Written by: Angela Lanuza Graphic Design by: Suzy Mamangun
Trigger Warning: Mentions of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Violence, Homophobia, Sexism, and Misogyny. Please read at your own discretion.
Domestic Violence, also known as domestic abuse and intimate partner violence, is a pattern of abusive behavior where the perpetrator seeks to gain or to maintain control and power over the victim. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, and psychological. It can happen in all types of relationships, not just romantic ones. And it can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender.
Worldwide, it is a pressing social issue. In the Philippines, domestic violence is an open secret. Culturally seen as a personal problem between spouses that can be patched up without the interference of others. However, the results of the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) indicated that one in every four married women aged 15 to 49 has experienced forms of abuse by their husband or their partner (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2018). It also showed that only two out of five women who have been abused will seek help or will report the incident.
In 2020, as the country remains under lockdown, vulnerable individuals are trapped in unsafe home situations. A study conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute said that these conditions would increase by 20 percent the instances of domestic violence, an additional 115,000 cases from the previous year’s registered 724,000. Currently, nationwide reported cases are dwindling: 1,383 in January, 1,224 in February, and 1,044 in March. This does not mean that domestic violence is disappearing. In fact, more cases are going underreported.
Why is it underreported?
Prevalent conservative and religious traditions
Filipino cultural norms are patriarchal. More often than not, the men in families are seen as breadwinners and the heads of decision-making while women are seen as their subordinates. The prevailing unequal power dynamics constrict women and children to the authority of dominant male figures. Many husbands may even limit the economic capabilities of their wives to subdue them. This type of violence is often acknowledged as a personal family problem, relatives who witness it may even turn a blind eye as it is “disrespectful” to interfere with the affairs of others. A study in 2017 by Superable showed that some women view abuse as an aspect of marriage:
“I view his beating as part of our relationship being husband and wife. I also think that I have some shortcomings. It is my responsibility to take care of my husband.”
Household conventions expect that family members must stay together at all costs. Shame and disgrace are associated with breaking or resisting marital ties. In April 2020, the Commission of Human Rights issued a statement regarding domestic violence during quarantine where women and children are trapped in their homes, unable to seek help due to the fear of being found out and punished by their abusive family members (Ranada, 2020).
LGBTQ youth are also vulnerable to domestic violence. The “stay-at-home” situation increases their exposure to harmful religious and conservative beliefs regarding sexual orientation and gender expression. These attitudes may manifest in the form of emotional abuse (verbal harassment and neglect) and physical violence (battery and sexual assault) by parents and relatives. Participants in a discussion series conducted by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus in 2017 shared their experiences with familial rejection: The parents of one participant told them that “Wala naman sa lahi natin ang lesbiana.”And another was threatened by their brother with “walang lugar sa mundo ang mga bakla.”
Violence can start small and it occurs even in the smallest unit of society: the family. Home is not always the safest place. For these individuals, it can damage their safety, dignity, and sense of identity.
Victim Behavior
The daily trauma these victims experience may affect their ability to seek help and report their abusers to the authorities. The aforementioned study by Superable discussed the experiences of battered women in Ozamiz City, Philippines. The results exposed that the recurrence of abuse can lead to the endurance of pain (p. 3451) and victims often seek to justify the actions of those who hurt them.
“I have endured all of his beatings, and I don’t mind at all. Anyway, there is nothing I can do. If I leave him, I am afraid of what he will do to our children.” “I have two children. If I leave my husband who is the breadwinner of the family, how will I support the children?”
The abuse then convinces the woman of her helplessness. It makes her believe that she has no control over her circumstances, leading to problems with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression (p. 3453). The participants of the same study also felt affection for their partners. Therefore, making it difficult for them to leave their dangerous situations.
“After beating me, he would ask for forgiveness and display sweetness and affection by hugging me. Because I can be easily persuaded by his acts, I tend to forgive him right away.”
Filipinos place high value on family. For this reason, any sort of treatment they receive from their loved ones are considered “normal” or “deserved.” The same sentiments are felt by the LGBTQ youth. The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus found two common responses to familial abuse and rejection. First, the children are unsure of how to address the problems and whether they will be taken seriously. This is because LGBTQ issues are not extensively discussed at home or in school. Second, the children are forced to do nothing. One child believed that their experiences were a given and that they only need to endure it until they can become independent. Another child expressed fear that responding in any way might cause more conflict. And another child stated that they loved their family too much to embarrass or to hurt them.
