WHAT IS THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF

2004?

The protection and safety of women has always been a long-time concern of the State. For years, women
have become victims of gender violence, and as members of the weaker gender, only very few of the
victims have had courage to defend themselves against their offenders. In order to protect the rights of
the victims, and prevent further violation of the rights of women, the state has enacted Republic Act No.
9262, The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. The Anti-Violence Against
Women and Their Children Act of 2004, otherwise known as VAWC, is a
special law that aims to punish any act or series of acts committed by any person against a woman who
is his wife, former or present; or against a woman with whom the offender has or had sexual or dating
relationship; or against a woman with whom the offender has a common child. It may also be committed
against the child of the woman, whether legitimate or illegitimate. This act or series of acts, to be
punishable, must result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering,
or financial abuse. Even mere threats of these acts are also punishable.

In general, there are four (4) kinds of violence which this law aims to prevent, to wit, sexual violence,
psychological violence, economic abuse and physical violence.

Sexual Violence includes rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, and any other treatment
wherein the woman or her child is made to feel as if they are sex objects. At times, physical force, threat
or other harm or coercion is used by the offender to cause the victim to engage in any sexual activity.
Take note that once this occurs, regardless of whether the victim and the offender are married or are
dating, the offender may still be held liable under this act.

Any acts or omissions which may cause a or are likely to cause mental or emotional suffering to the
victim, such as intimidation, harassment, or repeated verbal abuse, may be considered as psychological
violence.

Women are considered economically abused if the offender makes or attempts to make a woman
financially dependent. This usually occurs when the offender withdraws financial support, or prevents
the victim from working or exercising a profession, or even when the offender tries to solely control the
victims own money or properties or their conjugal money or properties. Physical abuse, simply stated, is
any act which includes bodily or physical harm to the woman.

Example

In the case of Rustan Ang vs. CA and Irish Sagud, GR. No. 182835, April 20, 2010, Rustan and
irish used to date, but when Irish found out that Rustan has another pregnant girlfriend, she
broke up with Rustan. Rustan wanted to get back with Irish, and when Irish refused, Rustan
edited pictures of a naked woman and superimposed the face of Irish on it. He sent the edited
pictures to Irish and threatened to post it online if the latter will not give him a second chance.

The Supreme Court ruled that Dating relationship refers to a situation wherein the parties live
as husband and wife without the benefit of marriage or are romantically involved over time and
on a continuing basis during the course of the relationship. Thus, even though they are ex-

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lovers, since they were romantically involved over time, Rustans act of harassing Irish made him
liable for violation of VAW-C.

Anti-VAWC Act, as defined under RA 9262, violence against women and their children
(VAWC) refers to any act or a series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is
his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating
relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate or
illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical,
sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts,
battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

It includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

A. Physical Violence refers to acts that include bodily or physical harm;
B. Sexual violence refers to an act which is sexual in nature, committed against a woman or
her child. It includes, but is not limited to:
a) rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating a woman or her child as a sex object,
making demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the
victims body, forcing her/him to watch obscene publications and indecent shows or forcing the
woman or her child to do indecent acts and/or make films thereof, forcing the wife and
mistress/lover to live in the conjugal home or sleep together in the same room with the abuser;
b) acts causing or attempting to cause the victim to engage in any sexual activity by force, threat
of force, physical or other harm or threat of physical or other harm or coercion;
c) Prostituting the woman or child.
C. Psychological violence refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or
emotional suffering of the victim such as but not limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking,
damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, repeated verbal abuse and mental infidelity. It
includes causing or allowing the victim to witness the physical, sexual or psychological abuse of
a member of the family to which the victim belongs, or to witness pornography in any form or to
witness abusive injury to pets or to unlawful or unwanted deprivation of the right to custody
and/or visitation of common children.
D. Economic abuse refers to acts that make or attempt to make a woman financially dependent
which includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. withdrawal of financial support or preventing the victim from engaging in any legitimate
profession, occupation, business or activity, except in cases wherein the other spouse/partner
objects on valid, serious and moral grounds as defined in Article 73 of the Family Code;
2. deprivation or threat of deprivation of financial resources and the right to the use and
enjoyment of the conjugal, community or property owned in common;
3. destroying household property;
4. controlling the victims own money or properties or solely controlling the conjugal money or
properties.
On your situation, based on the RA 9262,

1. The law allows you to secure barangay protection order and/ or temporary or permanent
protection order from the courts (Section 8). You can also file an independent civil action for the
damages and criminal action for the violation of Anti-VAWC Act.