“Ander de saya” at  LGBTQ+ isasama sa Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act

NI NOEL ABUEL

Pinaaamiyendahan ng isang kongresista ang Republic Act 9262 o mas kilalang Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act para maisama ang mga “ander de saya” at miyembro ng LGBTQ+ na pawang biktima rin ng domestic abuse at pang-aabuso.

Sa House Bill 1365 o tatawaging “Domestic Violence Act of 2022 na inihain ni Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party list  Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles, ipinaliwanag nito na ang nangyayaring pang-aabuso ay hindi lamang nangyayari sa mga kababaihan at kabataan kung saan maraming kaso na ang biktima nito ay pawang mga kalalakihan na asawa o gay partners.

“It is the fervent hope of this proposed bill that seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9262 and include men and the LGBTQI+ community in its mandate and put an end to the discrimination and domestic abuse and attain a more inclusive society where all human beings are born free and equal,” sabi ni Nograles.

Sa kanyang panukala, nais nitong palawakin ang coverage ng RA 9262 sa pamamagitan ng pagsasama sa gender-neutral word “partner” ang mga kalalakihan at miyembro ng LGBTQI+  maliban sa kababaihan at kabataan.

Partikular na nais amiyendan ni Nograles ang Section 2 (Declaration of Policy) ng  RA 9262 na isinasaad na:

 “It is hereby declared that the State values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women, PARTNERS, and children, from violence and threats to their personal safety and security,” ayon sa panukala.

“Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to address violence committed against women, PARTNERS, and children in keeping the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human rights instruments of which the Philippines is a party,” dagdag pa nito.

Paliwanag pa ni Nograles, ang terminong “partner” ay kabilang sa intimate relationships ng lalaki, heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, at iba pa.

“Violence against women, PARTNERS, and their children” refers to any act or a series of acts committed by any person, their spouse, former spouse, PARTNER, FORMER PARTNER, or against any other person with whom they have or had a sexual or dating relationship, or who they have a common child, or against the other person’s child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,”  ayon pa sa panukala na pinaamiyendahan ang Section 3. a ng  RA 9262.