FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION (FGD): Gender-Based Violence Referral Mechanism CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY Focus Group Discussion with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) ________________________________________________________________ Gender Equality Situationer in Cagayan de Oro BASIC DEMOGRAPHICS Ms. Silvosa of the CSWD shared that most of the victims that come to their office are women. Most of these women’s concerns involve support and conflicts over property ownership. Conflicts over property ownership arise in cases where the wife is forced out of their family home and the husband starts living with the mistress, who subsequently controls management of the property. Remarkably, these women victims cut across all income sectors. A considerable number of their clients come from middle-class families, only 1% or 2% have a wealthy background, while the majority are low-income families but are not considered indigent or poor. Likewise, Ms. Leonen of the Psychological Division of the CSWD stated that most of the clients who come to her for consultation are also women who are from the low-income bracket. Most of these womenvictims accordingly cannot leave their relationships despite experiencing abuse due to their poor purchasing power; their financial needs prevent them from leaving their violent partners or spouses. In some cases, these women are also concerned about what society will say if they leave their husbands. There are also instances where the woman has already left her abusive spouse, returned to her family, but only to go back to her husband because her own parents reprimanded her and refused to take her in. Page 7 of 16