BACOLOD City – The Provincial Council for Women (PCW)-Negros Occidental kicked off its National Women’s Month celebration with more than 500 participants composed of women leaders, advocates and prime movers in the province.
PCW chair Andrea Lizares-Si said this year’s theme, “Agenda ni Juana and Making Change Work for Women”, features initiatives on the establishment of gender and development database.
Board member and Provincial Committee Chair on Women and Children Helen Zafra said the province urged all local government units to be gender responsive, recognizing and enhancing the capabilities of both men and women to contribute to the development of the province.
“I urge all local government units to promote gender responsive policies and mandating non-discriminatory equity measures that will enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and plans of the local government,” Zafra said.
Aside from the Women’s Month celebration, this year also marks a significant milestone for PCW 25th anniversary of its creation through Provincial Ordinance 54, Series of 1994.
“Let us renew our commitment and re-ignite our advocacy. Let us be inspired in what we have achieved so far as well as be encouraged to continue to work for a society where men and women are given equal opportunities, where discrimination and abuse no longer exist,” Zafra added. (PIA/PN)
