BUTUAN CITY – To commence the month-long celebration of Women’s Month this year, 72 National Government Agencies (NGAs) and other stakeholders including the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga gathered in the morning of March 1, 2018 to participate in the advocacy walk, #1BillionRising Dance and the opening program earlier today.This annual celebration of the National Women’s Month aims to give due recognition to the contributions of Filipino women in our society.
The observance has been using the theme “We Make Change Work For Women” since 2017 and will be used until CY 2022. Anchored on the commitment of “Malasakit at Pagbabago” or “True Compassion and Real Change”, it highlights the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of development.“Women should be active drivers in bringing about positive changes,” said Social Welfare Officer Jessie Catherine Aranas as she shares the briefer for the month-long celebration.“Let’s support the advocacy of this celebration and use the official hashtags such as #WomenMakeChange, #RiseInSolidarity, #RiseResistUnite and #1BillionRising as we post on social media,” she added.
Further, this year’s 1 Billion Rising Movement is also celebrated with the theme “Solidarity”. This big mass action continues its advocacy in ending violence against women in human history.Here are the events and activities during the month-long celebration:March 1 – Kick Off ActivityMarch 8 – 2018 Women’s Summit & Launching of Search for Caraga’s Most Responsive LGUMarch 22-23 – Outreach Program in Brgy. Babuyan, Carrascal, SDS with IPs CommunityApril 6 – Culmination Activity (Sportsfest)March 16 – Advocacy Summit (RIACAT-VAWC) & Recognition of Women Survivors###(MARY CARMELLE C. JUMAWAN/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)