This document provides an overview of violence against women in the Philippines from a historical and legal perspective. It discusses how women had higher social status and equal rights pre-colonially, but their role became restricted during the Spanish period to solely taking care of the home. This helped establish patriarchal gender roles and stereotypes that still influence society today. The document then outlines key statistics on violence against women and defines domestic violence and child abuse according to Republic Act 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. It details the law's protections, legal remedies, and penalties for offenders to prevent further harm and facilitate victim empowerment and recovery.