Short answer. The Anti-VAWC law gives victims specific rights on top of those under other laws: to be treated with respect and dignity, to free legal assistance, to support services from government agencies, to all legal remedies and support under the Family Code, and to be informed of your rights — including the right to apply for a protection order.
What the law says
victims of violence against women and their children shall have the following rights: (a) to be treated with respect and dignity
RA 9262, Section 35 — Rights Of Victims. Read the full provision →
Rights that come on top of existing ones
Republic Act No. 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, sets out a list of rights for victims. The law is careful to say these are in addition to their rights under existing laws — the enumerated rights do not replace whatever protections other statutes already give you; they add to them. The provision covers both women who suffer violence and their children. Its aim is to make sure a victim navigating the legal system is not left unaware of, or without access to, the specific protections the law extends to them.
Dignity, legal help, and support services
First among the listed rights is the right of victims to be treated with respect and dignity. The law then guarantees access to legal help: the right to avail of legal assistance from the Public Attorney's Office or any public legal assistance office. It also provides for the right to support services from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and from local government units. Together these rights address a victim's immediate practical needs — respectful treatment, someone to represent them, and social support — at the moment they are most vulnerable.
Family Code remedies and the protection order
The law further entitles a victim to all legal remedies and support provided under the Family Code, connecting the anti-VAWC framework to the broader family-law protections. Crucially, it includes the right to be informed of one's rights and of the services available — including the right to apply for a protection order. A protection order is a central remedy under this law, directing an abuser to stop the violence and observe other safeguards. Knowing this right exists is itself protected, so a victim is not left in the dark about the shield the law offers.
What this provision does and does not do
This section is a statement of the rights themselves; it lists what a victim is entitled to rather than laying out every step to obtain each remedy. The detailed procedures for applying for a protection order, and the conduct the law penalizes, are addressed in other parts of the statute. The rights here also presuppose a victim within the law's coverage — a woman or her child who has suffered the violence the Act defines. Read together with the rest of the law, this list ensures those protections are known and accessible.