In support of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, DA-10 apprises its employees on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Gender and Development Unit conducts Advocacy Campaign on Violence against Women and Children, Thursday, November 25 this City.

The activity was staged in support of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women”, a nationwide campaign advocated by the Philippine Commission on Women, in pursuit of VAW-free communities across the country.

Participating male and female employees of the DA-10 were apprised on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

Mr. John Rey P. Catalan, Program Manager and Head of the Gender and Women, Peace and Security Division of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was invited as resource speaker of the activity.

Attending the activity via an online platform, Mr. Catalan averred that an organization’s approach towards gender-based violence or harassment should be “preventive” in nature.

“An organization should (strictly) adopt the government’s policy on anti-sexual harassment. The conduct of the survey, interview, and common group discussion are helpful to gather data (and identify preventive programs). Men should be engaged and involved as partners to prevent gender-based violence or harassment,” he explained.

In her message, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, urged the agency’s employees to uphold healthy relationships among themselves by being sensitive towards each other’s emotions.

“We need to respect our differences and be sensitive to others. At all times we need to be wary of gender-related violations so that we can work peacefully, respecting one another’s personal rights in the office,” she remarked.

In her part, Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, reminded the employees to observe good office practices to discourage violation of gender rights.

“You, the young ones, are the future leaders of the DA. Therefore, you should be a model to each other in nurturing harmonious work relationship,” she asserted, supporting the call to cast down gender-based violation and harassment in the entity.# (ATalib)