It is a law the seeks to address the prevalence of violence against women and their children (VAWC) by their intimate partners like their husband or ex-husband, live-in partner or former live-in partner,  boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, dating partner or former dating partner.

It refers to any act or a series of acts committed by an intimate partner (husband, ex-husband, live-in partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, fiance, who the woman had sexual/dating relationship):

• against a woman who is his wife, former wife;

• against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, 

• against a women with whom he has a common child;

• against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate within or without the family abode, 

Of which results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

R.A. 9262 covers several acts of violence, which are:

• Physical Violence – acts that include bodily or physical harm (battery).

• Sexual Violence – the acts which are sexual in nature committed against a woman or her child.

• Psychological Violence – Acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the victim.

• Economic Abuse – Acts that make or attempt to make a woman financially dependent upon her abuser.