This shows that the isolation brought upon by the community quarantine can only worsen the culture of silence that already surrounds victim-survivors of domestic violence.
Lockdown and Disrupted Government Response
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, limited mobility, and the absence of public transportation due to quarantine measures may discourage victims from reporting crimes (Ranada, 2020). In the same Rappler report, Kathy del Soccoro from Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE) stated that government response hasn’t been the same since the lockdown. It slowed due to the redirection of efforts towards COVID-19. There is also a lack of manpower that led to some delays in releases of protection orders from barangays and difficulty in filing legal cases against abusers. These delays may provide perpetrators of abuse the opportunity to discourage or scare victims from pressing charges. GABRIELA secretary Jom Salvador announced that from March 15 to June 10, their organization received 140 reports of Violence Against Women (VAW) (Chiu, 2020). These women were told to endure the abuse until the end of lockdown by the police department and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Consequently, there has been news of police officials who request sexual favors from women in exchange for quarantine passes or entrances to checkpoints.
Despite this, the government has expressed intentions to address the increase of domestic violence cases. In April, the Commission of Human Rights launched an online system where individuals are encouraged to report incidents of gender-based violence. In May, the Quezon City local government reopened the QC Protection Center, which was temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. President Duterte, in his June 8, 2020 report to Congress, ordered the police to coordinate with local government units to protect the welfare of women and children. While Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen its ties with LGUs. She also suggested the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) to coordinate with LGUs in the creation of domestic violence helplines in all barangays as well as safe houses for victims. Regardless, there is still more to be done. Intention is not the same as proper implementation.
What can we do?
During the 2019 International Women’s Day, Sylvia Claudio, University of the Philippines Dean of the College of Social Work and Community Development, declared that VAW is a worldwide and national epidemic that has been going on for too long (Tomacruz, 2019).. It has thrived on existing misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic beliefs that degrade and disempower women, children, and the LGBTQ community. Multiple laws seek to protect the rights of women and children such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. However, they are still under-enforced and poorly monitored. Protectors of rights can also be abusers. This was a reality even before the coronavirus outbreak. The longer quarantine lasts, the more vulnerable these marginalized groups will be. The numbers will rise and yet we will still not know the true extent of this silent epidemic.
We are tasked to remain vigilant. To encourage the voices and stories of victim-survivors. To just listen to them. To be wary of prevalent victim-blaming attitudes because there is no justification for abuse. Violence is an age-old enemy. What we can do now is to stand against it together, as individuals, as a community, as a country that should not thrive on silence.
References:
United Nations. (n.d.). What Is Domestic Abuse? Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. (2017). Bata at Bahaghari: Experiences of LGBT Children. ASC Discussion Series No. 1. Quezon City.
Ranada, P. (2020, June 20). During coronavirus lockdown: Abused women, children more vulnerable. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/during-coronavirus-lockdown-abused-women-children-more-vulnerable
ABS-CBN News. (2020, May 25). QC reopens facility responding to gender-based violence as cases spike during lockdown. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/20/qc-reopens-facility-responding-to-gender-based-violence-as-cases-spike-during-lockdown
Gavilan, J. (2020, June 30). CHR launches online reporting portal for gender-based violence during lockdown. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/chr-online-reporting-portal-gender-based-violence-coronavirus-lockdown
Senate of the Philippines. (2020, April 15). Press Release - Hontiveros warns of rise in domestic abuse during COVID-19 quarantine. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2020/0415_hontiveros1.asp
Chiu, P. (2020, June 14). Lockdown blamed for cases of violence against women. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1291289/lockdown-blamed-for-more-vaw-cases
Tomacruz, S. (2019, March 08). Violence against women an 'epidemic' in PH – expert. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/expert-violence-against-women-epidemic-philippines
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2018, March 26). One In Four Women Have Ever Experienced Spousal Violence ... Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.psa.gov.ph/content/one-four-women-have-ever-experienced-spousal-violence-preliminary-results-2017-national
Superable, C. S. (2017). Lived Experiences of Battered Women in Ozamiz City, Philippines. The Qualitative Report, 22(13), 3447-3460. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol22/iss13/5