The GAA programme is a five-year joint programme (2016-2020) between Plan Netherlands, TdH NL and Defence for Children - ECPAT Netherlands in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs that aims to empower governments and private sector actors to end GBV and economic exclusion in Asia and Africa. The Philippines is one of the ten countries in Asia and Africa who is a recipient of this fund.
TdH NL’ Samar field office has significantly improved the landscape of female protection against violence in the region through their economic empowerment and gender equality development plan since the signing.
The plan aimed to increase awareness of the implications of violence against young women and girls using the MOVE (Men Oppose Violence Everywhere) campaign which empowers not only men in the communities, but also youth groups, and elderly and women’s organisations to contribute to a more sustainable community.
With a limited budget, TdH NL piloted the plan in ten communities across the region which heeded positive results from its infancy. Within the course of a year, the programme has grown from being present in ten communities to 42.
Due to the overwhelming success of the programme, Mayor Alvarez and Mayor Estaron have signed a new MOA, committing Php 3,038,000 (approximately €48,000) and Php 3,205,000 (approximately €50,000) respectively to support the GAA activities in their communities.
The significant increase in funds will contribute to increasing gender and sensitivity training to local agencies and government servants, equipping child protection mechanisms and referral systems to respond to all issues of child exploitation; implementing public awareness campaigns to eliminate gender-based violence; passing ordinances to ensure that activities are sustainable; and finally, committing to sustainably enhancing the livelihood, education and health of young women and girls.
This increase in funding further solidifies the positive work TdH NL is doing through the GAA Alliance in the Samar communities to eliminate violence against young women and girls.
