LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACT (REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262) AMONG MANOBO WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Abstract

Around the world, Indigenous women experience disproportionately high levels of violence and harassment because they are women and Indigenous. This study examined the level of awareness of Republic Act 9262 (the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act) among Manobo Indigenous women. It covers the demographic profile of the respondents, the level of awareness of RA 9262 in terms of physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse, and the significant difference in the level of awareness of RA 9262: anti-violence against women and their children among Manobo Indigenous people when respondents were grouped according to age and educational attainment. A descriptive causal research design was utilized; the study surveyed 40 Manobo Indigenous women aged 18 and above, using a purposive sampling technique. A validated questionnaire assessed awareness in four categories of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual, and economic. The results showed a concerning lack of awareness regarding RA 9262 among the respondents, who were consistently categorized as “slightly aware” across all categories of abuse. Despite the prevalence of violence against women and children, the study found no significant correlation between awareness levels and either age or educational attainment.