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PH ADVOCATES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT UNODC INITIATIVES ON PROMOTING QUALIFIED WOMEN 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, commends UNODC’s efforts benefitting women and their families at the Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) on 5 December 2024. Photo Credit: UNODC Secretariat of the Governing Bodies

Vienna, 9 December 2024 - The Philippines reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in achieving gender parity and women empowerment during the Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) at the Vienna International Center. 

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, delivered a statement focusing on women empowerment in view of the Philippines’ strong advocacy for such issues and as Co-Chair of the UNODC’s Group of Friends on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. 

“The Philippines acknowledges UNODC’s efforts that benefit women and their families in the organization, including flexible working arrangements, parental and special leaves for childcare, and breastfeeding policies. We commend initiatives such as the Early Career Initiative for Women and gender-responsive leadership training programs. We hope that UNODC could further strengthen measures that support upward mobility in the organization,” the envoy stated. 

Ambassador Bernas also said, “We remain concerned that gender parity targets have not been met at all levels, as reflected in the report. The Philippines acknowledges the difficulty of this task

and encourages UNODC to double its efforts in order to reach its target.” 

The envoy also acknowledged UNODC’s expanded support and outreach activities aimed at preventing and eliminating sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment has no place in this organization or any other,” said Ambassador Bernas. END.

The Joint Meeting of the Reconvened 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) and the Reconvened 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ33) on 5 December 2024

Photo Credit: UNODC Secretariat of the Governing Bodies

PRESS RELEASE

PHILIPPINES CALLS FOR ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas (left), Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, discusses the Philippines’ experiences and initiatives to fight online sexual abuse of children at the event on the UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime and INTERPOL’s Model of Work in addressing Child Sexual Abuse Material on 4 December 2024

Vienna, 10 December 2024 – The Philippines called for addressing the root causes of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and identifying the hotspots and sources of abusers during the event on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Programme on Cybercrime and INTERPOL’s Model of Work in addressing Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, stated that there is a need to shift the focus on the source of abuse and shut them down.

“Often the Philippines, either in the news or in technical reports, is characterized as a ‘global hotspot’ or a ‘source’ of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The hotspots and sources that should be identified from the statistics are those of perpetrators, which is equally important. We have to find ways to address the root cause–the perpetrators themselves–as we save the victims,” she stated. 

“Hundreds of Filipino children are victimized, and this is the frame that I want to emphasize: our Filipino children are victims, and not commodities to be consumed by ‘clients,’ but rather victimized by the insatiable demand from abusers, mostly male of a certain age and mostly traced to western countries,” the Philippine envoy said.

The event was conducted in the Vienna International Center on 4 December 2024 and gathered experts to discuss challenges and strategies in tackling online child sexual abuse as well as opportunities for international cooperation. END.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Rambak Austria invites everyone to their Christmas Party on 14 December 2024, 14:00 to 19:00 at Gretl Einsiedlerplatz 7. 1050 Vienna. 

Activities for participants include a Parol (Philippine Christmas lantern) making workshop, exchange gifts, and Filipino food tasting brought by members and attendees. 

For more information please visit their page at https://www.facebook.com/rambakaustria

Maraming salamat po!

PRESS RELEASE

FILIPINO LAING, BIKO, AND SAN MIGUEL BEER A BIG HIT AT UN VIENNA CHARITY BAZAAR

The Philippine Restaurant stall at the UNWG Charity Bazaar 2024.

05 December 2024. Filipino laing, biko and San Miguel Beer were among the popular Philippine food items sold out from the Philippine Mission booths at the UN Women’s Guild (UNWG) Charity Bazaar on 30 November 2024 at the Austria Center Vienna. 

The Philippine restaurant stall offered a variety of traditional cuisine such as kalderetang baka (beef stew with tomato sauce, liver spread, and vegetables), adobong baboy at manok (chicken and pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and spices), chicken barbecue skewers, laing (taro leaves in coconut milk), biko (glutinous rice cake with coconut milk and brown sugar) and empanada (baked pastry stuffed with pork or chicken, potatoes, green peas, bell peppers, raisins). The national goods stall sold pearls, capiz and traditional weave products, and Filipino snacks and drinks. 

According to UNWG, the Charity Bazaar welcomes around 20000-25000 visitors each year  as a fundraiser for projects of children’s charities. There were 45 countries represented in this year’s bazaar. UNWG was able to provide funding for 11 country projects through the 2023 UNWG Charity Bazaar. END.

The Philippine National Goods stall at the UNWG Charity Bazaar 2024.

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