TWG created to look into effective implementation of Oro’s GAD code

The City Council committee on women and family relations chaired by Councilor Imee Rose P. Moreno last week discussed the salient features of the Cagayan de Oro City Gender and Development Code (GAD) of 2017.

The city’s GAD Code aims to protect the rights of women and children in the city. It provides that women have the right to the prevention of, and protection from all forms of violence and coercion against their person, freedom, sexuality or individuality.

During the meeting, the committee specifically focused on physical violence, emotional or psychological abuse, economic or financial abuse, sexual abuse, and women trafficking, among others.

The code also gives guidance as to who may file, where to file and how to file a case against offenders of this code. The code provides that the local government shall provide comprehensive support to women including their children, such as investigation and arrest, re-building and empowering women, providing temporary shelter of victims, providing psychological programs and survivor’s support groups and creation of women and children Police Desk.

It also discussed for the creation of GAD office, guidelines for promotion of women’s health rights, education rights, religious rights, and the promotion of the Political and Public Sphere of Women, it provides penal provisions that offenders shall be punished by imprisonment of not exceeding one (1) year and a fine of not exceeding P5,000.

After thorough discussion, the committee agreed to create a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the said plan.