Talibon to host women, children advocates gab

LEADING the way in local advocacy with its first ever violence against women and children (VAWC) municipal ordinance, Talibon now plays host to advocates across the province for its first out-of town meeting this year. The meeting, called by Council chairperson Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Godofreda Tirol upon invitation of Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Virginia Item would also be appropriate venue where the council be introduced to the communities, says a council member in an interview. Like BM Tirol, SB Item also happens to be a staunch advocate for the promotion of women and children's rights. She drafted and authored the first women and children friendly municipal ordinance.

The council, in actuality, a marriage between VAWC and the Consortium Against Trafficking of Children and Women in Sexual Exploitation (CATCHWISE) lobbies for more protection of women and children from physical and psychological harm especially when the society has apparently made women and children as objects. These troubling issues have united Women in New Growths and Services, PROCESS, Feed the Children Philippines, United Nations Fund for Population Activities and other well meaning non-government organizations with an aggrupation of government agencies.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Philippine National police and the Philippine Information Agency also combine manpower and resources to put in technical and administrative support as well as lend warm bodies for the sired council just to advance the advocacy. With the recent trend in child and women sexual trafficking becoming more pronounced, the council now drips information and education to the communities and encourages enabling legislations from local law making bodies to further the advocacy. This also comes in relation to applicable laws especially with the town ports used as entry and exit points for trafficked children and sexual trafficking in women.

The Talibon invitation is also very crucial as this becomes a learning experience for council members on the actual immersion of a place where there is the presence of a legislative support for their advocacy, says a Catchwise member. Talibon, another known as a strong entry and exit point for workers from and to Bohol also needs a crucial support from Philippine Ports Authorities and the Philippine Coast Guard, being in better position to intercept attempt to smuggle women and children for exploitation. In the Visayas where there is still a sizable number of children trafficked for exploitation, national council members have instituted anti child trafficking desks and counters to check those leaving and arriving on inter-island boats.

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