‘Ang pangangaliwa ay considered na psychological abuse’ – KPHO on gender-based violence

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Abuse is not limited to bruises, scars, and wounds inflicted to a person, it also covers activities that take a toll on one’s mental health such as cheating on one’s partner, the Kalinga Provincial Health Office reminds.

Talking before the media recently, Christel Joanna Callangan, the Population Program Officer IV of the Kalinga PHO and one of the implementers of the ‘JUANA BE WAIS’ program, enumerated that gender-based violence, underscoring physical, psychological, economic, and sexual abuses, among others. 

The JUANA BE WAIS is a health promotion initiative of the government that aims to prevent gender-based violence through raising awareness among vulnerable sectors, the community, and the workplace.  

Callangan explained that physical abuse includes those that result in bodily injury; sexual abuse is the abusive sexual behavior against another person; economic abuse is not fulfilling financial responsibility to one’s child and partner; and psychological abuse causes emotional and mental harm.

The population program officer cited the example said by one of their resource speakers during one of the JUANA BE WAIS orientation that infidelity or cheating is also considered as abuse as it takes afflicts the mental health of the victim.

“Ang pangangaliwa po ay considered na psychological abuse. Bakit ba? Kasi yung mental health ng babae maaapektuhan diyan, lagi siyang nag-iisip, hindi makatulog,” she said.

Men, boys can also be victims of gender-based violence

Callangan noted that victims of gender-based violence are those under the vulnerable sectors like women, children, and elderlies. However, she emphasized that men and boys can also be victims of gender-based abuse.

“Yun din ang tinatanggal sana natin na stereotyping na kung nakakaranas ng abuso ang isang lalaki, magsalita rin lang. hindi lang naman para sa mga kababaihan at sa mga kabataan itong programa natin, ito’y para sa lahat ng uri, regardless of sex, race or age,” she said.

Callangan encouraged the public to report to authorities cases of gender-based violence to prevent other cases from happening and deter wrongdoers from doing more harm.