𝑱𝑯𝑪𝑺𝑪 𝑮𝑨𝑫 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝟏𝟖-𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏

The JHCSC Gender and Development (GAD) Office, under the leadership of Director Dr. Trinidad C. Abapo, hosted the culmination of the 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) today, December 13, 2024. The event was held at the JHCSC Gymnasium, Mati, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, with the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines” and the sub-theme “VAW Bigyang Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!”

Notable attendees included Dr. Vilma C. Grengia, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Mrs. Bemia Snooky A. Beboso, Main Campus Director; Dr. Jonno E. Tan, Dean of Student Affairs and Services; Hon. Cyrusdirk L. Elle, Student Trustee; as well as the JHCSC offices, deans, faculty, staff, members of the Gender Club, and students.

Atty. Jackielyn Krystal Nehama C. Bana, Director III of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), delivered the keynote address at the event. She addressed the critical issue of VAWC, stressing the need for collective action and eliminating victim-blaming attitudes. Atty. Bana called for a shift in societal mindsets, emphasizing that accountability lies solely with the perpetrator and urging the community to work towards a safer, more inclusive environment where everyone can live free from fear and harm.

President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales thanked Atty. Bana for attending the event and reaffirmed his full support for raising awareness and advocating for an end to VAWC. In his closing remarks, he stated, “𝑨𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒈𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒆 𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒕𝒂𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒈𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒆 𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒍.” As the event concluded, the JHCSC community joined in a powerful chant, “𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐀𝐖𝐂!”—a call to action aimed at raising awareness, educating the public, and strengthening policies and programs to combat violence against women and children.