12 December 2021, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul participated in the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from 25 November to 12 December 2021. 

Throughout the 18-day campaign, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul raised awareness on the importance of a whole-of-society approach in ensuring safe spaces for everyone. As duty-bearers of the Philippine government serving in the Republic of Korea, Embassy Personnel were reminded of their responsibility in upholding a VAW-free community and in taking part in protecting spaces from gender based-sexual harassment.

On 25 November 2021, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul was pleased to participate in the Orange Your Icon Advocacy by illuminating the Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) orange.  The Philippine Embassy Officials and Staff in Seoul declared its strong support to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) through the "Orange Your Icon" Campaign of the N Seoul Tower.  The lighting of the tower was held with a goal to increase awareness to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, calling for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions. As this year’s theme is “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now!”, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul initiated the turning of the Korean icon orange to remind the community that violence against women continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace, as well as the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights.

Philippine Embassy Officials and Staff also wore orange to further support and compliment the activity.  The N Tower Lighting was shared with all relevant government organizations and diplomatic missions in Korea.

As a culminating activity of the campaign, Embassy personnel also attended a Safe Spaces Act seminar conducted by Mr. Kim Harold Peji of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on 9 December 2021. Mr. Peji, a Supervising GAD Specialist of the PCW and the speaker for the event, was instrumental in aligning Post’s GAD activities to fit this year’s theme, with the forum focusing on avoiding harassment in shared public spaces online and in various social media.

The forum was organized in keeping with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act which states that "Employers or other persons of authority, influence or moral ascendancy in a workplace shall have the duty to prevent, deter, or punish the performance of acts of gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace by providing measures to prevent gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace, such as the conduct of anti-sexual harassment seminars."

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by its Gender and Development Secretariat, will continue to pursue a VAW-free community where respect thrives, and where we can ensure and secure safe spaces for all. END