In advancing the rights of women in all aspect of the society, ECOWEB trusts women’s capacity to lead and be their own expression of empowerment.
For ECOWEB, women are the impetuses of peace and unity. That they are the genuine frontrunners of change and advocacy.
Women’s participation in social activities, and the equal access to goods and services are the vision of social justice and empowerment.
Since the inception of ECOWEB in the year 2006 to date, the organization upholds gender equity and inclusivity. All projects and programs have been made sure that women are part of it. A ratio of 40 men and 60 women has been a built-in policy administratively and in community beneficiaries.
For the record, women dominate across ECOWEB projects focusing on livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, peacebuilding programs and initiatives and other activities that showcase their active involvement.
On March 8, 2021, ECOWEB in partnership with Relief International, funded by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy held a Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) peer education and community-based learning session and an On-the-spot Painting Competition. The activity is in celebration of the arts month enjoined with the international women’s day.
SGBV in Pandemic
The most concealed consequence of this pandemic is the rise of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) particularly to women and girls, who are overly confronted with abuses and intimidation because of the prolonged global lockdown.
In any form or status, SGBV is a disease which decays the progress of peace and oneness in the global scale. The rising case of SGBV shadows the COVID-19 pandemic. Before and during the pandemic outbreak, UN WOMEN states that 1 in 3 women is a victim of harassment and violence.
In the Philippines, UNRC Philippines has a record of 1 out of every 4 Filipinas experience violence. This existing plague is compounded by the COVID-19 crisis which provide perpetrators and abuser s chances of easier execution.
The peer education and community-based learning session among women in different communities on SGBV was designed to help promote awareness and education to women in the community. This activity was participated by 60 women coming from Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.
Subject expert Fiscal Jasmin Guiuo-Diaz, Assistant City Prosecutor of Iligan City Prosecutor’s Office and assigned as the handling prosecutor of the Family Court, Regional Trial Court lead the discussion who provided informative experiences and cases of violence against women and children specifically in Iligan City.
Guiuo-Diaz shared experiences of violence against women and children specifically in Iligan City in which participants of the SGBV learning session and painting competition can reflect to. She also discussed laws for the women to have clear direction to know everyone’s rights in terms of protecting themselves from abuses and violence.
She also urged all women present in the venue to address the stigma of SGBV especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. She expressed how impactful women can be in taking the first step and working collectively in protecting themselves, other women and children as well.
She also emboldens women to uphold moral responsibility to elevate the fight against harassment and violence to women and children. In this time of hardships and misfortunes, women should always be equipped with strong mind and healthy physical being. She urges everyone at any gender and preference, especially to women, to unite and bring peace to mankind.
“One should know when to say no and to fight violence. We should first know our rights. Are we already violated? Are the things done to us are already considered violation? We cannot do this alone. We should work collaboratively to come up with a unified decision and plan,” she said.
Painting Competition
The artistic expression of women across globe has been on the forefront in the discipline of art history. Beyond their gender lies the perseverance of breaking barriers of gender stereotypes and inequalities. Women are trailblazers of revolutionary positive change that was also expressed through different art mediums.
Throughout the art history, women plays a vital role in abolishing forms of inequalities and subordination to women. A notable movement in May 1970 in which a group of female artists gathered to strike against racial and economic inequality to women. This was written in a book titled Documentary HerStory of Women Artists in Revolution that highlight women’s struggle to right and liberty.
Strengthening the local initiatives, the on-the-spot painting completion was one of the medium of self-expression of women across ages. 20 aspiring and talented women from Iligan City and Lanao del Norte showcased their talent in painting. This activity was also framed as one way to promote solidarity among Christian and M’ranao women.
The explosion of colors provided vibrant to the artistic interpretation of SGBV. Artists have to embody in their art the theme “Role and Responsibility of Women in Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Time of Pandemic”.
They #ChooseToChallenge their inner creativity and storytelling capacity through their painting expressing the role of women in addressing sexual and gender-based violence, most notably during the coronavirus outbreak’s strict lockdown.
Emedina Juerisano is a renowned woman in the fields of educational arts and women empowerment, provided inspiration and a talk about how beautiful the discipline of art is. She tackled about arts and self-expression in relation to present-day societal challenges and in pandemic.
“Artists are visionary who speak through arts. Women have championed this for a long time. Self-expression is always an art. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we create change and we see change through art. This is how we express and this is how we influence.” she said.
The painting competition has looked into women’s capacity specifically on the artist’s perspective about the centrality of the all-gender’s role especially women in the society addressing the stigma of sexual and gender-based violence during the coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak and how influential individuals and women could be in taking the lead on social protection against this problem. This activity generally aimed to significantly strengthen the advocacy of SGBV through arts and women as contributors.
The Art Champions
Three (3) young ladies unfolded their dormant desire of showing to the judges their illustrator’s soul. Among others, these ladies successfully interpreted and convinced the judges of how they view the theme of the competition.
Luz Angel A. Licanto, 21, from Hinaplanon, Iligan City and a member of Iligan Visual Artist bagged the first prize of the said contest. She received a cash prize of Php 7,000 with recognition certificate and was also chosen as the recipient of the Viewer’s Choice Award.
Luz Angel expressed that her artwork represents how the shadow pandemic, or the violence occurring towards women amidst the outbreak, has caused unfortunate dilemmas to women all over the world.
“With women of all colors, if hand-in-hand empowering each other, a SGBV-free environment will certainly prevail. A survivor will no longer hide behind the spotlight.” Licanto wrote.
Meanwhile, sisters from Santiago, Iligan City, Darlie and Devina Tagoylo won the second and third prize receiving Php 5,000 and Php 4,000 with recognition certificates.
“My painting speaks about despite of the abusive people around, women should take pride to unite for their freedom and stand for what is right,” wrote Devina Tagoylo, 3rd placer.
The event serves as a challenge to the participating women to never be silenced of this issue. Everyone should be a vessel to a SGBV-free world. Let women enjoy life and liberty as they bring life to the entirety. ECOWEB unites with world of supporting women to life and dignity especially during this time of health crisis.
“Since the COVID-19 outbreak, violence against women has intensified, particularly in domestic violence. We, as part of the community should take action on what we can do to help those who are abused by sharing them the knowledge of women and children having the rights to be protected and fight for themselves. We should encourage women to speak up, be strong and be brave enough to report it to the authority,” expressed Darlie Tagoylo, 2nd placer.
