MESSAGE THE Rights to RESPONSIBILITY of the Commission on Human protect women from violence draws from our general mandate in the Constitution to protect and promote human rights, from the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, and from the Magna Carta of Women. It is therefore necessary that our lawyers, investigators, information officers, especially our focal officers for women and gender issues are provided with the proper tool to be utilised as reference or guideline when they perform their various functions. The printing of this collection is intended to address the said necessity, to complement our capacity building programme for the aforementioned officers and to strengthen our delivery of public awareness initiatives. JOSE MANUEL S. MAMAUAG Commissioner information is readily available to us, thereby enhancing our efficiency and effectiveness, two qualities which are indispensable especially when we are contYronted with cases involving violence against women and their children. It is our WIsh that each copy of the compendium will be well-used, wellread and well-applied to our work and in our life also. We gratefully acknowledge the Women's Human Human Rights for its initiative and efforts in bringing about this compendium. Let us Rights Center of the Commission on together and to assist bring forth human rights for all! continue to work one another in order to MA. VICTORIA V. CARDONA Commissioner