Geline Salac

Students gesture during the One Billion Rising event at St. Scholastica's College in Manila on February 15, 2024. St. Scholastica's College Manila joined the One Billion Rising 2024 event for its fourth year as the institution’s way of expressing commitment to building a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can live with equality, respect, and dignity. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741405328332One-Billion-Rising.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Students gesture during the One Billion Rising event at St. Scholastica&#x27;s College in Manila on February 15, 2024. St. Scholastica&#x27;s College Manila joined the One Billion Rising 2024 event for its fourth year as the institution’s way of expressing commitment to building a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can live with equality, respect, and dignity. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</p><div><br/></div><p>Students gesture during the One Billion Rising event at St. Scholastica&#x27;s College in Manila on February 15, 2024. St. Scholastica&#x27;s College Manila joined the One Billion Rising 2024 event for its fourth year as the institution’s way of expressing commitment to building a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can live with equality, respect, and dignity. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</p><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday raised the “alarming reality” that women continue to face, saying that the public needs to continue to work together to provide a “future where no woman fears for her safety.”</p><p>In her International Women’s Day message, Duterte underscored that while “Filipino women are at the forefront of change,” the country “cannot ignore the alarming reality that violence against women and children… that continue to threaten the safety and dignity of many.”</p><p>“From domestic abuse to online exploitation and trafficking, gender-based violence remains a persistent barrier to women’s empowerment,” said Duterte, the Philippines’ third female vice president.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/18/fight-macho-culture-rights-group-calls-for-end-to-violence-on-women">‘Fight macho culture’: Rights group calls for end to violence on women</a></div><p>“The fight for women’s rights is not just about closing economic and political gaps—it is about ensuring that every woman and child is protected, heard, and allowed to thrive,” she said.</p><p>Duterte encouraged the public to “work together to break the cycle of abuse and exploitation.”</p><p>“Let us work together to strengthen our laws, improve access to justice, support survivors, and challenge the deeply rooted norms that enable violence,” she said.</p><p>“Together, let us build a future where no woman fears for her safety, where every girl can pursue her dreams without fear of violence, and where equality is not just a goal, but a lived reality,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/7/philippine-angels-aim-to-de-escalate-south-china-sea-encounters-1529">Philippine &#x27;Angels&#x27; aim to de-escalate South China Sea encounters</a></div><p>In 2023, some 13,200 cases of violence against women, rape and acts of lasciviousness were reported to the Philippines National Police, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.</p><p>Another 1,200 women, who were victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, illegal recruitment and human trafficking, were brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, data showed.</p>

<p>“From domestic abuse to online exploitation and trafficking, gender-based violence remains a persistent barrier to women’s empowerment,” said Duterte, the Philippines’ third female vice president.</p>

“From domestic abuse to online exploitation and trafficking, gender-based violence remains a persistent barrier to women’s empowerment,” said Duterte, the Philippines’ third female vice president.

VP Duterte flags ‘alarming reality’ for abused women on Int’l Women’s Day

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VP Duterte flags ‘alarming reality’ for abused women on Int’l Women’s Day

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 08, 2025 11:42 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 10, 2025 01:57 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Women's Month

International Women's Day

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