Break the Silence Global Run
What We Did?
On March 19 2017, approximately 3,000 people around the world ran together to say NO to sexual abuse of Deaf women and children in the Philippines. The Break the Silence Global Run, was hosted by the Philippines Accessibility Disability Services, Inc. (PADS).
The Primary Run was held with the support of SM Seaside City, in Cebu City, the Philippines, where 1,600 Cebuanos took to the streets to show their support for the advocacy.
On the same day, around the world, close to 1,500 runners took to the streets in their cities, showing support for the advocacy.
PADS would like to thank all sponsors, participants and volunteers who took part in the Break the Silence Global Run, across the world. The aim of this event was to create a global wave of awareness of Deaf sexual abuse, and develop a network of advocates who will support the cause. With your help, we are one step closer to achieving this goal. Together, we can Break the Silence on Deaf sexual abuse.
Why We Did This?
Recent nationwide survey and case monitoring have found the following:
- 65%-70% of Deaf boys and girls across the Philippines are being molested
- From a sample of 60 Deaf women in Manila and Cebu, one third have been raped
- From a separate sample of 32 Deaf women in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; 72% were abused or battered, and 63% were abused by their fathers
- In Cebu City alone, PADS has recorded nearly 50 cases of sexual abuse from July 2012 up to the present day.
PADS started the Break the Silence Project to strengthen the advocacy against Deaf sexual abuse and exploitation. PADS empowers and educates the Deaf and hearing communities on how to prevent or appropriately respond to sexual abuse and exploitation.
Our goal is to put an end to these horrible crimes, and we would like you to be part of it.