Social Worker Magbanua retold truths about Rape
Rape victim stories can be frightening and emotionally draining , a story that not everyone wanted to hear.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Jennifer D. Magbanua, RSW had witnessed the struggles of rape victims and children in need of special protection over the course of her 20-year career as a social worker.
In an interview, she recalled how she responded to the victims’ actual residents following a report and assisted the children in their journey to recovery. She also retold the story of a rape victim in the City of Koronadal who had told her mother several times that she had been raped but the mother would not believe her until she reach18 years old before justice was served to her.
According to the data, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) recorded 10 cases of rape in the first quarter of the year alone, compared to only four (4) cases in the entire year 2022. Seven (7) of the perpetuators were under the age of 15, and three (3) were 15 and older. Some of it is related to gang rape.
With the increasing number of rape cases, Magbanua has noted several findings that are linked to the pressing family situation and the use of technology, both of which affect the character of teenagers. She went on to say that gang rape typically occurs when teens are invited to other people’s homes for a party where liquor consumption leads to rape.
“I was assigned back then in attending the children in need of special protection, and I have noticed that some of the perpetuators are usually products of broken homes and were brought out by relatives. Furthermore, one of the root causes of the rising incidence of rape is the lack of time for children by working parents, as well as easy access to gadgets and social media where they have easy access to phonographic sites,” Magbanua said.
Furthermore, Magbanua emphasized that it is the responsibility of parents to discipline their children by imposing curfews and prohibiting them from leaving the house late at night and engaging in activities that lead to vices such as drinking, smoking, and, in the worst-case scenario, drug use. “Parents must ensure that their children’s clothing is not too revealing in order to avoid sexual assaults,” Magbanua added.
According to an exclusive survey conducted for The Independent, a UK based news outlet, 55% of men believe that “the more revealing the clothes a woman wears, the more likely she will be harassed or assaulted.”
Currently, all seven (7) children in conflict with the law (CILC) are undergoing community-based rehabilitation under the leadership of the Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC), which includes community service, spiritual development and Responsible Parenthood sessions.
The functionality of BCPC in the 27 barangays leads to the development of systems and mechanisms that provides meaningful protection for all children in the longer term as well as strengthening the capacity of a variety of factors to protect children.
Meanwhile, CICL-Community Based Focal Person Dominque R. Gallano, RSW, is currently processing the CICL’s admission to Bahay Pag-asa, where they will receive holistic psychosocial and faith-based interventions for six months to one year.
On the other hand, in order to support rape victims, CSWDO assists in the filing of cases in court. A series of psychological counseling sessions were also provided to aid in their recovery. The school also works with the CSWDO, where rape victims usually seek help and assistance.
Magbanua, furthermore, emphasized the importance of open communication within the family. She also noticed cases where the father is the perpetuator. In such cases, she advises mothers to pay attention to signs of pain in their children’s private areas. “Because of the threat and fear, victims usually keep the abuse to themselves, so my advice to parents is to be vigilant in their children’s conditions. I propose that open communication within the family be strengthened, and that parents pay attention to their children’s complaints,” Magbanua said.
“If the child’s attempts had been met with appropriate action, I believe it would not have taken this long,” Magbanua said referring to the 18-year-old victim.
Rape stories describe the numerous abuses that some people suffer and then survive, recovering and regaining control of their lives, in which the government played a significant role.