PHL Consulate General in Chicago Observes 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women
Consul Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr. (center), Consul Ericka Anna T. Abad (5th from right), Ms. Stephanie Love-Patterson of Connection for Abused Women and Children (CAWC) (6th from right), staff members of the Consulate General and leaders of the Filipino-American community expressed interest to partner with CAWC in programs that seek to End VAW. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Arnel Santiago)
06 December 2017 CHICAGO — The Consulate General of the Philippines’ “Ika-30 na Pagkikita sa Konsulado” (monthly meet-up with members of the Filipino community in the Midwest) featured a reception in observance of the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) held at Chicago PCG’s Kalayaan Hall on December 01.
Consul Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr., in his welcome remarks, thanked the attendees of the event for supporting the campaign to End VAW and highlighted the importance of the discussion about violence against women which remains as one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world. Consul Ericka Anna Abad, Chicago PCG’s GAD Focal Point, shared some facts and figures that show how widespread VAW is. She then provided an introduction on the Philippines’ support for the 18-day campaign to End VAW.
Video clips by UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) were shown to the attendees of the event to drive home the importance of addressing the issue of VAW and to inform them about the campaigns to End VAW in the Philippines. The video showing was followed by the presentation of Ms. Stephanie Love-Patterson, Executive Director of the Connections for Abused Women and Children (CAWC), the services that CAWC provides to abused women and children which include provision of shelter, counselling and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence.
The event closed with both Chicago PCG and the Filipino community expressing keen interest in partnering with CAWC in programs that seek to address the issue of VAW. END
For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph; www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago.