For many years now, various women’s groups, the academe, private sector and government have addressed the issue of violence against women (VAW) in different ways. Quite a number of intervention programs on services, advocacy, policy development and capacity building among others, have been developed and implemented. However, a great majority of these approaches focus on women victims and potential victims. For years, one component of the VAW equation, the men-either as the main perpetrators of or advocates against VAW- have been overlooked.
The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the policy advisory body to the Office of the President on women and gender concerns, has initiated a number of anti-VAW advocacy activities involving men, such as fora, exhibits and public information and education campaigns. These undertakings generated support from a number of prominent Filipino men namely, the Former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Vice President Noli De Castro. Likewise, the male-dominated agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) actively participated in the mentioned activities.
To sustain and institutionalize as well as to systematize these efforts, the NCRFW formally launched the “Men Opposed to Violence Against Women (VAW) Everywhere or MOVE” during the commemoration of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW. The launching of MOVE on November 27, 2006 was one of the highlights of the campaign.
MOVE is an organization of men who committed themselves to be actively involved in the elimination of VAW. It is also a group of caring, pro-active and principled men who are dedicated to the cause of making the Philippines free from VAW. MOVE members are men from various organizations, including the government, private sector, academe and non-government organizations.
MOVE specifically seeks to: a) speak out against VAW; b) examine, propose and formulate total male involvement and actions in the elimination of VAW; c) form partnerships and linkages with similar groups working on VAW, locally and internationally; d) organize and conduct researches, studies and fora in recognition of the social effects of VAW for policy and program development; and e) establish resource network on VAW.
Since its creation in 2006, MOVE is able to formulate its plans for 2007, participate in a number of advocacy activities, both local and international, initiate capacity building undertakings and establish its organizational structure and internal mechanisms.
As the leader in social protection that responds to the needs and welfare of disadvantaged women, the DSWD through its Social Technology Bureau [STB] organized the MOVE at the DSWD Central Office on March 20, 2009. The group aptly called itself The DSWD Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere, hence the DSWD Men on the MOVE.
