Women take center stage in March

As the world celebrates Women’s Month in March, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) lined up its own activities to honor women and joined the nationwide activity spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

The CSC kicked-off the celebration of the 2016 National Women’s Month on February 29 in its flag raising ceremony highlighting the year’s theme, Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda. The theme resonates the call for gender-balance in leadership and decision-making positions both in the public and private sector, inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and the government’s development agenda, and capacitating and preparing women and girls to reach their ambitions.

The CSC Gender and Development Advocates or GADvocates also joined the public event hosted by the PCW, Sama-samang Pagsulong sa mga Agenda ni Juana¸ on March 16, 2016 at the Burnham Green in Luneta Park, Manila. Participants were asked to fill-out Agenda ni Juana Ballots which contain various women concerns on economic empowerment, social development, security, justice and peace, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and gender-responsive governance.

Sama-samang Pagsulong sa Agenda ni Juana. Participants gather their Agenda ni Juana ballots to express support in various women’s concerns in the society.

CSC GADvocates join Sama-samang Pagsulong sa Agenda ni Juana, a public event spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women.

Other internal activities of CSC included #PowerWeek for women which held sessions on Women in Government, Financial Freedom, Spirituality, and Self-Defense. The CSC also provided beauty and wellness treatment for both men and women employees.

A photo exhibit was also mounted in the CSC lobby which featured photos of CSC executives with their empowering quotes for women.

On March 29, the CSC capped the celebration by holding its annual Women’s Month culminating activity, Piknik sa Kalikasan. The event aims to honor men and women in the service, as well as recognize those who have exemplified extraordinary support for the cause of Gender and Development through the Gawad Kawayan Awards (GKA).

CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala empowers women during the Women’s Month culminating activity, Piknik sa Kalikasan

CSC Regional Office No. 10 was conferred the Gawad Kawayan Para sa Tanggapan na may Katangi-tanging Kontribusyon sa Pagpapalawig ng GAD for their GAD-related initiatives in their office. They have established the Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Referral System, and provided a lactation station for female employees and clients. They also have a One-Stop-Shop that promotes inclusive service for pregnant women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. CSC RO10 Director III Noemi Rabe-Torres and Senior Human Resource Specialist Mary Ann H. Borres received the award.

(From L-R) CSC RO10 Senior Human Resource Specialist Mary Ann H. Borres and RO10 Director III Noemi Rabe-Torres receive RO10’s Gawad Kawayan para sa Tanggapan na may Katangi-tanging Kontribusyon sa Pagpapalawig ng GAD from Chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala and Commissioner Robert S. Martinez.

For the Gawad Kawayan Para sa Katangi-tanging Tagapagtaguyod ng GAD, Mr. Emil Roe Gapit of the Human Resource Policies and Standards Office (HRPSO) was cited for his achievements as a GAD trainor, and his well-known musical compositions which served as thought-provoking songs for seminar participants. He performed the songs during the Piknik as well.

CSC Central Office GADvocate Emil Roe Gapit, awardee of CSC’s Gawad Kawayan para sa Katangi-tanging Tagapagtaguyod ng GAD, serenades CSC employees with his original GAD-related songs.

CSC’s hope for the future impact of the government’s GAD thrust may be reflected on the theme used in this year’s Piknik sa Kalikasan—jungle. Aside from being a representation of the animal kingdom, the jungle also shows the natural order of things. In the jungle, it is the survival of the fittest. The weak is prey to the strong, and the strong maintains their status by keeping the weak subdued. In many ways, the world is also a jungle. But this can be changed for the better. If the strong finds their true strength in uplifting the weak, or if they start giving up the status they have taken from the weak, there would be a more equal playing field. In turn, those who were made weak can find their strength again.

Gender and Development advocates from different sectors gather together in support for the Sama-samang Pagsulong sa Agenda ni Juana at the Quirino Grandstand, Mar. 16.

 

18-Day Campaign to End VAW begins

The Philippine Commission for Women (PCW), together with its partner agencies, launched the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women on Nov. 25 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

With the theme “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty! Gains and Ways Forward!”, the campaign will run from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12, marking the historic date when, in 2000, the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was opened for signature of UN memmber countries.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among stakeholders that VAW is an issue of national concern, and supports the government’s goal to protect the human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of VAW.

The Civil Service Commission, as one of the lead advocates for women empowerment and gender equality, enjoined its male employees to take part in the HeForShe campaign, a solidarity movement for gender equality developed by UN Women to engage men and boys as advocates and agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights.

Male employees of the CSC committed to take part in the fight against VAW by stating the oath: “I am one of billions of men who believe equality for women is a basic human right that benefits us all. And I commit to taking action against gender discrimination and violence in order to build a more just and equal world. I AM HE FOR SHE.”

The campaign encourages the males to speak out and take action against inequalities faced by women and girls.

The campaign also encourages the men in government to spread the advocacy via social media.

 

---

SPREAD THE ADVOCACY!

• Retweet and share official content from HeForShe social media channels:

Twitter: @HeForShe
Instagram: @HeForShe
Facebook: HeForShe
YouTube: HeForShe

• Share your insights and contribute to the global conversation on gender equality.
• Submit your impact story/image/video.
• Donate to the HeForShe campaign at www.HeForShe.org.
• Display the HeForShe logo on your website/blog.
• Introduce at least one close friend or relative to the HeForShe campaign and encourage him to participate in the campaign.

CSC salutes all Juanas in Women’s Month

As one of the lead advocates for women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Civil Service Commission actively participated in the observance of the National Women’s Month.  Various activities were slated under this year’s theme, “Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!”

The CSC had a kick-off celebration during the first flag raising ceremony on March 2 with guest speaker, Professor Aurora de Dios from Miriam College.

CSC Commissioner Robert S. Martinez hands over a token of appreciation to Prof. Aurora de Dios of Miriam College.

CSC Gender Advocates (GADvocates) joined the National Kick-Off Celebration of International Women’s Day in the simultaneous street dance in Quezon City Memorial Circle on March 8.  The program celebrated achievements in empowering Juanas to step up, participate, and lead in different sectors.

Meanwhile, fun and revelry marked the CSC’s Piknik sa Kalikasan held last March 24.  Piknik is an annual tradition of the CSC that brings together all women and men to celebrate the gains in mainstreaming gender.

In her opening remarks during the Piknik, Commissioner Nieves L. Osorio urged CSC to strive harder to integrate gender equality not just in the workplace but in going through every day, adding, “Despite groups pushing for gender equality, we all know that sexual and gender-based violence continue. We all know that gender-related issues happen everyday, others even go unnoticed. As a public servant, have you asked yourself how you can help address gender issues, especially gender violence?”

CSC also participated in the Consciousness Training on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and held FGDs to discuss current gender issues and development.  CSC joined the Forum on Women in Leadership, Power and Decision-Making with the Philippine Commission on Women and the Pasig City Government on March 24 at the University of Pasig.

CSC remains faithful in its mandate as a policy making body for the country’s civil service, supporting gender mainstreaming and development. •

CSC Walks to End Violence Against Women

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) supported the 2014 Walk to End Violence Against Women on Novermber 25, 2014 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle with CSC GADvocates (Gender and Development Advocates) joining over 5,000 participants from various government agencies.

CSC GADvocates (Gender and Development Advocates) join the Walk to End VAW.

CSC GADvocates (Gender and Development Advocates) join the Walk to End VAW.

The activity is one of the highlights of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) and their Children which started in November 25 and shall culminate on December 12.  This year’s campaign revolve around the theme, “End Violence Against Women Now! It’s Our Duty” which highlights the crucial role of every ordinary Juan and Juana in ending VAW.  The entire campaign is led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in coordination with national government agencies and non-government organizations.

CSC’s Role in Ending VAW

The CSC’s transformation journey marks its shift from transactional to strategic human resource management. The institution has achieved milestones in its pursuit to upgrade HR systems and make them at par with global HR standards. However, the persistence of sexual harassment in the workplace hinders the full development of HR in the Philippines.

Gender issues such as sexual harassment have been a concern of the CSC. As a response, the CSC has issued a number of initiatives to battle gender-based discrimination and violence. In 1994, CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 19 entitled Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy in the Workplace. SH related cases are chronicled in the recently published Compendium on Sexual Harassment Volume 3. In 2005, the CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2005 advocating the use of non-sexist language in all official documents, communications, and issuances in government.

In the course of gender mainstreaming, the CSC has continued to strengthen its connection with government agencies who are equally concerned with the same, such as the Philippine Commission on Women, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, among others.

As a member of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children, the CSC is tasked to find ways of creating environments that are safe from gender-based violence. It has actively participated in policy making, implementation, and advocacy initiatives with the Committee on Women and Gender Equality (CWGE), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and other institutions on the enhancement of gender-related bills and policies, and in crafting the Women’s Empowerment, Development, and Gender Equality or Women’s EDGE Plan, which is a part of the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (PPGRD).

The CSC also established the CSC Referral System on Violence Against Women and their Children.  Implemented nationwide, it aims to strengthen GAD mechanisms and support system for employee victim-survivors of gender-based violence. This move ensures their recovery and reintegration. This program also serves to strengthen partnerships within different government entities keen to support anti-VAWC efforts, especially in the workplace.

The gender dimension has been integrated in the career service examinations through test questions and in Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) through gender-based indicators.n

CSC celebrates Women’s Month 2014

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) took part again in the observance of the National Women’s Month themed “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong!” As the nation’s premier human resource agency, CSC has been actively participating in policy making and various advocacy initiatives to promote women’s rights.

CSC GADvocates celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila.

Addressing officials and employees during the kick-off ceremony at the beginning of the month, CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III cited the importance of the role of men and women in upholding gender equity. “It is a call to recognize equity and fairness in a world where discrimination and violence thrive. While we emphasize women’s role in nation building, we also call on the men to be fellow advocates for the cause of gender equity,” Chairman Duque said.

Ten thousand participants from women’s groups, delegation from national and local government, academic institutions, and civil society organizations try to set a Guinness World Record of the most participated woman symbol formation during the kick-off activity of the 2014 Women’s Month celebration.

Countries around the world held relevant activities in celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8. The CSC also joined the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as it led the nation’s kick-off event, “The Women’s Human Symbol Forming,” held at the Quirino Grandstand with over 10,000 participants. The event attempted to set a world record of the world’s most participated women symbol forming event. CSC Gender and Development Advocates or GADvocates participated in the said event.

CSC also continues to ensure awareness of gender issues and concerns among its employees. A focus group discussion on gender mainstreaming in human resource management was held March 21 at the CSC Central Office. It aims to incorporate gender dimensions into the various HR initiatives of the Commission. The CSC also chairs the technical working group on Women and Leadership for the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and participated in the recent meeting led by PCW to prepare the Philippine status report to the United Nations. This forms part of the CSC’s commitment to ensure 50-50 gender representation in managerial positions in government, as enshrined in Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

On March 31, CSC will cap Women’s Month activities with the annual Piknik sa Kalikasan. The picnic brings together men and women of CSC to remind them of the CSC’s continuing commitment to Gender and Development (GAD). This year’s picnic will also serve as a venue to launch the new guidelines of the Gawad Kawayan, a recognition program for GAD champions in the CSC.n