The Quezon City Government together with the Embassy of Switzerland, SPARK! Philippines and Spring ACT launched "Chatbot Sophia" in a bid to end violence against women.

Chatbot Sophia is developed by the Swiss non-profit organization Spring ACT, led by international human rights lawyer Rhiana Spring, Sophia empowers victim-survivors of domestic violence by facilitating the collection of potential evidence, providing access to crucial resources and support, and continually evolving to address the needs of victim-survivors globally. Sophia offers support in numerous languages, including Filipino.

Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed full support and gratitude to partner agencies for choosing Quezon City as the new hub of Chatbot Sophia, a computer program designed to interact with users through messaging platforms or applications. It provides automated responses by processing the data provided.

"Quezon City is taking the lead in incorporating AI to improve service delivery to its people and we are delighted that this extends to the realm of gender equality, of which we are among the country's leading advocates," she said.

"You did not only create for us groundbreaking technology, but most importantly you gifted us with an important platform that can make a remarkable difference, particularly in safeguarding and protecting lives, those of our women and girls," Mayor Belmonte added.

Sophia is a revolutionary digital tool that enables individuals to take control of their safety and well-being, as an essential supplement to traditional support systems. Its anonymity and user-centric design ensure that victim-survivors can seek assistance without fear.

"The result of our relentless efforts and education is Chatbot Sophia. The development of Sophia involves extensive research and collaboration with experts of domestic violence, psychology and technology. We ensured that Sophia was not only technologically advanced but also emotionally intelligent. Programming allows us to interact with users in a way that is understanding and respectful and sensitive to the complexities of domestic violence." Rhiana Spring, Founder of Sophia said.

"Sophia is not just about offering assistance, it embodies our broader commitment to empowering survivors, giving them the tools and the support they need to break free and embark on a journey of healing and empowerment," she added.

Sophia is available 24/7, anonymously, and without leaving a digital trace. Victims around the world can chat with her about the signs of abuse, the steps to take to leave an abusive relationship, and how to help a friend. Sophia also assists victims in gathering and storing potential evidence of the abuse, informs them about their rights, and guides them to the nearest support available.

The Quezon City Government has undertaken many pioneering programs in its mission to protect women and children. It has launched a unified database system to track all cases reported to the city's various agencies, streamline the process of addressing gender-based violence, and ensure the accuracy and integrity of data. It has also opened the Quezon City Protection Center, a one-stop-shop offering assistance to women, children, and the LGBTQIA+ communities such as counseling, medical aid, legal support, and protection; and a temporary shelter called Bahay Kanlungan that serves as a halfway home for victim-survivors.

"I am ecstatic that Sophia can and will serve as another noteworthy service, contributing to our ongoing efforts to make Quezon City a safer, more secure, and more inclusive place for everyone, particularly our women," the Mayor added.

The program launch on Saturday was attended by Embassy of Switzerland Deputy Head of Mission Céline Fürst, SPARK! Philippines Trustee Ma. Aurora Geotina Garcia, Sagip Babae Foundation Co-Founder Francesca Fugen, Women's Legal and HR Bureau Executive Director Jelen Paclarin, Advocate Gretchen Alaurin, QC GAD Technical Working Group Head Janet Oviedo, and GAD Council Member Margarita Santos.

Cycle to end violence against women

Meanwhile, Mayor Belmonte also joined the Cycle to End VAW 2023 as part of the observance of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women. The bike parade was organized by the Quezon City Gender and Development Council together with the Embassy of Belgium in Manila, Chevrolet, and #Sharetheroadwithher.

This program started in November 2021 to strengthen the city's zero-tolerance program against all forms of violence against women, increase public awareness of women's rights, and empower women to embrace cycling as a safe and secure alternative transport mode.

The city government distributed 600 bicycles to working women such as street sweepers, service crew, cleaners, factory workers, VAW desk officers, volunteer barangay health workers, security guards, and market vendors.