12 March 2024, Ottawa - As part of activities in celebration of International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month, the Embassy of the Philippines in Canada, in cooperation with Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO), organized a training and capacity-building to address gender-based violence for its personnel, on 11 March 2024, at the Mindanao Hall of the Chancery.

With 60% of the Filipino immigrants in  Canada being women and many of them facing unique vulnerabilities and challenges, Deputy Head of Mission Myca Magnolia Fischer underscored the Embassy’s responsibility to ensure that their voices are heard, their rights are protected,  and their safety is prioritized.

The training aimed to raise awareness of gender-based violence (GBV) and to empower Embassy personnel with the necessary information and resources to help prevent and combat gender-based violence among kababayans in Canada.

Resource Person Rajnish Sharma, a Community Outreach Coordinator (VAW - Awareness and Prevention program) of IWSO provided the participants with information about IWSO, different types of gender-based violence, identifying abuse, risks assessment and safety planning, resources, and IRCC programs and policies for GBV.

The training is part of the Embassy's continuing Gender and Development (GAD) institutional capacity-building activities. END