DFA Office of Consular Affairs Conducts Its First Seminar on Violence Against Women and Children

Members of Group Three (3), the Winner of the Best Performance Award,  with DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito S. Cruz (5th from the left, 1st row) and Principal Assistant and OCA GAD Focal Person Ana Angela C. Cabillan (4th from left, 1st row) during the Seminar on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and the GAD Initiatives of OCA, San Juan City (Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)

MANILA  15 December 2023 – The Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) successfully conducted a Gender and Development (GAD) activity entitled “Seminar on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and the GAD Initiatives of OCA” from 28 to 30 November 2023 at the Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern, San Juan City, as part of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAWC. 

The three-day event was attended by the Heads of all Consular Offices and their respective GAD focal persons. The objective of the seminar is to inform participants of the relevant national laws and the various policies and programs implemented within the Department to prevent VAWC. To ensure a grounded discussion of the topics, resource speakers were invited namely: Ms. Karen D. De Castro from the Philippine Commission on Women, Atty. April R. Casquejo of the DFA Committee on Decorum and Investigation, Atty. Dyan Kristine Miranda-Pastrana being one of the GAD champions in the Department, and PMAJ Meriel Editha Reyes from Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center.

On the third day of the seminar, a consultation with the Consular Offices Coordinating Division was held to allow the participants to raise their administrative and budgetary concerns. Further, a brief leadership training was also carried out which included presentations from Assistant Director Angella Gilberto L. Alfafara of HRMO and sharing of experiences from Mr. Rex F. Albania, Head of CO Bacolod, and Ms. Anika A. Fernandez, Head of CO Cebu.

Taken during the creation and presentation of We Against Violence Everywhere (WEAVE) Flag (Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)

Furthermore, participants of the seminar were also given group activities which allowed them to share their best practices and create their own “WEAVE” or “WE Against Violence Everywhere” Flag which represents their pledges to end VAWC. Presentation of outputs and selection of best performance was held on the last day of the event. To conclude the event, self-defense kits were distributed to all thirty seven (37) Consular Offices for their women employees.  

In his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito S. Cruz reaffirms the strong commitment of OCA and the Consular Offices in ensuring a safe and gender-sensitive work environment for both its personnel and applicants.

Due to the positive feedback from participants, the OCA-GAD plans to conduct this seminar annually with inclusion of additional activities. END

The GAD Focal Point System of the Office of Consular Affairs with Atty. April R. Casquejo of DFA Committee on Decorum and Investigation (6th from left, 2nd row), (Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)