United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Estimates 2024.
(1) Adopt comprehensive legislation on gender-based violence against women covering all forms of violence; (2) Expedite the amendment of the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, putting lack of consent as the primary element of the definition of rape and raising the minimum age of sexual consent, currently set too low at 12 years, to at least 16 years; (3) Strengthen its response to online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, including through the implementation of the statement of action by Governments to tackle online child sexual exploitation, issued at the #WePROTECT Children Online summit held in Abu Dhabi in 2015, and adopt pending bills expanding the definition of sexual harassment to include peer sexual harassment and cyberharassment; (4) Prevent, investigate and punish all forms of gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence perpetrated by State and non-State actors, apply a zero-tolerance policy to combat impunity and provide necessary support to women and girls who are at risk or victims of such violence, including during times of armed conflict, in line with the Committee's general recommendation No. 30 (2013) on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations; (5) Address the root causes of the vulnerability of women and girls to violence, including poverty, inequality in family relations, insecurity, and discriminatory stereotypes; (6) Systematically collect comprehensive and disaggregated data on gender-based violence against women in displacement, armed conflict, disaster, migration and trafficking situations, as well as on gender-based violence against women with disabilities.
(1) Expedite the harmonization of the Family Code and other laws on marriage and family relations with the Convention and the Magna Carta of Women and ensure the equality of women and men, both in marriage and upon the dissolution of marriage, including by expediting the adoption of the long-pending divorce bill and by taking into account the Committee's general recommendations No. 21 (1994) on equality in marriage and family relations and No. 29 (2013) on the economic consequences of marriage, family relations and their dissolution; (2) Intensify its efforts to raise awareness about the Convention among Muslim communities, including women, men and traditional and religious leaders, in particular by disseminating information on good practices of other Muslim countries with regard to the application of sharia in line with the Convention; (3) Harmonize the Code of Muslim Personal Laws and indigenous and Muslim customary laws with the Convention and the Magna Carta of Women, in particular by explicitly discouraging polygamy with a view to prohibiting it and prohibiting child and forced marriage, through consultation with the communities concerned and local women's rights organizations; (4) Eliminate the root causes of child and forced marriage, including poverty, conflicts and insecurity, as well as vulnerability to the impact of natural disasters; (5) Ensure the full participation of women in decision-making and legislative processes at the national, local and community levels, including in the codification and interpretation of religious norms or customs on marriage and family relations.
(1) Effectively implement the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012; (2) Develop a legal framework to explicitly address contemporary methods of trafficking, which make use of information and communications technologies; (3) Address the root causes of and women's vulnerability to trafficking, in particular in the context of disasters, conflicts and displacements; (4) Develop shelters specifically for victims of trafficking and ensure that victims have access to assistance, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes; (5) Step up efforts aimed at bilateral, regional and international cooperation to prevent trafficking, including by exchanging information and harmonizing legal procedures to prosecute traffickers.
The Constitution does not include provisions on violence against women and girls.
1) Anti-violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.
2) Republic Act 9710: The Magna Carta of Women (2009): Providing a comprehensive women’s rights law, including provisions related to violence against women.
3) Republic Act No. 11648 (2022) Providing for stronger protection against rape and sexual exploitation and abuse, Increasing the Age of Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape.
4) Republic Act No. 11596 (2021): Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage
5) Republic Act No. 11930 (2022): The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Law
6) Republic Act No. 11313 (2019): Safe Spaces Act: Defining gender-based Sexual Harassment
7) Republic Act No. 11862: Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.
The National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women 2025–2030.
The 4th National Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons 2023-2027, providing a framework for anti-trafficking interventions.
The National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2023-2033).
It does not have a standalone strategy, but the National Action Plan to end Violence Against Women, includes a chapter dedicated to “Strategic Results to be Achieved and priority Strategies”.
Republic Act 7877: Anti-sexual Harassment Act of 1995: limited to the workplace and educational/training environment settings.
Republic Act No. 11313 (2019): Safe Spaces Act: Defining gender-based Sexual Harassment in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces and educational or training institutions.
Marital rape is criminalized in the Republic Act No. 8353, Article 166-A(1) of the Revised Penal Code.
The Family Code includes provisions on equality in marriage. Divorce is not legal in the Philippines for both men and women.
The Family Code defines the legal age of marriage. With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11596, child marriage is recognized as a crime in the country.
There is no stand-alone law explicitly defining and prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation.
The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC).
Commission on Human Rights established the Gender Based Violence Observatory, a repository of data on Gender Based Violence, mapping of services and strengthening of referral mechanisms.
There are no courts specialized on violence against women.
The latest information available on the number of Supreme Court Cases in 2019, by the Gender Based Violence Observatory.
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) offers free legal assistance to survivors, subject to their internal criteria.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) handles the prosecution of violence against women cases and have specific programmes aimed at supporting survivors.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines launched the Human Rights E-Lawyering Service (HR-ELS).
Different schools and organizations also offer legal aid, in line with the Supreme Court Guidelines.
The Philippine National Police provides the data upon request. Citizens can also request the numbers through the eFOI portal (Freedom of Information). The Police uses a Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS), operational in all police stations and precincts, to log incident data, including VAW.
1 Specialized Unit (WCPC) with 2,165 established desks (as of April 2025).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development will provide administrative data on social services upon request.
Number reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its community-based programmes and services, in 2024. The actual number of women accessing social services for VAW in the Philippines is likely much higher, as most cases remain unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, or lack of awareness about available support services.
Women and Children Protection Units in all government hospitals, to handle cases of violence, including rape.
Statistical data on cases handled by Women and Child Protection Units, including breakdowns by type of violence and age group.
Child Protection Network Foundation, Women and Child Protection Units Statistics 2024