SP HOLDS SOGIESC SEMINAR TO PROMOTE GENDER INCLUSIVITY AND ACCEPTANCE
By: Jiroh Joy Marbella, GPC-SP | Photos By: SP | Date: March 31, 2023
The rooftop conference hall of Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Legislative Building and Session Hall at the Provincial Capitol was buzzing with excitement as participants from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Office gathered for a seminar on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC). The seminar, which is the culminating activity of the office in celebration of the Women’s Month 2023, on Friday, March 31, 2023, was led by the Office of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Maria Rosario Eufrosina “Chary” P. Nisce together with the invited resource speaker Atty. Lian E. Rimando.
The event was organized by the Office of SPM Chary together with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat headed by Mr. Donato A. Rimando, PhD. The event was attended by all staff of the 23rd Sangguniang Panlalawigan as well as staff of the SP Secretariat and was aimed to raise awareness on SOGIESC and promote inclusivity and acceptance of all genders and sexual orientations.
Atty. Rimando briefly discussed the concept of gender and development. She emphasized that gender plays a significant role in shaping the social and economic landscape of a community, and promoting gender equality is essential for sustainable development.
Atty. Rimando, a well-known local youth leader and advocate for gender equality, started the seminar by providing a comprehensive definition of SOGIESC, related words and terms, and its importance in promoting human rights and dignity. She emphasized that every person has the right to live freely, without fear of discrimination, and with full respect for their dignity as a human being.
A total of 64 participants, 24 males and 40 females, attended the seminar and were fully engaged and actively participated in the discussions and fearlessly asked questions about the legal framework for SOGIESC, the challenges faced by the LGBT+ community, and ways to promote gender inclusivity and acceptance.
The seminar was a significant step towards promoting a more inclusive, accepting and #strongerLaUnion, likewise, the participants left with a renewed sense of commitment to work together towards this goal, specifically to commit to conduct quarterly a ladderized/series of info seminars aimed at increasing awareness and eventually become SOGIESC advocates.
The SOGIESC seminar marks a significant milestone in the promotion of gender equality and inclusivity in the SP Office. To further show the true La Union #probinsyanihan, it is hoped that this seminar will inspire more initiatives and programs that promote human rights, dignity, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their SOGIESC.
Related Photos:
