Seminars on Caring for Women Subjected to Violence were held in March 2023.
Resource person was Maria Antonella Codeniera, a psychologist of the Vicente Sotto Memorial
Medical Center (VSMMC) and has 18 years of experience working with the Women and
Children Protection Unit (WCPU) or Pink Center handling women survivors of violence as a
psychologist.
The seminars enabled the participants to understand some reasons why women who
are survivors of violence do not leave their abusers, why women seek help when they are
subjected to violence, some common questions of care providers regarding women subjected
to violence, and that some perceptions and beliefs that affect the care we give to survivors are
myths or facts. The seminars stressed that we should not be judgmental when faced with
women survivors and shall not blame them for their abuse situation and instead show our
empathy to the victims. If they are not ready to leave their abusive partners, we should respect
their decision and instead have a listening and empathic attitude to them.