PHL embassy staff in Lebanon get training on gender sensitivity

Published December 1, 2010 1:01pm

The officials and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon participated in a seminar this week about gender equality and sensitivity. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cited a report from the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon that the seminar was intended to help the personnel protect themselves from exploitation, violence, and sexual harassment. "The seminar aimed to raise awareness on gender equality and sensitivity and to gain knowledge on the proper handling of sexual harassment and abuse cases," the DFA said in an article posted Wednesday on its website. Two social workers who handle sexual harassment and abuse cases for the Caritas Lebanon Migrants Center (CLMC) were the resource speakers during the seminar. The DFA said the seminar provided the participants with the knowledge, skills and norms on how to deal with cases of sexual harassment and abuses. The seminar also raised the embassy personnel's awareness on:

the meaning and essence of sexual harassment and abuse;

its effects on the victims, the family and the community, and

the overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon. The seminar also tackled relevant Philippine and Lebanese laws on sexual harassment and abuse including Republic Act 7877. At the end of the course, the participants signed the "Resolution on Gender Equality and Sensitivity" where they committed to:

exercise gender sensitivity, discretion and respect of equality in their interaction with their colleagues, the Filipino community in Lebanon and all other nationalities;

observe proper office decorum and social correctness in dealing with co-employees and embassy clients, and

perform their duties and functions with utmost dedication and professionalism. The seminar was conducted based on:

the DFA's Gender and Development (GAD) program;

Anti-Sexual Harassment of 1995, and

Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 01-0940 on the Administrative Disciplinary Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases. Among the participants were the Philippine Labor AttachÃ©, welfare officers and their staff. â€“ VVP, GMANews.TV

Tags: departmentofforeignaffairs, lebanon