Sara Duterte calls for stronger laws and justice to protect women from violence

Vice President Sara Duterte emphasized the need to strengthen laws and access to justice for Filipino women's protection from violence on International Women's Day.

Duterte highlighted that only one in 10 cases of violence against women and children are reported, with human trafficking posing a significant threat to their safety and dignity.

She called for collective action across all sectors of society to improve access to justice and support survivors of gender-based violence.

The Vice President stressed the importance of challenging deeply rooted norms that enable abuse and exploitation in order to break cycles of violence.

Despite progress, Duterte noted persistent barriers such as domestic abuse, online exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence remain significant obstacles to women's empowerment, citing a UN report showing weakened women's rights in many countries due to factors like climate change and democratic backsliding.

Filipino women are celebrated for their contributions across various sectors, but Duterte urged continued efforts to ensure that every woman can thrive without fear of violence.