Army joins the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW

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FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila– The Philippine Army joins the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) of the Philippine Commission on Women during the flag raising ceremony held here today, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018.

The campaign kicked-off on November 25 in conjunction to the observance of International Day to end VAW and will go on until December 12, the day when the UN Protocol to Prevention, Suppress and Punish Trafficking of Persons, especially Women and Children was adopted in 2000. It revolves around the theme “A VAW-Free Community Starts With Me.”

“This campaign calls upon each of us to reflect on our personal values, especially on how we value women in our personal lives. It speaks of the esteem and respect we hold for our mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, friends and colleagues,” Army Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr. said in his remarks.

“We should be more sensitive with our choice of language in the workplace. I enjoin everyone to revitalize our Gender and Development or “GAD” program,” Brig. Gen. Faustino Jr. added.

The Philippine Army’s GAD program is hinged on the global movement that promotes women empowerment through helping attain gender equality. As a perspective, the GAD program recognizes the disparity between how men and women are treated. On the other hand, as an approach, the Army employs the program in seeking to remove this disparity through influencing the process of policy making, and budgeting within the Army, among others.

“The Philippine Army is proud of being very proactive and adamant in combating Violence Against Women. Through the office of the Army Gender and Development (OAGAD) as the cradle of women empowerment and gender equality on our organization, programs supporting the anti-VAW campaign are intensified throughout our major units,” said Col. Vener Odilon D. Mariano, Commander Army Signal Regiment, in his speech during the launch.

OAGAD with the participation of the Army Major units, has been conducting Gender Sensitivity Trainers Training and producing Informative materials to educate every Army personnel about VAW. These activities are fundamental in creating a progressive change in the organization.

The Philippine Army has been among the frontier of the GAD campaign in the country ever since its incorporation in the organization in 2007.The GAD was formally institutionalized through the Philippine Army Gender and Development Focal System in 2011, a year after the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR) started. This was a recognition of women’s participation and as indispensable part of the ATR’s journey to become a world-class Army by 2028.#

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