PH Embassy in Damascus Holds Inaugural Roundtable Discussion on Syrian, PH and International Laws on Women

Resource speakers and participants of the inaugural Round Table Discussion. The biggest legal and international judicial cooperation event in the country was held at the Cham Palace Hotel on 27 November 2022. (Damascus PE photo)

DAMASCUS 12 December 2022 — On the occasion of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women as mandated by Proclamation No. 1172 series of 2006, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus held an inaugural Round Table Discussion on Syrian, Philippine and International Laws on Women at the Cham Palace Hotel on 27 November 2022. This is the biggest legal and judicial cooperation bilingual event that was jointly organized by the Embassy and the Syrian Bar Association, for the first time in history.

Syrian Bar Association General Secretary Samir Btarni opened the event by pointing out that violence against women is not limited to physical abuse or moral intimidation, but includes any action that constitutes an obstacle to the full exercise of women’s rights.

Afterwards, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Executive Director Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves explained the legal and policy framework of the Philippines  in a recorded video, sharing that the Philippines ranks the highest in Asia in the Global Gender Gap Index to measure gender equality.

Atty. Rana Al Madani presented the relevant Syrian Laws that combat violence against women and provided insights on Syria’s compliance with international conventions that address the issue. Atty. Madani also cited some recommendations and proposals for ways to move forward, for consideration of parliamentary legislators.

Engaging the participants through gamification, Philippine Chargé d' Affaires, a.i to Syria Vida Soraya Verzosa conducted a “True or False Quiz” on Gender and Development and Republic Act 9262, also known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004," or the Philippine VAWC Law.  CDA Verzosa enumerated the different types of violence and their corresponding penalties after explaining gender bias, discrimination, and the socio-cultural framework for the GAD analysis. She also explained that the Philippines follows an 18-Day campaign by virtue of the Proclamation No. 1172 series of 2006, which extends the international 16-Day observance, that ends on 10 December, to 12 December, as the latter is also the International Day Against Trafficking.

As an international law expert, Atty. Kholoud Adib gave a presentation on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and shed more light on Syria’s compliance and reservations filed, in relation to CEDAW. She also agreed that the Philippines is very progressive in terms of GAD-based laws, especially in terms of compliance with CEDAW obligations.

Dr. Omar Ballan, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Syria, presented international legal updates, and areas in the law that can be further amended in the future to enhance women empowerment. He also introduced Engr. Samar Abdel Moeen El Sebaei, Chairperson of the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs and Population, who also shared the Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) policy developments to resolve the CEDAW reservations and provide more services to combat gender-based violence.

Anti-VAWC advocacy videos from the Philippine Commission on Women that were subtitled to Arabic language by local hire translator, Ms. Salma Hourani, were also played for the international audience. 

After the question-and-answer session where lawyers, judges, parliamentarians, international organization heads, the diplomatic corps, and Filipino Community members propounded questions to the speakers, Deputy Minister Mohamad Firas Nabhan and Ms. Jude Mouna Abd Al Kareen, representative from the Ministry of Justice also delivered their responses and appreciation for the event.

Diplomatic representatives and lawyers from three other countries, Consul Fabiana Inés López (Argentina), Atty. Sanja Paleksic Stojanovic (Serbia), and Atty. Rizkia Amelia Sania Putri (Indonesia), also shared their experiences, including statistics and initiatives to combat VAWC in their respective countries.

At the end of event, Philippine Honorary Consul General (PHCG) Wassim Nanaa delivered his closing remarks, citing examples from the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Bible about the role of women, as well as the work of the Embassy and the Consulate General in Aleppo to protect the welfare of vulnerable citizens.

CDA Verzosa presented a commissioned artwork by the painter, Mrs. Randa Saadawi, as a gift to the Syrian Bar Association for partnering with the Embassy in hosting the event. The Embassy also distributed souvenir kits with a publication, Philippine tourism brochures, and handmade soap with the theme of the 18-Day Campaign.

The Round Table Discussion was attended by approximately two hundred fifty (250) participants who were lawyers and judges from the Syrian Bar Association, Members of Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Corps, International Organizations, Women’s Civil Society Organizations, and the Filipino Community. Technical assistance was provided by UNFPA. All materials were in English and Arabic language. END

Participants listen intently to the speakers at the Roundtable Discussion. (Damascus PE photo)

CDA Verzosa presented the General Secretary of the Syrian Bar Association, Atty. Samir Btarni, with a commissioned artwork that symbolizes friendship between Syria and the Philippines. (Damascus PE photo)

PHCG Wassim Nanaa poses for a photo with CDA Verzosa and Embassy Personnel wearing the VAWC2022-themed uniform. (Damascus PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.damascuspe.dfa.gov.ph

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