Shanghai, 25 November 2023 – The Philippine Government’s Gender and Development (GAD) agenda gained greater prominence and furtherance in this metropolis as the Consulate General ribbon-cut its “GAD Corner”.
Leading the rites were Consul General Josel F. Ignacio and visiting DFA Assistant Secretary Domingo P. Nolasco, Assistant Secretary Patrick John U. Hilado. In attendance were PCG personnel, visiting officials from the DFA and the Commission on Audit, and PCG personnel. Lending their presence were Filipino Community-Shanghai (FILCOMSHA) President Michelle Teope-Shen and Dai-ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd. GM Lee Mie Yee.
The corner – donning the purple color representing women’s causes and advocacies -- makes accessible resource materials on advancing gender equality and GAD. GAD pertains to the development perspective and process that is participatory, empowering, equitable, sustainable, respectful of human rights, and supportive of self-determination and actualization.
As prescribed by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), GAD Corners are “physical spaces such as bulletin boards, a corner in the library or similar public spaces where GAD information is posted for general consumption. The information in the GAD corner is regularly updated”.
“We have gone beyond a bulletin board, and created a space – a safe space, a breathing space, to learn about GAD”, emphasized CG Ignacio. “There is a strong nexus between GAD, topics of culture, and gender-based biases and violence. Accordingly, we have co-located this GAD Corner adjacent to our ATN Unit, our Cultural Wing and Library, and breastfeeding and lactation room”.
The inauguration was timed with Day 1 of the Philippines’ 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), which runs from 25 November until 12 December of each year.
The 18-day advocacy was mandated by Proclamation No. 1172 in 2006. The period is bookended by the International Day against VAW (25 November) and the date of adoption (12 December) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children of the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime of 2000. END
