PH Embassy in Syria joins 18-day VAW campaign in Damascus, Aleppo

Philippine Chargé d’affaires to Syria Vida Soraya Verzosa with the members of the Filipino Community in Damascus. (Damascus PE photo)

DAMASCUS, 15 December 2021 – On 28 November, 02 and 12 December 2021, the Philippine Embassy in Syria joined the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) by conducting various activities in Damascus and Aleppo.

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. to Syria Vida Soraya Verzosa impressed upon the attendees the importance of stopping gender-based violence not only in society, but more importantly in the households of the attendees.  She also cited measures undertaken by the Philippine Government and the Embassy to end VAW and Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

Ms. Kathleen Llarena, Cultural Officer of the Embassy, played VAW videos, songs, and recited free-verse poetry provided by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), that applied to the majority of the attendees who were household workers.  Mr. Raed Hawat, local-hire and translator of the Embassy, as well as Martial Arts expert, demonstrated basic self-defense for the attendees in case they may experience violent situations outside the protective custody of the Embassy.

A total of 92 participants composed of the Philippine Embassy personnel, wards at the Filipino Workers Resource Center and members of the Filipino Community in Damascus and Aleppo attended the event, 65 of whom were female and 13 were male.

Attendees of the lecture were also provided with orange shirts designed with the theme which were worn during the activities.   Other provisions on Philippine and Syrian laws on women’s rights, particularly on laws that penalize crimes and offenses against women were discussed.

At the end of the lecture, a moderated open forum (Q&A) with CDA Verzosa and Philippine Embassy officials ensued, which enlightened participants regarding their concerns about VAW. 

On 12 December 2021, members of the Filipino Community and Philippine Embassy personnel joined in the one hour Zumba class led by Ms. Llarena, on the last day of the campaign.  Afterwards, awarding of Certificates of Appreciation were given to the participants after the class. COVID-19 Health protocols and security measures were observed during the entire event.  END

Philippine Chargé d’affaires to Syria Vida Soraya Verzosa  with members of the Filipino Community in Aleppo together with PHCG Wassim Nanaa of Aleppo PCG. (Damascus PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.damascuspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSyria/ or https://twitter.com/PHinSyria