Based on the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey, one in five women aged 15-49 experienced physical abuse since age 15, and almost one in 10 women experienced sexual violence. In response to the rising incidence of gender-based violence (GBV), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), developed a project.
The project was pilot tested in CARAGA from 2008 to 2011. By 2013, the project findings led to the issuance of Administrative Order No. 2, Series of 2013, entitled “Guidelines in the Implementation of the Comprehensive Intervention Against Gender-Based Violence” (CIAGV). In this article, we will take a closer look at this program.
What is CIAGV?
The Comprehensive Intervention Against Gender-Based Violence or CIAGV is a holistic framework on prevention, response, and reintegration to better understand and address gender-based violence (GBV) in the community. This framework envisions women, girls, men, and boys, to have reduced vulnerabilities to GBV through preventive actions and increased access to services.
The legal bases of the framework include the following:
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981), which states that discrimination against women includes gender-based violence;
- United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993), which defines “violence against women” as any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering;
- Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), which considers violence against women as a hindrance to the achievement of equality, development, and peace;
- Republic Act 7877 or Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (1995), which criminalizes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature, made in the workplace, schools, and training institutions;
- Republic Act 8353 or Anti-Rape Law (1997), which expands the definition of rape to include marital rape, and notes that rape happens even without penile penetration;
- Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (2004), which defines violence against women and their children, while providing protective measures to victims, and prescribing penalties for violators; and
- Republic Act 9710 or Magna Carta of Women, which presents every woman’s right to protection from all forms of violence, including those committed by the State.
Notably, the CIAGV project is implemented by the Local Government Units (LGUs) through their Local Social Welfare and Development Office, Barangay Councils, non-government organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs).
Objectives of the Program
The CIAGV program seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Reduce incidence of gender-based violence, in both normal and emergency/crisis situations;
- Improve provision of services to victim-survivors of GBV; and
- Facilitate socio-economic integration of GBV survivors.
Target Beneficiaries
The CIAGV program has direct as well as indirect beneficiaries.
Direct Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries of the program include:
- Women, men, girls, and boys who are victims of physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and other forms of abuse and exploitation, including trafficking;
- Children of women who are survivors of different forms of abuse; and
- Persons of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) who are survivors of violence.
Indirect Beneficiaries
Meanwhile, the indirect beneficiaries of the program include:
- Members of Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and VAWC (LCAT-VAWC) and Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC);
- Barangay VAW desk officers;
- Center- and community-based social workers;
- Health service providers and personnel;
- Police officers and other security forces;
- Legal and judicial officers;
- Women associations or civil society organizations (CSOs); and
- Children and adolescents, families, and communities.
Components of the Program
In recent years, the CIAGV program was enhanced to address GBV in normal times and during emergencies and crises. This is because marginalized sectors, including women, are considered to be more vulnerable during emergencies. Hence, program components were structured based on “normal” and “crisis/disaster/emergency” times.
During Normal Times
During relatively normal or peaceful times, the components of CIAGV are as follows:
- Prevention – to increase awareness of the population in general, and of vulnerable groups on the knowledge and perception of GBV and strategies to combat it;
- Intervention – to improve and institutionalize service systems to victims of GBV through specialized trainings, establishment and improvement of centers, and coordination between agencies and other stakeholders; and
- Reintegration – to create an enabling environment for recovery and healing of survivors and mainstream GBV concerns in terms of policy and resource allocation processes at the local levels.
During Crisis/Disaster/Emergency Times
In times of crisis, disasters, or emergencies, the components of CIAGV are as follows:
- Preparedness – to consider all activities undertaken in normal times that would prevent the occurrence of GBV during emergencies;
- Response – to focus on strengthening prompt and life-saving support services should there be any case of GBV right after an emergency; and
- Recovery/Rehabilitation – to enhance the existing LGU Referral System to incorporate response during emergencies to make sure that the needs of survivors will be addressed.
Pilot Areas
The program was pilot tested in three (3) provinces of CARAGA Region: Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte. In particular, it was conducted in 61 barangays within 20 cities and municipalities, between 2008 and 2011. As mentioned earlier, after pilot testing, the CIAGV program was institutionalized and in 2013, the guidelines for its implementation had been issued by the DSWD.
Video: Gender-Based Violence in Emergency Situations
During times of conflict and disasters, those who are affected also become more vulnerable to cases of gender-based violence. Watch this video shared by DSWD X – Northern Mindanao to learn more about how the DSWD protects internally displaced persons:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are your most commonly-asked questions about the CIAGV, answered:
1. What is CIAGV?
CIAGV stands for “Comprehensive Intervention Against Gender-Based Violence,” a holistic framework on prevention, response, and reintegration to better understand and address gender-based violence (GBV) in the community.
2. What are its objectives?
The program aims to: (a) reduce incidence of gender-based violence; (b) improve provision of services to victim-survivors of GBV; and (c) facilitate socio-economic integration of GBV survivors.
3. Who are its beneficiaries?
The direct beneficiaries of the the program include: (a) women, men, girls, and boys who are victims of physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and other forms of abuse; (b) children of women who are survivors of different forms of abuse; and (c) persons of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) who are survivors of violence.
4. What are its components?
During normal times, the components of CIAGV are prevention, intervention, and reintegration. On the other hand the program’s components during times of crisis, disasters, or emergencies are preparedness, response, and recovery/rehabilitation.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about the program by going to the nearest DSWD Office in your area.
Contact Information: Social Technology Bureau
For questions and concerns about the CIAGV program, you can get in touch with the Social Technology Bureau (STB), which is located at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Please note that its office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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 Project
The following infographic presents an overview of the CIAGV program:
Final Thoughts
The Comprehensive Intervention Against Gender-Based Violence (CIAGV) has been proven to an effective framework for dealing with gender-based violence. Thanks to this program, we can rest assured that Filipinos are protected, during normal (peaceful) times as well as during cases of emergencies or natural disasters.
Other than the CIAGV, there’s another frameowk that the DSWD uses to help prevent gender-based violence: GRCM. Check out this article to learn more about the GRCM model!