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RecognizingSeriousPhysicalandSexualAbuseasGroundforLegalSeparation: AMENDINGTHEFAMILYCODEPROVISIONONLEGALSEPARATION
Withthegeneralphysicalstrengthdifferencesbetweenmen andwomen,womenaremorelikelytoreceiveseriousphysical injuriesthanmen.Womencanalsobeviolent,buttheiractions accountforasmallpercentageofdomesticviolence.Serious abuseslikephysicalviolencearemostoftencommittedbymen againstwomenandgirls.Thatiswhywomenfrequently becomevictimsofphysicalviolenceperpetratedbymenwho are,orwhohavebeeninpositionsoftrust,intimacyand power.Sinceviolenceisacycleofabuse,mostvictimsofthis intimatepartnerviolencewillbesubjectedtomorethanone instanceofphysicalabusebythesamepartner.
Thereareonlyafewcomparablestatisticsonpsychological violence,emotionaltortureandeconomicabuseofwomenat thehandsofintimatepartners,probablybecausetheseare hardertocaptureinevidences,andafullpictureofthedeeper andmoreinsidiouslevelsofviolencedefiesquantification. Whiletheimpactofphysicalviolencemaybemorevisiblethan psychologicalabuse,repeatedhumiliationandinsults,forced isolation,limitationsonsocialmobility,constantthreatsof violenceandinjury,anddenialofeconomicresourcesaremore subtleandinsidiousformsofviolence.Thevictimsurvivors reportthatongoingpsychologicalviolence,emotionaltorture andlivingunderterrorisoftenmoreunbearablethanthe physicalbrutality2.Thephysicalviolenceexperiencedbythe victimsisusuallyaccompaniedbypsychologicalabuse, emotionalinsults,andinmanycasesbysexualassault.
UndertheFamilyCodeofthePhilippines,repeatedphysical violenceisagroundforfilinganactionforlegalseparation:
Art. 55. A petition for legal separation may be filed on any of thefollowinggrounds: 1. Repeatedphysicalviolenceorgrosslyabusiveconduct directedagainstthepetitioner,acommonchild,ora childofthepetitioner;xxx
ThegroundforlegalseparationinArticle55(1)oftheFamily Codeisspecificallylimitedtophysicalviolenceorgrossly abusiveconduct.Itrequiresthatthephysicalviolence experiencedmustbeofaseriousdegreebutdoesnothaveto amounttoanattemptagainstthelifeofthevictim(petitioner). Theviolencemustalsoberepeatedtotheextentthatlifewith theabuser(defendant)becomesextremelydifficultforthe victim(petitioner)3.Thesecircumstancesreinforcethe batterersattemptstocontrolanddemeantheirvictimsand contributeinperpetuatingviolenceagainstwomenparticularly withinthesanctityofthehome,asexacerbatedbythislaw.
ThePhilippinePlanforGenderResponsiveDevelopment(19952025)
PCWPolicyBrief No.9
August 2013
WHAT ARE THE EXISTING LAWS OR POLICY ISSUANCES RELATED TO THE ISSUE?
Section12ofRA9710ortheMagnaCartaofWomen(MCW) providesfortheamendmentorrepealoflawsthatare discriminatorytowomenwhich,amongothers,includeArticle 55(1)ontherequirementforrepeatedphysicalabuseand grosslyabusiveconductasagroundforlegalseparation.Italso definesviolenceagainstwomen(VAW)asanyactofgender basedviolencethatresultsin,orislikelytoresultinphysical, sexual,orpsychologicalharmorsufferingtowomen,including threatsofsuchacts,coercion,orarbitrarydeprivationof liberty,whetheroccurringinpublicorinprivatelife.
POLICY RECOMMENDATION
ItisproposedthatArticle55(1)oftheFCPbeamendedto considernotonlythenumberoftimesviolenceis perpetrated,butalsotheseverityorgravityoftheviolence donesincetheverylifeorsecurityofthewomanisatstakeas sheisexposedtogreaterriskofsevereviolence.Theproposed amendmentshallreadasfollows:
CONCLUSION
AlegislativemeasuretoamendArticle55(1)oftheFamily CodewasfiledinthepreviousCongressbutwasnotapproved. Tothisend,itiswithhopethatourlegislators,consistentwith theirmandatesundertheConstitutionandtheMagnaCartaof Women,shallgivehighestprioritytotheenactmentofthis proposedamendmenttogetherwithothermeasuresthat protectandenhancetherightofallthepeopletohuman dignity,particularlyintheattainmentofsubstantiveequality.#
PCWPolicyBriefsaimtostimulateinformeddiscourseandguidepolicyactionsonissuesconcerningthe empowermentofwomenandpromotionofgenderequality.
OFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENT