22 November 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs-Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (DFA-TCCP), in coordination with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women (NCAW), conducted a Study Program on Gender Mainstreaming for Lao government officials from November 11 to 13 in Vientiane, Laos.

The study program for Lao PDR was aimed at strengthening the NCAW as the agency in Laos responsible for formulating and implementing national policy for the advancement of women as well as for mainstreaming gender in all sectors.  The seminar sought to also identify possible important next steps for NCAW and its partner agencies to strengthen gender mainstreaming strategy and results.

Two resource persons from PCW, Deputy Executive Director Ms. Manuela M. Silva and Chief of Technical Services Division Ms. Nharleen S. Millar combined lectures, case presentations, and exercises in conducting the seminar.  Thirty-one (31) Lao government officials from different ministries attended the workshop.

This is the third seminar offered by the Philippines to Lao PDR on women empowerment and gender equality following women entrepreneurship workshops held in Vientiane and Luang Prabang in 2012. END