The Gender and Development Resource Center successfully conducted a two-day Seminar-Workshop on GEDSI Mainstreaming: Working Together Towards Inclusive Education on July 6-7, 2022, at Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel, Lucban, Quezon, which was attended by the administrative council (small).
Dr. Ma. Agnes P. Nuestro, Officer-In-Charge, Office of the University President on her opening message expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone and stated her hopes that these efforts may aid in resolving inequities and injustices experienced by the marginalized group. She added that identifying the root causes of discrimination and injustice inside an organization and workplace is important to fostering genuine, long-term, transformative change for well-being and inclusive growth.
On the first day, Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles, Director, University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) discussed the fundamentals of SOGIESC and GAD Related Concepts. She urged everyone to be mindful and avoid using phrases that does not accurately reflect a person’s gender identification.
Dr. Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran, Deputy Director for Research and Publication, UPCWGS, provided a quick overview of the definitions of equality and equity, as well as the two elements of GEDSI, the disability and social inclusions. She discussed socially inclusive language, highlighting that the language we use influences how we see the world.
On the second day, Atty. Evelyn D. Battad, Associate Professor in the College of Law at the University of the Philippines (UP), discussed the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). She also explained the two types of discrimination, de facto and de jure, as well as the various types of discrimination, such as direct and indirect discrimination.
Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, President, UP, Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. shared the GEDSI and the Philippine Situationer and the planning and delivering of a gender-transformative and inclusive programs and services. She briefly discussed the CEDAW and the Policy Declaration of the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and mentioned the CHED Memorandum Order No. 01, Series 2015, which pursues gender equality in all facets of higher education.
Dr. Susan G. Tan, Director, GADRC, delivered the closing message on behalf of Dr. Melbourne R. Talactac, Vice-President for Research and Extension. She underlined that, even though the CvSU has been named the Most Outstanding State University in GAD Implementation in Calabarzon, there is still a long way to go to achieve and ensure inclusivity in the university. She expected that the participants will support such efforts and raise these issues with top management for these measures to become a university policy. She hoped that the institution would be more gender and GEDSI sensitive this semester and urged the Instruction and Curriculum Head of the GADRC to integrate GEDSI in curriculum programs. (MCPSioco)
