11 December 2013 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) kicked-off the nationwide 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) by sending a contingent to the Walk-to-End-VAW held on November 24. The DFA team, headed by Assistant Secretary Melita S. Sta. Maria-Thomeczek of the Office of Personnel and Administrative Services, wore bright orange VAW t-shirts and walked the entire distance from Liwasang Ullalim, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Roxas Boulevard to T.F. Valencia Circle (Lapu-Lapu Circle), Rizal Park, Manila, as a strong show of support for and solidarity with the cause.
The following day, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Rafael E. Seguis, addressed the DFA personnel on the importance of the 18-day campaign, stating “Violence against women is against promoting human rights; it frustrates all our efforts to address gender sensitivity”. He chided the men of the DFA to fully appreciate the importance of the cause, adding that it was incumbent upon them to “Learn by heart that it is our duty and our responsibility to stop violence against women. Let us commit to this campaign, not just in the workplace but also in our homes and in our communities”.
DFA personnel enthusiastically posted campaign hands in the bulletin board as well as in their respective offices. Hallways were filled with these orange hands as we take a firm stand for the prevention and consequently the elimination of any forms of gender-based violence.
Simultaneously, the Philippine Commission on Women together with the Inter-Agency Council on Violence against Women and their Children (IACVAWC) conducted an activity entitled “Synergizing Efforts to End VAW: From Words to Action”, 9:00 am-1:00 pm at the Bulwagang Serbisyo Sibil, 2nd Floor, Civil Service Commission, Constitution Hills, Quezon City. Atty. Dyan Kristine B. Miranda-Pastrana, the GAD Secretariat, presented the Department’s GAD initiatives particularly on VAW.
Atty. Miranda-Pastrana also attended an afternoon session of, “Rise for Justice and Violence against Women”, a forum organized by the House of Representative – GABRIELA Partylist and the Association of Women Legislators Foundation at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City.
As a culminating activity, the GAD Secretariat will hold a film-showing on the different faces of violence against women and children today, December 11, 2:00 p.m., at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini, Ground Floor, DFA Main Building. END
