CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN : FACTS & FIGURES*

* Reported Cases only

Source : Philippine National Police (PNP)

Based on the data provided below, most women who underwent abortion are married or live together with a partner. It may be a mutual agreement between partners that the woman undergoes abortion . Regardless of their reason however, forcing abortion on a partner constitutes domestic violence as the woman is subjected to a forceful psychological behavior in order to coerce her (to undergo abortion) without concern for her rights. In this light, we present the following facts under Domestic Violence Section. - The Editor

FAST FACTS ON ABORTION

1. 400,000 induced abortions nationwide annually
2. 14% of Metro Manila women have had an abortion
3. 1 in 5 ends up in hospital because of complications like excessive bleeding, vaginal infection, nervous breakdown
4. Most are married, between 25 and 34, and cannot afford to raise another child, usually after the fourth child
5. Abortion 1 of top 3 causes of admission in public hospitals
6. 12% of all pregnancy-related deaths related to abortion
7. First choice of method: drugs. Most popular: Cytotec, an anti-ulcer drug taken orally but sometimes inserted into the vagina for stronger effect
8. Drugs believed to result in "cleaner" abortions
9. Penalty for abortion: jail term ranging from six months to 20 years

Sources : Dr. Corazon Raymundo, Dr. Junice Melgar, data from Department of Health and from EngenderHealth, Revised Penal Code

The following is a report of the Center for Women Resources, a research and education institution for grassroots women. - The Editor.

GENDER INEQUALITY IN RP

1. Over the past two years, 65 to 70% of Filipinos leaving the country are women. For every 100 women leaving for work abroad, 36 end up as entertainers, singers or dancers) and 34 as domestic helpers. These low-paid jobs expose women to violence.

• Many women are not included in the labor force. As of April 2003, only 4 out of every 19 in the labor force were women.

• Most employed women are found the work that are extensions of their work at home. These are wholesale and retail trade (30%) and community, social and personal service (15%). In fact, the biggest employer of wage and salaried women ae private households. The employ women as house help.

• Generally, women are found in jobs in which pay is irregular and/or low. Majority of women employed in April 2003 were either own account workers, seller of various products, including food 920%), unpaid family labor in agriculture and fishing (12.8%) or wage and salary household workers (9%. Of the 5.6 million wage and salaried women, 22% work in private households.

• Women are discriminated against in the workplace. In hiring, young and single women are preferred over their older and married counterparts because companies would rather not pay additional benefits like maternity leaves. Managers say married women are more prone to absences because they are expected to take care of their children or even husbands. Managers likewise expect married women to leave their jobs anytime if demands of housework and children become great.

• Although 70% of teachers are women, only a small percentage get to become supervisors. Moreover, the education secretary is usually a man.

1. Women are supposed to subordinate themselves to their husbands, a strong advise in marriage rituals. Thus, many men get away with wife or partner battering. In 2003, a woman was battered every one hour and and 24 minutes. This figure is underestimated because many cases of battering are unreported.

• Barangay and police officials would always advice the aggrieved women to go back home and talk the problem over with their husband before a filing a case. Church people would always advice against separation because the church doctrine says "what God has joined together, no man can put asunder."

• Women are regarded as sex objects. Thus, the proliferation of ads with women as sexy models and the persistence of rapes, acts of lasciviousness and sexual harassment despite laws against such acts. In 2003, a woman or child was raped every 100 minutes. A woman or child fell victim to acts of lasciviousness every four hours.