PH Embassy in Athens Joins the Nation in Celebrating the 2023 National Women’s Month
ATHENS, 23 March 2023 – Philippine Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec and personnel of the Embassy wear purple to mark the start of National Women’s GAD Athens 1Month. Committed to the advancement of women’s rights, the Embassy conducted month-long activities to promote gender equality and a more inclusive society in keeping with this year’s theme. Embassy personnel began to distribute brochures on women’s rights to consular applicants today as a part of the Embassy’s campaign to provide information that would empower women living in abroad.
In celebration of National Women’s Month, a seminar on physical and mental health conducted by health experts in Cyprus was held on 12 March 2023 in Larnaca. The event was co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Athens and organized by the Migrant Workers Office under Labor Attaché Cynthia Cruz and Welfare Officer Marivic Mondina, with the support of Philippine Honorary Consul Charmagne Garcia-Laconico, and highlighted by the keynote address of Philippine Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec. The event was capped by a town hall meeting in which various issues affecting Filipinos in Cyprus were discussed.
Around 30 Athens-based Filipinos availed of free health screening services, which included blood sugar and cholesterol testing, as part of the Health and Positive Living Forum for OFWs co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Athens and the Migrant Workers Office on 19 March 2023. Over 50 Filipinos attended the lectures on physical and mental health by Filipino and Greek resource persons which followed the health screening. The event was held at Pinoy Fitness and Dance Studio in Athens in celebration of National Women’s Month.
Moreover, the Embassy personnel held a collegial discussion on o8 March 2023 to mark International Women’s Day. As an offshoot of various lectures and seminars attended by personnel over the years, and in line with the theme of gender equality and an inclusive society, the frank and open discussions delved into how as individuals and as civil servants can personnel concretely help empower women. The discussion strengthened the personnel’s commitment to provide gender-sensitive and timely service to Filipinos in Greece, Cyprus, and North Macedonia, as well as to help empower each other. Embassy personnel further pledged to continue to pursue the advancement of gender equality every day and not only on National Women’s Month. END
Ambassador Palec (2nd from right), Welfare Officer Mondina (leftmost), Labor Attache Cynthia Cruz (2nd from left), and Honorary Consul Charmagne Laconico (rightmost) pose with Cypriot physical and mental health experts. (Athens PE photo)
Philippine Ambassador stresses the need to care for one’s self in order to effectively care for others. (Athens PE photo)
Philippine Embassy Athens personnel, in their own words, share how they will commit to promoting gender equality and empower women. (Athens PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.athenspe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinGreece/.