Army to launch Gender-Based Referral System

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 9): Army to launch Gender-Based Referral System

In its effort to address cases of gender-based violence in the organization, the Philippine Army (PA) will launch the PA Gender-Based Referral System this Thursday.

The establishment of the PA Gender-Based Referral System will provide a systematic process for the filing of cases/complaints, involving domestic and non-domestic related offenses, against Army personnel.

Specifically, the PA Gender-Based Referral System aims to establish an integrated and coordinated system to respond to the needs of the victims-survivors of Violence Against Women (VAW) and other gender-based violence, Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

It also aims to address the prevailing issues existing within the organization with regard to GAD and gender-based violence, and come up with a systematic, fast and reliable method of handling cases.

Hao said Gender-Based Referral System will be replicated by all PA units to address the existing gender-based violence.

In line with this, Hao said the PA issued a policy adopting the PA Gender-Based Referral System to provide comprehensive and supportive services and to have an integrated and coordinated organization response to victim-survivor of gender-based violence.

The Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability is the case manager of all gender-based violence.

While the Office of the Army Gender and Development, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, Army General Hospital, Military Police Battalion, Office of the Army Chief Chaplain, Office of the Army Provost Marshal, Office of the Army Judge Advocate, and the Office of the Army Chief Public Affairs are designated as service providers or the offices which provides protection and security assistance to victim-survivor of gender-based violence, health/medical/psychological services, legal assistance, spiritual assistance, and other immediate assistance to victim of gender-based violence.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=836315