Rowena Villanueva and Jill Bacasmas, members of the Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Gender and Development (GAD) Committee represented the Philippines to the course on Ensuring Gender Mainstreaming and Eliminating Gender-Based Violence of the NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW). The course was sponsored by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of the Malaysian government and was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia from 8 to 12 September. Master Trainer Dr. Tengku Naufal Tengku Mansor, renowned Women’s Empowerment advocate and certified trainer led the five-day program.
Representatives from member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) such as Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, and Iraq were in attendance as projected gender focal points or experts in their respective organizations. To further mainstream gender in all levels of development and sectors of society, the participants were selected from various backgrounds – the government sector, non-government organizations and the corporate sector. The training exposed the participants to various gender perspectives and acquainted them with the positive measures taken by the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia to address gender issues and combat gender-based violence.
Established in 2006, NIEW has been organizing programs on training and capacity building in critical areas which have been identified as crucial to the empowerment of women such as Women in Politics and Economy, Women in Education and ICT, Women in Health and Violence Against Women.
Photo with Normalia Ibrahim, NIEW Director (first row, 3rd from left) and Hon. Dato’Sabariah Hasaan, Secrectary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (first row, 4th from left)
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development introduces the participants to the efforts taken by the Malaysian government to ensure gender mainstreaming.
Participants share their own perspectives on gender issues in brainstorming sessions.
International delegates interact with Hon. Dato’Sabariah Hasaan, Secrectary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
Jill and Rowena visit the Child Interview Center of Royal Malaysia Police. The sophisticated interrogation facility caters to the specific needs of young children involved in criminal cases.
Jill and Rowena visit the Child Interview Center of Royal Malaysia Police. The sophisticated interrogation facility caters to the specific needs of young children involved in criminal cases.
