Enigma | Vol.1 Issue 1

ABO

“OUTSIDE LOOKING IN”

R VE

H E T CO T U illustrated by: Zyronne Giltendez inspired by: Ms. Miriam Tribe

Inspired by Ms. Miriam Tribe, the cover art expresses a woman in shades of red. Red symbolizes courage, and through the cover, we want to show how women fight the constant gender-based violence done upon them. It serves as a figurative and expressionistic form of art circling around the emotional effects of sexual violence on its victims and how it is viewed in our society.

Bea Besa Research and Statistics

EDITORS

Dianelle Varrera Research and Statistics

EDITORS

Zyronne Giltendez Graphic Design and Layout

E L

AB O

ENIGMA, by denotative definition means a puzzling situation wherein we believe that the society’s mindset and thoughts against rape and other forms of sexual violence is rather difficult to understand and figure out.

THE T I UT T

in this What is Rape?

Causes of Rape

Victim Blaming

Effects of Rape

A Story of Hope

Myths & Facts

Know Your Rights

Proposed Activities

Personal Undertaking

Boosting Government Responses

References

Our Campaign

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

12 13 14 15

What is

RAPE? Unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception (Merriam Webster) The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. (Department of Justice) COMMON VICTIMS OF RAPE

More than 70% of sexually abused children are between 10 and 18 years old. Among those victims, 20% are under 6 years old . Cases of child sexual abuse are

one of the most common issues that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has to handle after abandonment and neglect.

Despite the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, rape remains the most frequent type of sexual abuse, followed by incest and fondling.

98% of rape victims are women. The incest percentage is another alarming data: 33%.

The 2015 Child Protection Network Annual Report states that 87% of all cases of sexual violence are girls, 11.7% of which occurred in the family home. While victims of sexual exploitation for commercial purposes are predominantly 13 to 18-year-old girls, some of them were forced into prostitution from age 10 for the youngest ones.

WHERE DOES IT HAPPEN?

There will be no rape cases if there are no rapists.

Rape is commonly happening everywhere. If there is a rapist in a public area, most of the time it would happen there. If the rapist is at home, then it would most likely happen there also. Two-thirds of rape victims report a prior relationship with the offender. In 2000, about 8 in 10 rape or sexual assault victims stated the offender was a boyfriend or girlfriend, other relatives, a friend, or an acquaintance. In connection with the report, we can say that this gender-based violence would most likely happen in homes or places that are private.

CAUSES OF CAUSES OF It is not appropriate to criticize the victim in

every case of rape. It’s critical to remember that rape is always caused by the perpetrators. There are several reasons that can contribute to the prevalence of rape, one of which is our society’s gender stereotypes. These stereotypes promote inequalities experienced by either gender, such as men being represented as aggressive and women being portrayed as meek, which makes their incorrect conduct acceptable in society. Another factor is that much of our gender roles are based on the assumption that men are more powerful than women. We occasionally come across situations that may not directly cause rape but are a significant factor in its occurrence. The use of narcotics and alcohol to intoxicate and immobilize people is one of them. However, some of these factors are not exclusive to the offenders. We dismiss and invalidate the feelings of sexually abused victims, condemning them for how they act and dress while ignoring the perpetrators and failing to hold them accountable for the crime committed, which can and may inspire new acts of sexual assault.

RAPE

Rape is a Crime,

Never a Woman’s Fault The Philippine Commission on Women

The Philippine Commission on Women strongly states that it is never a woman’s fault to get raped.

A woman’s body, her appearance, or her clothes are not invitations for rape or any form of sexual violence.

Rape victims are young and old, rich and poor, short and tall. People can be raped regardless of their physical attributes such as the color of their skin, body size, facial features, or hairstyle.

Women are raped because their bodies are viewed as sexual conquests and objects, that can be owned and abused by men – a mindset that stems from the unequal power relations between men and women.

Rape is no laughing matter. Rape can cause lifelong emotional and physical effects on its victims.

Even to non-victims, joking about rape is offensive.

Teach both girls and boys the value of mutual respect and dignity. Together, let us build a society where women no longer get blamed for rape and where women’s fundamental rights are As long as there are respected and protected. people and institutions that trivialize rape, normalize Rape is a crime sexual violence, embolden and a human rights violaperpetrators, and put the tion. No rape is justifiable blame on women, rape culture will continue to persist.

