Press Release
September 4, 2007

Loren bill to open rape crisis centers to other victims of violence

Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill that seeks to open the doors of the country's rape crisis centers to other survivors of violence such as trafficked, prostituted, physically abused, exploited women and children.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1386, Loren wants to amend Republic Act No. 8505, the law that called for the establishment of rape crisis centers, to expand the coverage and scope of services of the centers.

"Violence against women and children is one of the pervasive forms of human rights abuses in our society today. It encompasses but is not limited to battering, sexual abuse and harassment, trafficking in women, prostitution and exploitation," said Loren.

"Women victims are often forced to endure ill-effects violence due to the lack of services to meet their peculiar needs. This problem is very prominent among victims, or survivors, of domestic violence who feel the need to leave their homes but is restrained from doing so by the absence or lack of financial resources, child care support and shelter," she added.

Loren lamented that victims of gender-based violence often think that they do not have much choice in the situation but to suffer in silence and solitude, resulting in serious physical and psychological consequences to them.

By opening the rape crisis centers to other victims of gender-based violence, Loren said many battered women and children will be given fighting chances to get back on their feet.

Loren was the author of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law and a prime mover in the passage of the landmark law RA 9261, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Loren said the survivors of violence need a network of assistance which can intervene quickly and effectively, while providing shelter, employment, childcare support, medical and legal assistance and psychological counseling.

She explained that aside from center-based programs and services, the communities, non-government organizations and government agencies with potential resources for responding to this issue need to work hand in hand.

"This requires adequate training on the part of the individuals who deal directly with them," she said in the explanatory note of her bill.

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