Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo endorsed five outcome documents for adoption this November which aimed to benefit the marginalized and vulnerable sectors.
These included the ASEAN Instrument on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers; the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals; the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Ending all Forms of Malnutrition; the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration of Commitment on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR): Combating AMR through One Health Approach; and the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Youth Development Index.
Taguiwalo, who chairs the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council, said “The ASEAN Summit, with the Philippine Chairship, highlights the camaraderie among our nations with a common goal of uplifting the lives of our people.”
In another development, Taguiwalo announced her Department’s hosting of two forthcoming international events.
“We will host an ASEAN High-Level Conference on Social Protection in Manila on August 18-20. It aims to provide a venue for interactive discussion, consultation, and sharing of best practices among ASEAN national and international organizations on social protection,” Sec. Taguiwalo said adding that the conference would also serve as venue to discuss updates from ASEAN Member-States relative to the adoption of the Declaration, and Framework and Action Plan.
Taguiwalo later mentioned that the conditional cash transfer would be part of the August discussion.
Another meeting organized by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC), The Cross Regional Meeting for Advancing the Protection of Children from Violence, would likewise convene in Manila on June 6-8.
“The meeting will provide a venue to discuss updates on the efforts of the government, civil society and other stakeholders, highlight the role of children in eliminating violence against children,” she said.
Meanwhile, Manila would host two key health-related activities through the leadership of the National Nutrition Council and the Department of Health, namely, the ASEAN Conference on Nutrition and Breastfeeding + “Hakab Na” on August 5 and the Traditional Medicine Conference – Milestone Achievements of ASEAN Member States on September 26-27.