Foreign Service Officers Cadetship Course (FSOCC) Batch 22 participated in the Gender Sensitivity Training–a day of lectures and workshops on Gender and Development (GAD)–on 26 April 2016 as part of their six-month training program in the Foreign Service Institute.

The GST component in the FSOCC reaffirms the commitment of the Department of Foreign Affairs to equip foreign service personnel with the necessary knowledge on gender sensitivity in the workplace.

Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea of the Asian Center at the University of the Philippines Diliman served as resource person. A former director of UP’s Center for Women’s Studies, it was through her efforts that the creation of gender offices in all constituent campuses and the publication of important books on gender and women’s concerns were made possible. She guided the cadets toward appreciating the salient features of Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Magna Carta of Women, and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law.

Meanwhile, Atty. Christiansen D. Cabahug conducted a workshop where the cadets discussed cases where women’s rights and sexual harassment laws were applicable.

Ms. Marichu C. Liwanag, Head of the Institute’s Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy, capped the day with a short lecture on gender-fair language, instilling in the junior officers the use of gender-fair and non-sexist words in official communications.