Domestic violence topped the total number of cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) handled by the non-government organization Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE) in Negros Oriental since 2007 under its legal assistance program.
During a forum on Tuesday, Atty. Janette Icao, senior in-house counsel for GWAVE, disclosed that of the 1,210 clients served from January 2007 to October, 2011, 823 cases were of domestic violence in nature with 258 of these on economic abuse/financial support.
For the same period, GWAVE also handled 135 cases of rape (including incest, statutory, and rape under RA 7610) and attempted rape; seven cases of sexual harassment; three cases on seduction; two cases on concubinage; 19 cases of trafficking; 46 child abuse cases; and 17 acts of lasciviousness cases.
Their clients included 947 indigents and 263 non-indigents, of which 173 were minors, 15 were persons with disabilities, and 1.037 were clients of legal age.
Dumaguete topped the list of places of clients’ origin with 513, followed by 147 from Sibulan, 76 from Valencia, 45 from Zamboanguita, 20 from Amlan , 59 from Bacong, 10 from Dauin, 35 from Tanjay City, 32 from Bais City while the rest are from Siaton, Ayungon, Bayawan, Bindoy, Jimalalud, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Pamplona, San Jose, Sta. Catalina, Vallehermoso, and other provinces outside Negros Oriental
Also, 210 consultations on Non-GWAVE issues (adultery, homicide, financial support, annulment, legal separation, administrative cases, neighbor conflicts, runaway cases) were also conducted by the advocacy group for the same period.