MAMAMAYANG Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has filed a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the implementation of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (Anti-VAWC) Act of 2004, to strengthen its enforcement and accountability mechanisms.

In filing House Resolution No. 641, De Lima said the inquiry aims to identify systemic and operational gaps in the law’s implementation and recommend possible amendments to ensure stronger protection for women and their children.

“The effective implementation of RA 9262 is essential not only for the protection of individual victims but also for advancing gender equality, public safety, and social justice, consistent with the State’s obligations under domestic law and international human rights commitments,” De Lima said.

She stressed that the rise of emerging forms of violence, particularly those facilitated by information and communications technology, warrants a thorough review of whether the current provisions of the law remain adequate to address new and evolving threats to the safety of women and children.

Enacted in 2004, RA 9262 seeks to protect women and their children from all forms of violence arising from intimate or dating relationships, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse.

The law also created the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (IACVAWC), composed of various government agencies mandated to develop programs and policies to prevent and address such violence.

Despite more than two decades since its enactment, De Lima noted that violence against women and children remains widespread.

Data from the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that nearly one in five women has experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence from a current or most recent husband or intimate partner.

Meanwhile, the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police recorded 6,883 incidents involving women and children from August 26 to November 25, 2025, including 2,144 cases involving violations of RA 9262—the highest number reported for that period.

The resolution also cited studies indicating that while awareness of the Anti-VAWC Law is generally high, in-depth understanding remains limited.

Survivors continue to face barriers to justice, including fear of retaliation, emotional trauma, bureaucratic delays, insufficient staffing, and a lack of survivor-friendly resources.

Given these challenges, De Lima underscored the need to review and strengthen existing IACVAWC protocols to ensure a more coordinated, seamless, and survivor-centered response across the justice system.

“We have significant laws, such as the Anti-VAWC law, but if gaps in their implementation are not reviewed and addressed, they may become outdated and continue to be exploited by abusers,” she said.

Beyond strengthening accountability for perpetrators, De Lima added that the proposed inquiry seeks to empower women and children, provide them with greater protection, and encourage them to assert their rights without fear, while collectively standing against violence.