Gender-based violence protocol for UPLB now in the works

The UPLB Gender Center, in collaboration with the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), held a two-day workshop focused on creating a gender-based violence (GBV) protocol at Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay. 

The event, which took place on August 7 and 8, 2024, brought together various offices supervised by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA). 

Participants included representatives from the UPLB Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH), UPLB Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere-Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya or MOVE KATROPA, the UPLB Safe SPACE Committee, and relevant offices from the Municipality of Los Baños.

Facilitated by the UPCWGS Training, Outreach, and Extension Unit, along with Dr. Jaclyn Marie Cauyan, director of the UP Diliman Office of Counseling and Guidance, and Judge Lynnette May Deloria-Manarang of the Las Pinas Metropolitan Trial Court, the workshop marked a significant step toward creating a safer environment for the UPLB community. 

GBV is a pervasive issue that affects many societies, including academic institutions like UPLB. It encompasses a wide range of behaviors stemming from gender inequality and discrimination, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence. 

In educational settings, GBV can severely hinder students’ academic performance, compromise their sense of safety, and create an environment that undermines learning and personal development. 

Addressing GBV requires a multifaceted approach that includes prevention, support for survivors, and disciplinary actions against perpetrators. However, many institutions lack clear protocols for responding to GBV incidents in a timely, effective, and sensitive manner. 

The workshop aimed to develop a comprehensive protocol tailored to the context of UPLB, ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of the university’s community.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions that raised awareness about the various forms of GBV, their prevalence, and their impact on individuals and the university community as a whole. 

The sessions equipped university staff, faculty, and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize, prevent, and appropriately and sensitively respond to GBV incidents.

The collaborative effort also focused on establishing clear procedures for reporting GBV incidents, conducting investigations, and implementing disciplinary measures against perpetrators, while ensuring due process and protection for all parties involved. 

By the end of the workshop, participants had made significant strides toward fostering a culture of zero tolerance for GBV at UPLB. 

It underscored the university’s commitment to creating a supportive environment where all members can thrive, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility in combating GBV.

A write shop is scheduled for September to finalize the protocol, ensuring the UPLB community has a comprehensive and effective response plan. 
The personnel of the UPCWGS Training, Outreach, and Extension Unit who lent their support and expertise to the activity were Laniza R. Lacsamana, university extension specialist; Marianne Gervacio, administrative officer; and Viola Jo Ann Torres, counselor. (Sairah Mae R.Saipudin)