SENATE minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano blamed the government’s failure to address the rising incidence of poverty, rampant illegal drug trade and poor judicial system as reasons why cases of violence against women and children remains high in the country.

According to Cayetano the government should immediately address the high incidents of crime against women and children in the country considering that the Philippines ranks 8th among 135 countries in the 2011 Global Gender Gap (GGG) rankings by the World Economic Forum.

The Global Gender Gap Index examines the gap between men and women in the category of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment.

Based on the forum reports released last October the Philippines ranked first in Asia on the education and health category and is included in the top 20 on economic participation and political empowerment.

But the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection desk on its 2011 report showed that an average of 35 cases of violence against women and children were reported daily including two to three cases of rape.

Cayetano expressed belief that women continue to be abused by human trafficking and prostitution syndicates because of the rise of unemployment and poverty in the country.

“Knowing that our women will do anything to provide for their families, criminal syndicates are taking advantage of their desperate situation,” he said in a statement.

The lawmaker noted that to be able to address the problem the government needs to provide livelihood programs targeting women specifically to give them adequate and safe alternatives to provide for their families and shield them from illegal recruiters.

He also expressed the need to strengthen the Philippine Commission on Women in order to increase its ability to raise awareness on the issue as well as protect women and children.