Social Welfare and Development (explained) (DSWD) to develop and provide a rehabilitative counseling and treatment of offenders. This led to the development of the CSRPDV program.
What is CSRPDV?
The Counseling Services for Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (CSRPDV) is a community-based intervention which uses a counseling model designed for male perpetrators of domestic violence. It involves conducting a series of counseling sessions that are aimed towards changing the perpetrator’s abusive behavior, and eventually stopping the cycle of violence.
The “philosophical” bases behind this program include the following:
- Both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence are victims of cultural and socio-economic situations of society;
- Violence can be stopped and abusive behaviors can be reduced among perpetrators by providing them appropriate psycho-social-emotional interventions;
- Rehabilitation holds the perpetrators accountable and responsible for their actions but is not a substitute for sanctions; and
- Society has the obligation to facilitate the rehabilitation and restoration of the victim-survivor and perpetrator’s normal social functioning.
Meanwhile, the legal bases for the program are:
- 1987 Constitution of the Philippines;
- R.A. 7610 or Special Protection Act on Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination;
- R.A. 8369 or Family Courts Act;
- R.A. 8551 or Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998;
- R.A. 8505 or Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act;
- R.A. 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children’s Act of 2004;
- R.A. 9710 or An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women; and
- Executive Order 209 or The Family Code of the Philippines.
Objectives of the Program
Generally, the CSRPDV program seeks to institutionalize counseling approaches and other support services to facilitate the rehabilitation of perpetrators of domestic violence.
Specifically, the program seeks to:
- Provide counseling sessions to male perpetrators of domestic violence geared towards developing non-abusive behavior;
- Engage and the family and community in the rehabilitation of male perpetrators of domestic violence;
- Organize and mobilize volunteers as community support system for the transformation of the male perpetrators of domestic violence; and
- Strengthen the capability of service providers in managing rehabilitation services for perpetrators.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of the program are male perpetrators of domestic violence, specifically those whose cases have been brought or reported to the barangay, local police station, and/or the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO) — but have not yet been filed in court.
Components of the Program
The CSRPDV program has two main components:
1. Capability Building
This involves the conduct of appropriate capability building activities to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the implementers of the program. It is important that they understand the service framework, processes, and procedures.
2. Counseling Sessions
The Local Government Unit (LGU) social worker shall carry out counseling sessions with focus on enhancing personal and family resilience, activating and nurturing family resilience, and care of self. Furthermore, he she will conduct several counseling sessions, entitled: The Master’s Thoughts; Psycho-spiritual Approach; The Advent of Our Desires; Coping Well in Times of Crisis; S (Satir) Model of Intervention; and Resiliency Model.
Pilot Areas
In 2007, the program was pilot tested in the following areas:
- National Capital Region (NCR) – Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, and Taguig City;
- Region V – Naga City, Iriga City, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco City;
- Region VIII – Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Calbayog City, Maasin City, Borongan City, and Catbalogan City; and
- Region X – Gingoog City, El Salvador City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
In August 2010, the final evaluation of the program was held, resulting in the enhancement of the paper on which it is based, and eventually leading to the service being titled, “Counseling Services for Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence” (CSRPDV).
In October 2012, a service review and evaluation workshop revealed that the simplified approaches to counseling easily extracts the feelings of perpetrators, leading to the identification of problems and provision of appropriate interventions. It also revealed that perpetrators were able to control their abusive behavior and build positive relationships with their partners.
Video: Violence Against Women (VAW)
What exactly is “violence against women” and how can we stop it? Check out this informative video from DILG Philippines, as shared by DSWD Field Office 3 – Central Luzon:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the CSRPDV program:
1. What is CSRPDV?
CSRPDV stands for “Counseling Services for Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence.” It is a community-based intervention that uses a counseling model designed for male perpetrators of domestic violence.
2. What are its objectives?
The CSRPDV program generally seeks to institutionalize counseling approaches and other support services to facilitate the rehabilitation of perpetrators of domestic violence.
3. Who are its target beneficiaries?
The program’s target beneficiaries are male perpetrators of domestic violence whose cases have been reported to the barangay, local police, and/or the C/MSWDO, but have not yet been filed in court.
4. What are its components?
The two main components of the program are Capability Building and Counseling Sessions.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about the CSRPDV program by going to the nearest DSWD Office in your area.
Contact Information: Social Technology Bureau
If you have any questions or concerns about the CSRPDV program, you can address these to the Social Technology Bureau (STB), which is located at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Its office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Address: Social Technology Bureau, 3rd Floor, Matapat Building, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Central Office, IBP Road, Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 8951 7124 / 8951 2802 / 8931 8144
Email: soctech@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://stb.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Infographic About Program
Meanwhile, here is an infographic featuring an overview of the CSRPDV program:
Final Thoughts
The good thing about the CSRPDV program is that it addresses the possible root causes of domestic violence itself. Indeed, by changing the behavior of the perpetrator, the cycle of domestic violence can effectively be stopped.
Aside from the CSRPDV program, the DSWD has other initiatives that deal with gender-based violence. Please head to this link to read about the GRCM Model for preventing gender-based violence. You can also visit this link to learn more about Women Friendly Spaces.