30 March 2015 – The  ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat and the Office of the Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) of the Department of Foreign Affairs convened the Regional Consultation Workshops on Strengthening AICHR’s Protection Mandate through Exploring Mechanisms and Strategies to Protect Women and Girls from Violence at the Marriott Hotel Manila from March 27 to 29.

The back-to-back workshops were participated in by representatives from the civil society, academe, and government bodies/national human rights institutions from ASEAN Member States. The Philippines’ hosting of said consultation workshops was announced by President Benigno S. Aquino III at the 25th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 10-12 November 2014.

Recommendations generated from the consultation workshops on possible regional mechanisms and strategies to protect women and girls from violence will contribute to the discussions in advancing AICHR’s protection mandate on the subject of violence against women and girls. END