DFA Successfully Holds Gender and Development Assembly

DFA officials (front row, middle column L-R) composed of Consul General Senen Mangalile, Ambassador Igor Bailen, Undersecretary for Administration Antonio Morales, and HRMO Assistant Secretary Christopher B. Montero, together with FORA Strategic Communications Consultants and participants from the offices of the Home Office, Consular Offices and Foreign Service Posts. (DFA-GAD Secretariat photo)

PASAY CITY, 01 December 2022 — In line with its efforts to assess the effectiveness of its gender and development (GAD) activities and develop more targeted GAD policies and programs, the Department, through HRMO and the GAD Secretariat, successfully conducted a three-day GAD Assembly from 23 to 25 November 2022 at Hilton Manila.

The event gathered 144 GAD Focal Point Officers and Alternate GAD Focal Point Officers from the Home Office, Consular Offices, and Foreign Service Posts.

The assembly provided a venue to validate relevant findings and recommendations from the surveys, series of interviews, and workshops during the third gender audit of the DFA, which served as an anchor and direction to the formulation of the Department’s next six-year GAD Agenda.

Undersecretary for Administration and Chairperson of the GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Antonio A. Morales welcomed the participants and encouraged them to work towards a more gender-responsive organization, where the aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and addressed.

The conclusion of the GAD assembly also served as a kick-off for the observance of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women,” where HRMO Assistant Secretary and Head of the GAD Secretariat Christopher B. Montero reiterated the DFA’s commitment of ensuring a safe work environment to all its personnel. END

Participants wearing orange masks during the closing of the GAD Assembly and kick off of the observance of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women” (DFA-GAD Secretariat photo)