Davao City – The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) kicks off on November 25 and will push until December 12 under the theme “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty: Gains and Ways Forward”.

Director Priscilla N. Razon of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the special event is spearheaded by the Philippine Commission of Women (PCW) in collaboration with member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (IACVAWC).

The event focuses on how far government agencies and other stakeholders have gone in terms of programs and projects that address VAWC, Director Razon said.

In advocating the national observance, all government agencies are enjoined to participate or conduct activities such as Orange Your Icon For 18 Days, hanging of streamer, Online Campaign Thread using official hashtag #endVAWph, inclusion of event and other VAW IEC materials in agency publications, dissemination of VAW information materials, mobilization of MOVE (Men Oppose to Violence Everywhere) to lead in ending VAW, and active collaboration with local VAWC councils in mounting other advocacy activities to end VAWC.

For more information on the campaign, Rica B. Alvis, PCW Information Resource Management Division can be reached at [02]735-8509 or 0917-845-4814 or through email: irmd@pcw.gov.ph and website: www.pcw.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week is celebrated from November 15-21 with the theme, Let’s Develop Our Lives, Our Communities, Our Identities Without Drugs.

This event aims to raise public awareness on the alarming issue of drug abuse as mandated under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and supports as well the National Anti-Drug Program of Action for 2015-2020. (DSWD)