PH Embassy in Hague Organizes Forum On Ending Violence Against Women

Ambassador to The Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda informs the participants that the forum is a continuing advocacy on women’s rights and gender equality of the Philippine Embassy in The Hague. (MHB Operio and JS Revilla, The Hague PE and Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN/TFC Netherlands photos)

THE HAGUE 11 December 2018 – In observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague successfully conducted a forum entitled “Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW): The International and National Responses” on 01 December 2018.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador to The Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda informed the participants that the forum is a continuing advocacy on women’s rights and gender equality of the Embassy, in close partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Gender and Development program and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) at the national level. 

Ambassador Ledda expressed with pride that the Philippines ranks among top ten in the world’s most gender equal country based on the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report.

He acknowledges that while challenges in EVAW remain, the Philippine government remains steadfast and continues to vigorously pursue all means and mechanisms at both national and international levels to gender equality and women equality.

A panel of legal professionals, led by Atty. Rea Abada-Chiongson, Senior Legal Advisor on Gender of the International Development Law Organization in The Hague, gave an overview of the global frameworks on violence against women (VAW), briefly conveying the facts and figures on VAW committed worldwide. According to the panelists, one out of three women have experienced physical or sexual violence or one out of two women killed were killed mostly by an intimate partner.

On the other hand, Ateneo de Manila’s School of Law faculty member Atty. Patricia Cervantes-Poco who is currently a PhD student in Maastricht’s Law Faculty, presented the country’s responses to international standards on VAW which included Magna Carta on Women, Anti-Rape Law, Violence Against Women and Children, and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

The Hague-based non-governmental organization, AriseNL was also invited by the Embassy. Its representatives Atty. Marisa Monteiro-Borsbom and Sogano Mohandes discussed Dutch laws and services, including ways pursue when the system fails or delays for victims of domestic violence.

A question and answer segment, moderated by Atty. Neil Nucup brought out gender-related concerns among members of the Filipino, Dutch and expatriate communities in attendance. END

For more information, visit www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph/ https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/

A panel of legal professionals led by Atty. Rea Abada-Chiongson, Senior Legal Advisor on Gender of the International Development Law Organization in The Hague, gives an overview of the global frameworks on violence against women. (MHB Operio and JS Revilla, The Hague PE and Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN/TFC Netherlands photos)

Ateneo de Manila’s School of Law faculty Atty. Patricia Cervantes-Poco, currently a PhD student in Maastricht’s Law Faculty, discusses the Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353). (MHB Operio and JS Revilla, The Hague PE and Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN/TFC Netherlands photos)

Portuguese-lawyer Atty. Marisa Monteiro-Borsbom, who has been handling cases on domestic violence among women in the Netherlands, discusses Dutch laws on and services for women. (MHB Operio and JS Revilla, The Hague PE and Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN/TFC Netherlands photos)