EU support to gender equality and inclusion in the Philippines: promoting awareness on disabilities

The EU Delegation to the Philippines reiterated the EU commitment to gender equality and inclusion at all levels. It organized a forum with the PWD community, civil society organisations and EU Member States on 8 April at the Residence of the EU Ambassador. 

The forum was attended by speakers from the Commission on Human Rights, the National Council on Disability Affairs, and civil society WowLEAP, (Women With Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress), Autism Society of the Philippines, Save the Children and Future Vision. 

Panelists listen to a representative from a disability NGO who shared his experience on discrimination and suggested actions on how to improve implementation of laws for persons with disabilities.   

 

The speakers shared their experiences, stressing the connection of disability to existing gender imbalances as the latter complicates and heightens the pre-existing discriminatory practices against the disability community. The speakers also underlined the need for adequate funding and implementing programmes for PWDs and women especially at local level. 

The EU Ambassador, H.E. Massimo Santoro, recalling the EU commitment, welcomed the hard work of all stakeholders to making a better society for the women and PWDs. He announced the launch two Calls for Proposals: the first on human rights which was published in the EUDEL website on 7 April and the second on Civil Society Support which will be launched by the middle of this year. Both Calls emphasize the mainstreaming of gender, environment and disability into project proposals. 

EU_PH gender equality and inclusion

Organisations of Persons with Disability and civil society in the Philippines including stakeholders from the Philippine government and EU Member States participated in a forum organized by the EU Delegation to the Philippines on 8 April to tackle issues facing women and persons with disability.