03 December 2015 – As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) commitment to advance gender and development awareness among its personnel, the DFA Office of Personnel and Administrative Services (OPAS) in coordination with the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) conducted a 5-day Regional Seminar on Gender Sensitivity and Human Resources Management for representatives of Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) in the Middle East and North African (MENA) Region. The Seminar was hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, and was held at the K Hotel from November 22 to 26.

The seminar was intended to strengthen the gender awareness of Philippine Foreign Service personnel and enhance their skills in incorporating the gender perspective as they address the needs of overseas Filipinos, particularly those who seek assistance from Philippine Embassies and Consulates. The seminar is likewise meant to provide Philippine FSPs in the region with updates regarding new administrative issuances, the Department’s Strategic Performance Management System and Coaching and Mentoring. Sessions during the Gender Sensitivity Training included discussions on Basic Gender Concepts, the Magna Carta for Women, Anti-Sexual Harassment and relevant laws, Administrative Discipline and the Committee on Decorum and Investigation, Gender Dimension of Trafficking in Persons, and Counseling and Interviewing Techniques for Assistance-to-Nationals Cases.

The Gender Sensitivity and HR Management Seminar is the third one conducted by the Department, having completed similar trainings for FSPs in the Americas and the Asia Pacific regions.  The MENA FSPs represented in the seminar are Abuja, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Doha, Dubai, Islamabad, Jeddah, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Nairobi, Pretoria, Riyadh, and Tehran. END