As we strive to build a community free from all forms of gender-based violence, especially against all women and girls, we call on all citizens to act and do their part in putting an end to rape and rape culture by taking it seriously, speaking up

Stop Blaming The VICTIMS!

EFFECTS

The effects of rape can vary from person to person, not all victims have the same

reaction to what they have experienced. Nonetheless, some of the common aftermaths that survivors go through are various psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, dissociation, and even physical impacts like localized pains. Survivors feel a sense of helplessness, some even thinking that they’re dirty or permanently flawed. A lot experience post-traumatic stress disorder that triggers uncontrollable thoughts, and persistent fear that alters their perception, making it hard for them to trust other people and even themselves. In terms of physical effects, some acquire bruises, bleeding, sexually transmitted diseases, and even pregnancy. Because of the presence of rape in the community, the people’s sense of safety has also been altered just like the survivors. Some people perceive safe situations as unsafe and sets an inappropriate level of trust towards others. It also endangers social structures since it creates a climate of violence and fear.

Philippines DSWD data also showed PSA said, that some 222 women were sexually exploited in 2019. This was 55.2 percent higher than the 143 posted in 2018.

Data obtained by the PSA from the PNP as of February 2020 indicated there were 2,162 rape cases reported to the police in 2019, 30.6 percent higher than the 1,656 cases reported in 2018.

More women were raped, physically

abused, sexually exploited, and trafficked in 2019, according to the

latest data obtained by the Philippine Statistics Authority from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

PSA data culled from DSWD showed that as of February 2020, around 420 women were victims of trafficking in 2019, a 66.7-percent increase from 252 women in 2018.

International On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.

Ages years

12-34 are the highest risk for rape and sexual assault.

As of 1998, an estimated 17.7 million American women had been victims of attempted or completed rape.

82% of all juvenile victims are female.

90% of adult rape victims are female.

A Story of Hope

Joy Tan-Chi Mendoza

Friday, February 7, 1992, started out like any ordinary school day. I asked my parents if I could hang out at school in the evening with my friends, but they suggested that Irene and Lana come over and spend the night at our house instead. My parents were going to be out teaching a Bible study in Makati City that night. They felt more comfortable about having my friends over, rather than me being out of the house.

I was raped and sexually abused on my very own bed by a total of seven men. At around six o’clock in the evening the doorbell rang, and my dad’s cousin came in through the gate to deliver five sacks of rice. He delivered the rice every month so it was nothing out of the ordinary. But he had no idea that a band of robbers had slipped in through the gate behind him. They were heavily armed with guns and knives and forced their way in through the front door.

Soon, the 10 robbers managed to tie up my younger sisters, my younger brother, the two helpers, the driver, my dad’s cousin, his wife and child, and the missionary family who rented the apartment below us. I was raped and sexually abused on my very own bed, in my bathroom, in my brother’s room by a total of seven men. They said vile things to me, made me do unimaginable, perverted acts, and eventually tied me up and laid me down by the entrance of the front door.

Irene and Lana had arrived at 7pm as planned, with no clue that they were walking into a nightmare. It was not until later on in the evening when we were all tied up together that I found out Irene had been raped by four men in the master bathroom where my assault started. Lana had been taken down to the apartment below by one of the men and was raped there

Through the Valley

As I began to move past the initial shock and trauma of having been raped, I was left with an overwhelming sense of loss. I often found myself in tears because my innocence and purity had been stolen. I couldn’t go back to being the person I was.

A dividing line had been set between my childhood and the balance of my life. While I trusted that God had a plan for what happened, I was still confronted by the reality of what had been taken from me. The loss I felt was like a cavity, a depression that no human person or human solution could fill or remedy. At times my mind was darkened by sorrow.

Despair visited me without invitation. Sometimes it came at night when memories would assault me. Or it came as a longing to return to the innocence of my childhood.

On other occasions, it left me feeling alone in a room full of people, like I didn’t quite fit in with my peers.

Reshaping Perspective I regretted inviting my friends over to spend the night. For a while, I blamed myself for what happened to them. But we became each other’s strong supporters, especially when we felt like others could not understand what we were going through.

The decision to share openly about what happened to the three of us marked the beginning of our journey towards healing. None of us wanted to keep this story a big, dark secret. We wanted to talk about God’s goodness, to thank Him for sparing our lives, and to acknowledge that He spared us for a reason. We were also of the same mind that “bringing things into the light” would weaken the capacity of the Devil to use this tragedy against us. God had allowed the hedge of safety to be opened, but we didn’t want the evil one to claim victory over us.

