Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Attached and Supervised Agencies Elaine Fallarcuna joined the nationwide kick-off ceremony of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) on Monday (November 25) at the Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA in Quezon City.

With the DSWD as chair of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IAC-VAWC),  Asst. Secretary Fallarcuna presented and discussed the “Dalawang Dekada ng Paglaban sa Karahasan sa Kababaihan: A national situationer based on the assessed implementation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act.” during the activity.

The national situationer focuses on three key results areas: response system, prevention and advocacy, and cross-cutting structures and concerns.

Asst. Secretary for Policy and Plans Rodolfo Santos, the  chairperson of the DSWD Gender and Development Focal Point System Technical Working Group, also participated in the kick-off activity.

With the theme “VAW Bigyang Wakas, ngayon na ang Oras,” this year’s observance commemorates the 20th anniversary of Republic Act No. 9262 signing or the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004. # (YADP)