DFA, UN Women-Asia and the Pacific, Miriam College Propose Ways to Respond to Violence against Filipino Women Migrant Workers

Left photo: DFA Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration and Chairperson of the GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Antonio A. Morales expresses his gratitude to the organizers and commends the passion and dedication of the frontliners in the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General in promoting the welfare and security of Filipinos overseas. Right photo: Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola highlights the significant role of ATN Officers in assisting distressed Filipinos overseas, especially victims of gender-based violence. (DFA photos)

PASAY CITY 23 March 2021 – In celebration of the 2021 National Women’s Month and as part of the HRMO’s efforts in providing care for ATN officers abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Gender and Development (GAD) Secretariat, with UN Women-Asia Pacific and Miriam College’s Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), conducted a webinar series participated in by 40 DFA personnel from countries which have been identified as having the most number of women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with cases of violence against women on 09, 11, 16 and 18 March 2021.

In his welcome remarks, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration (OUA) and Chairperson of the GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Antonio A. Morales commended the passion and dedication of DFA personnel as frontliners in the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General in providing assistance to distressed Filipinos overseas, including women migrant workers who are survivors of violence meanwhile the significant role of ATN Officers as frontline workers in providing assistance to distressed Filipino nationals abroad was emphasized by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola in her closing remarks. END