My friends and I were very fortunate to be surrounded by people who genuinely cared about our well-being. The three of us had one another and we were upheld by prayers and the well wishes of Christians all over the world.

Know Your

RIGHTS

Republic Act 8505: Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998

This law will provide necessary assistance and protection for rape victims. Towards this end, the government shall coordinate its various agencies and non-government organizations to work hand in hand for the establishment and operation of a rape crisis center in every province and city that shall assist and protect rape victims in the litigation of their cases recovery.

With the help of the different departments in the government such as DSWD, DOH, DILG, and DOJ rape crisis centers would be established for the purpose of providing help and assistance to rape victims. They would also provide necessary needs of the victims to ensure their privacy and safety. Providing assistance to the family members of the victim can also be obtained. For the establishment and operation of the rape crisis centers during the first year of implementation of this Act, the amount of One hundred twenty million pesos (P120,000,000.00) shall be charged against the Organizational Adjustment Fund, as follows: Sixty million pesos (P60,000,000.00) for the DSWD; and Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) each for the DOH, DILG, and DOJ, respectively. Thereafter, the necessary amount for the rape crisis centers shall be included in the budgetary allocations for the agencies concerned in the annual General Appropriations Act..

Republic Act 8353: The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 This law recognizes the different ways considered to be as rape. It can be committed by a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances: a) Through force, threat, or intimidation; b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.

It can aslo be committed by any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person.

The penalties of the said law are as follows: Whenever the rape is committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons, the penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.

When by reason or on the occasion of the rape, the victim has become insane, the penalty shall become reclusion perpetua to death.

When the rape is attempted and a homicide is committed by reason or on the occasion thereof, the penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.

When by reason or on the occasion ofthe rape, homicide is committed, the penalty shall be death.

In addition, Death penalty is also implemented when rape is committed due to aggravating/qualifying circumstances.

PROPOSED PROPOSED In coordination with the laws stated, we suggest

implementing rehabilitation activities for the victims of rape. This mainly highlights therapy that includes talking with guidance counselors or doctors, group talks with other victims so that they can express their feelings and somewhat have a shoulder to lean on, and various activities that can help them heal the trauma that they experienced. The therapy will be executed with the guidance of professionals, organizations, and government agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Philippine Commission on Women to cater efficiently to the needs of the victims and at the same time, help them successfully overcome the difficulties that they’re going through. In addition, we also propose a prevention campaign that focuses on self-defense workshops wherein people would be trained and informed on how to defend themselves against gender-based violence. It includes ways on how can they prevent the occurrence of these violence and how they should handle the different situations as well.

Through these activities, we can show our support to the survivors of rape and spread awareness to other people also in order to put an end to sexual violence.

ACTIVITIES

Personal Undertaking Bea Grace Besa

Rape is unacceptable. We should all respect and value one another regardless of our gender, age, physical attributes, clothing, and whatever differences we have. I will help in spreading awareness about rape and other gender-based violence for the people around me to be informed of their presence in our society. I will share with others what is rape and widen their understanding of why it is a dreadful act. Through information dissemination, more people will be knowledgeable about rape which could urge them to take action and do their part in putting an end to it and other gender-based violence. Aside from this, I will also look into myself and see to it that I learn to respect and accept other people for who they are. In this way, I can take part in building an environment where everyone is equal and violence is absent, a place where all of us are welcome and safe.

Zyronne Daniel Giltendez No one else is there to blame but the rapist themselves. As a man and a citizen of my own country, I have witnessed and heard a lot of people blaming and hating on the rape victims. In my own point of view, for us to have a safer and better environment for everyone, it should begin in the way we view things and analyze problems. The change we all want to see should begin with ourselves. If we learn how to respect victims and held people involved accountable, we give more space for openness. Gender-based violence would only occur if there are perpetrators, it is best if we spread this awareness and open-mindedness so that everyone would have the information they need for them to be able to build a more safer community for everyone to cherish. No matter who you are, you have a role in giving more emphasis on prevalent topics like these.

