ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 20 (PIA) – In celebration of this year’s Pride month, the Mujer LGBTQ Organization in Zamboanga City conducts a gathering inviting community leaders and partners to strengthen the human rights, especially to the LGBTQI+ community.
Along with the City Government of Zamboanga, Gender and Development, German Embassy Manila, and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines the Pride Reception was conducted to discuss the issues of human rights down to the grassroots community including in Zamboanga Peninsula. Moreso, this is part of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day and National PRIDE Month.
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany along with Mujer LGBT Organization, Google and the CHR, conducted the Human Rights Education Workshop in various areas in the Philippines. Focusing on training decision-maker officials of the local government agencies, departments, and divisions which aimed to address grassroots issues and ensure that despite the absence of the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Law, local government units are empowered in handling human rights cases, may it be with gender-marginalized groups or indigenous community.
The visit also included documentation of gender-based human rights reported and unreported cases, to act as additional baseline report or data to be submitted to PNP, CHR and European Union.
June is a month to celebrate diversity, resilience and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and to also recognize the on-going struggle for equality.
“Through dialogue, we can create a more inclusive and accepted global community,” said Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel of German Embassy Manila in her message during the Pride Reception.
The City Government of Zamboanga through the Gender and Development office continue to support the LGBTQ+ community in pursuit of equality and strengthen the anti-discrimination among the community.
“We have gone so far in fight for equality in Mindanao and yet there is still more to be done, but we are confident that as long as we got each other’s back, we will be able to achieve our goals,” said Toni Gee Fernandez, President of Mujer LGBT Organization. (RVC/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
