21 March 2016 - In commemoration of the Women’s Month, the Philippine Embassy in Rome conducted seminars on Gender and Development (GAD) and Violence against Women (VAW) in the city of Naples, Italy on March 13.

The seminars were conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Naples and the Filipino Women’s Council (FWC). In attendance were 55 community members representing different associations in Naples.

The resource speakers, FWC President Dona Rose Dela Cruz and FWC Founder Charito Basa, explained GAD and VAW concepts, terminologies and approaches with the primary aim of strengthening the knowledge and capacities of Filipino community members in promoting and protecting the rights of women.

The participants were also sensitized on the various forms of violence and the importance of speaking out against them. FWC also shared relevant Italian laws to penalize such acts of violence and contact details of institutions, based in Naples and neighboring areas, specifically mandated to protect and shelter victims. END