Dianelle Mariz Ysabel Varrera “You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth, and raging courage.” A famous quote by Alex Elle wherein it explains that you are not just a victim but a survivor. As a student, I am very proud and amazed to those who have the courage to share with the world their experiences no matter how hard it was. Rape is such an underrated issue. Most of the time the one blamed would always be the victim. The question is, did the victim want it to happen? Would there be rape if there is no rapist? As an advocate of gender equality, I will help and do my best to inform and spread awareness through the help of social media about rape and other gender based violence experienced by all. Nowadays, due to the pandemic, information dissemination is quite hard for those who cannot access the internet. This will not be a hindrance for us youth to share our knowledge to everyone. If people do not have the privilege to access internet connection, we will share it to them through our voice. I will stand with them knowing that I am right. I will take part in creating a change in our society so that everyone would feel secure and safe in this world full of chaos.

Government Agencies and Organizations Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline Patrol, Anti-Cybercrime Group: Call: 911, (02) 722-0650 / Text: 0917-847-5757

DSWD Provincial Office Negros Occidental: Tel. No.: (034)4320484

Maya’s Organisation Philippines: PH Landline: (082) 291 9481 PH Mobile: 09631115935(Smart), 09667552253(Globe)

Wipe Every Tear Philippines: Contact Number: +63 (02) 7901-9618

Cameleon Association Philippines: Iloilo Office: (00 63 33) 329 2309

In order to promote the various responses against GBV, we will take part in spreading awareness by reaching out to the different target populations through various platforms. For instance, we will use social media and television programs which millions of Filipinos have access to disperse all necessary information about rape. Aside from this, we will also propose to prioritization of the education about rape and other gander-based violence in educational institutions, and at the same time, in local communities. By disseminating information and reaching out to every person, we expect people to be conscious and see progress in the termination of the rampant gender-based violence in our society.

References

L

USE

rape. (n.d.). The Merriam-Webster.Com Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rape An Updated Definition of Rape. (2017, April 7). OPA | Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/ archives/opa/blog/updated-definition-rape Context in the Philippines. (2020, May 9). Association CAMELEON. https://www.cameleon-association. org/contexte-aux-philippines/?lang=en#:%7E:text=About%207%2C000%2C000%20children%20are%20sexually,are%20under%206%20years%20old.

Rape is a crime, never a woman’s fault | Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). Pcw.Gov. https://pcw. gov.ph/rape-is-a-crime/ Raped by seven men at 15. (n.d.). Salt&Light. https://saltandlight.sg/profiles/raped-by-seven-men-at-15joy-tan-chi-mendoza-on-forgiveness-and-hope-in-christ/ T. (2020, December 14). Rape Myths and Facts. Students. https://students.wustl.edu/rape-myths-facts/ Effects of Sexual Assault and Rape. (n.d.). Joyful Heart Foundation. https://www.joyfulheartfoundation. org/learn/sexual-assault-rape/effects-sexual-assault-and-rape The Effects of Sexual Assault. (n.d.). WCSAP. https://www.wcsap.org/help/about-sexual-assault/effects-sexual-assault National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). (n.d.). National Sexual Violence Resource Center. https://www.nsvrc.org/sites Ordinario, C. (2020, March 8). More women raped, physically abused last year–govt data | Cai Ordinario.

BusinessMirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/03/09/more-women-raped-physically-abused-last-yeargovt-data/ Republic Act No. 11313. (n.d.). The LAWPHiL Project. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2019/ ra_11313_2019.html Republic Act No. 11313. (n.d.). The LAWPHiL Project. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2019/ ra_11313_2019.html Republic Act No. 11313: Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) | Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.-b).

Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-no-11313-safe-spaces-act-bawal-bastoslaw/#:%7E:text=11313%3A%20Safe%20Spaces%20Act%20(Bawal%20Bastos%20Law),-Focus%20Areas&text=What%20does%20the%20Safe%20Spaces,as%20well%20as%20online%20space.

Why does sexual violence occur? – Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance. (n.d.). Rutgers. http://vpva. rutgers.edu/sexual-violence/why-does-sexual-violence-occur/ Republic Act 8353: The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 | Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-8353-the-anti-rape-law-of-1997/#:%7E:text=Article%20 266%2DB.&text=When%20by%20reason%20or%20on,be%20reclusion%20perpetua%20to%20death.

Ordinario, C. (2020, March 9). More women raped, physically abused last year–govt data | Cai Ordinario.

BussinessMirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/03/09/more-women-raped-physically-abused-last-yeargovt-data/ lence

Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics. (n.d.). RAINN. https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-vio-

Y

CE OI

YOUR

V

Photographed by: Ms. Rosem Morton

Photographed by: Ms. Rosem Morton