Several years after the passage of Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (VAWC) of 2004, the number of women suffering from domestic violence and intimate partner abuse remains high. One in 4 women aged 15 to 49 (24.4 percent) has experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse committed by their husband or partner. Seventeen percent of these women have experienced physical violence since age 15. Two in 5 (41 percent) of these women never sought help to end violence or told anyone about the violence.
Men are at the heart of domestic violence. Eight of every 10 perpetrators of physical abuse are men (Guerrero and Sobrithcea, 2000). If these men stop abusing their partners, domestic violence would be greatly reduced. On the other hand, abusive men are willing to change, but they need help and, must be helped, to initiate change (Lee, 2004). Most men assume leadership positions in families, communities and organizations, both public and private (Lee, 2004). With resources at their disposal (e.g., time funds, facilities, personnel, etc.), these male leaders can mobilize themselves, other men, and their groups and organizations, to help halt and prevent domestic violence.
It is in this light that the Philippine Commission on Women conceptualized the involvement of men and invited male representatives from different agencies to participate in the brainstorming discussions on the possibilities of men’s support in ending domestic violence. In 2006, the “Men Oppose to VAW Everywhere” convener was organized and initiated by the PCW with the goal of involving men in the effort of ending VAW in the Philippines. MOVE is a pro-active organization composed of men from various national line agencies and local government units (LGUs) continuously striving to develop and impart among its members the appropriate VAW-related knowledge, attitude and practices; and mobilize individual members to spearhead in their respective communities and organizations on the advocacy against VAW, among others.
One of the key objectives of MOVE is to institutionalize and to support the national quest for a VAW-free Philippines by integrating the Gender and Development programs in the programs of national agencies, LGUs and other government instrumentalities. MOVE has, as its core values:
• M-Moral uprightness
We live by what we advocate, we are what we want other men to be.
• O-Obligation conscious
We are officially aware of our commitment and responsibility as a MOVE member. We are duty-bound.
• V-Vow to never commit, condone and be silent about vaw
We vow to never commit, condone and be silent about gender-based violence against women and children.
• E-Equality
We believe that all men and women are equal.
• R-Respect for human rights
We believe that everyone has the right to live a gender-fair and violence-free society.
• S-Sustained commitment
We commit ourselves to sustainability. (Taken from the Report of Ricky A. Bunao, “Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Criminalities,” 2019)
MOVE, to date, has chapters in the Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Commission on Elections, Civil Service Commission Central Office, Sandiganbayan, Department of the Interior and Local Government Central Office, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Housing Authority, Department of Health-Region 4A, National Economic and Development Authority-Region 4A (Bunao Report, 2019).
MOVE also has LGU Chapters in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon Province, Pampanga, Zambales, Bohol, Aklan, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Tawi-Tawi, Mountain Province, Southern Leyte, Northern Leyte, Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro, Samar, Nueva Vizcaya, Pasig (Ibid).
MOVE Chapters and LGUs nationwide aim to continue their partnership with women in ending men’s violence against women by being a social change organization committed to dismantling the belief systems, social structures, and institutional practices that oppress women, children and dehumanizes men, themselves.
MOVE’s Mantra—“Real Men
Respect Women.”
Bravo!!!