PH Shares Government Protection to Young Women and Girls in Crisis
Permanent Representative Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. shares the Philippine government’s efforts in promoting the welfare of girls in emergency situations. (New York PM photo)
NEW YORK 09 October 2018 – The Philippines Mission co-sponsored a high-level panel discussion to provide Member States and civil society organizations. a better understanding of gender and age-related vulnerabilities and the specific needs of adolescent girls in crisis.
The panel discussion, entitled “Addressing the Rights and Needs of Adolescent Girls in Crisis: Bridging the Policy and Programming Gap,” was held on 24 September 2018.
The event was co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Denmark, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Plan International.
In his opening statement, Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. highlighted the Philippine government’s commitment to prepare for disasters and reduce risks by integrating risk reduction and management in its development policies.
He acknowledged the roles of local governments and communities in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. He also noted the dangers faced by young women and girls in crisis situations, especially from human trafficking.
Ambassador Locsin mentioned the protections provided by the Philippine government to children during emergencies. The Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act is the first law in Asia that established accountability in ensuring the protection of children during and after emergency situations.
The Philippine Government also established friendly spaces in camps and shelters as well as facilities for psycho-social support and counselling. It also partnered with UN agencies such as the UNHCR and with civil society organizations in building responses against women and gender-based violence on women and girls.
Ambassador Locsin highlighted that in order to firmly eradicate gender-based violence, it is imperative to break the culture of silence that surrounds it. It must be accepted that the victim is never at fault. Stigma should attach only to the attackers and space must be cleared to make way for girls to raise their voices and be heard.
Other panelists included Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller, OCHA; UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Shanelle Hall, Women Deliver Young Leader Maihan Wali, and Plan International Child Protection Advisor Yang Fu.
Representatives of Member States, UN OHCHR, UNICEF, OCHA, and non-government organizations attended the event. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph/ www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/