The Current Status of International School of Asia and the Pacific-Kalinga on Violence Against Women and Children

Abstract

This study examined the current status of the International School of Asia and the Pacific–Kalinga (ISAP–Kalinga) in addressing Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) to serve as the basis for an institutional intervention plan. Specifically, it assessed the level of awareness of students, faculty, and staff regarding VAWC-related laws and institutional policies, examined existing implementation mechanisms, and identified challenges affecting VAWC prevention and response. A quantitative descriptive research design was employed. Participants included students, faculty, and academic and administrative staff of ISAP–Kalinga. The student sample size was determined using the Raosoft sample size calculator, and stratified sampling was applied to ensure proportional representation across student groups. Total enumeration sampling was used for faculty, academic, and administrative staff. Data were collected through a researcher-made survey questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, particularly mean scores. Findings revealed limited awareness of key laws addressing VAWC, including Republic Act No. 9262 and Republic Act No. 11313, as well as institutional mechanisms such as reporting procedures, referral services, protection measures, and confidentiality protocols. Respondents also strongly agreed that several institutional challenges hinder effective VAWC prevention and response, including the absence of a functional Women’s Desk, fear of retaliation, concerns regarding confidentiality, inadequate training, weak policy dissemination, and limited support services. The results highlight the need for a comprehensive institutional intervention plan focused on strengthening awareness, reporting systems, and support services to improve the prevention and response to VAWC within ISAP–Kalinga.