PH Embassy Leads Campaign to End Violence vs Women
Speakers and participants engage in a question and answer session during the public forum on gender-based violence held at the Philippine Embassy in Washington Chancery Annex on 01 December 2018. (Washington PE photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 11 December 2018 – As part of the activities for the 18-day Campaign To End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Philippine Embassy in Washington organized a public forum on gender-based violence at the Embassy Chancery Annex on 01 December 2018.
The forum featured a renowned set of speakers from the D.C. Filipino-American Community that included Philippine National Trafficking in Persons Specialist and a current Fulbright Scholar under the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Atty. Darlene Pajarito, Senior Paralegal of the Law Offices of Valera and Associates Jennifer Hona-Davis, and Labor Attaché and Women’s Rights Advocate Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad.
Atty. Pajarito provided an in-depth look into trafficking in persons in the context of gender-based violence, discussing the Philippine experience and its anti-trafficking initiatives.
Ms. Hona-Davis focused on U.S. law, particularly the Violence Against Women Act, and violence against immigrant women including its indicators, forms, and warning signs. She also provided information on non-legal and legal services that are available to victims-survivors of VAW.
The Embassy also launched its VAW desk during the event, with the principal tasks of immediately attending to victims of VAW, working with various institutions in providing psychological and medical help, maintaining a database of reported cases and reporting them to the appropriate agencies in the Philippines, and giving advice on possible legal courses of action under US law.
“We see the VAW desk as a quick response mechanism. We are happy that organizations such as the Migrant Heritage Commission and other organizations will be able to help in terms of the immediate needs of all these victims,” Labor Attaché Librado-Trinidad emphasized.
"Our focus is to continue empowering our women to prevent abuses and human trafficking through strong partnerships. The launching of the VAW Desk with a public forum on gender-based violence is a laudable proactive effort of the Philippine Embassy towards such focus as we strive to strengthen government collaboration with civil society and the community,” Atty. Pajarito said.
“With the launching of the VAW desk at the Embassy, we believe it can create a coordinated community response to domestic violence perpetrated against our kababayans. Community collaboration has been an essential part of both prevention and intervention. Our ultimate goal is to help improve and protect the well-being and safety of women in the United States,” Ms. Hona-Davis added.
All three speakers engaged the audience in an open forum after their respective presentations.
Prior to the forum, the Embassy through its gender and development (GAD) program, launched the campaign during the flag-raising ceremony on 25 November 2018. On 28 November 2018, the GAD team conducted a seminar where Labor Attaché Librado-Trinidad and GAD Focal Point Officer Darell Artates led an interactive discussion on Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and their Children law, and Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
The 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) is observed annually from 25 November to 12 December to raise awareness among all stakeholders that VAW is a public issue of national concern. It supports the Philippine Government’s goal to protect the human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence. END
(From left) Philippine National Trafficking In Persons specialist Atty. Darlene Pajarito, Senior Paralegal of the Law Offices of Valera and Associates Jennifer Hona-Davis, and Labor Attaché and Women’s Rights Advocate Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad. (Washington PE photo)
Speakers and participants of the public forum on gender-based violence pose for a group photo with Embassy Consul General Renato Villa (fifth from left) at the conclusion of the event. (Washington PE photo)
Philippine Embassy in Washington personnel attended a lunchtime seminar on the Violence Against Women and their Children law (RA 9262) and the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) at the Embassy’s Carlos P. Romulo Hall on 28 November 2018. (Washington PE photo)
For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinUSA @philippinesusa on Twitter.