PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI ENGAGES WITH KENYAN AND RWANDAN INSTITUTIONS IN CAMPAIGN TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Isange One Stop Centre (IOSC) National Coordinator Shafiga Murebwayire provides PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang a tour of the Centre’s facilities for the victims of GBV. (Photo by IOSC)

NAIROBI, 13 December 2023 – In observance of the Philippines’ 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi exchanged views, experiences, and best practices with various institutions that cater to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya and Rwanda. 

On 05 December 2023, Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, visited the Isange One Stop Centre (IOSC) in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2009 as a joint initiative of the Rwandan government, UN Women and UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the IOSC provides medical, legal, forensic, psychosocial, and safety services to survivors of violence and abuse, predominantly women and girls. The name 'Isange' translates to "Feel free/Feel welcome," symbolizing a haven of security and openness for the survivors.

Ms. Shafiga Murebwayire, IOSC National Coordinator, explained the interventions being undertaken by the Centre to assist women and children. She also provided a tour of the facilities, offering the Embassy valuable insights into holistic, innovative, and survivor-centered approaches to addressing GBV.

During her visit to Kigali, Ambassador Tang also paid a courtesy call on Dr. Valentine Umwamariya, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion of Rwanda, to exchange views on promoting gender equality and eliminating GBV. Ambassador Tang, in particular, shared the Philippines’ Gender and Development (GAD) program across all units of the government, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to mainstream gender issues.

The Philippines and Rwanda are leaders in Asia and Africa, respectively, in promoting gender equality.  In the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, the Philippines ranked 16^th, while Rwanda ranked 12^th, out of 146 countries surveyed.

Meanwhile, on 24 November 2023, the Philippine Embassy, represented by Consul Maria Rosanna O. Josue, Vice Consul and Embassy’s GAD Focal Point Louie Dane C. Merced, and Alternate GAD Focal Point Sherlyn M. Roxas, met with the Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), led by Executive Director Anne Ireri. 

FIDA-Kenya, a leading women's rights organization in Kenya, is known for its extensive legal aid services, offering assistance to women facing various forms of injustice, including domestic violence, property and inheritance disputes, and issues related to family law. FIDA also focuses on capacity building and empowerment programs for women, aiming to increase their legal literacy and ability to assert their rights. 

FIDA-Kenya provided the Embassy with information on Kenya's legal systems and advocacy efforts to protect women from violence. The Embassy and FIDA-Kenya expressed interest to explore collaborative projects in the future, including by engaging Filipino women living in Kenya.

In accordance with Republic Act 10398, the Philippines observes the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children every 25 November. In 2006, Proclamation 1172 extended the annual national campaign to 18 days, up to 12 December, the date that marked the signing of the 2000 UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, to supplement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes. This campaign underscores the Philippine government's dedication to safeguarding the women’s and girls’ human rights and combating all forms of gender-based violence. END

IOSC National Coordinator Murebwayire shows the room dedicated for young children who have suffered abuse.

From right: Vice Consul and Embassy’s GAD Focal Point Louie Dane C. Merced, IOSC National Coordinator Murebwayire, Ambassador Tang, Consul Rachel Lynn V. Pineda of PH Honorary Consulate in Kigali, and Attaché and Embassy’s Alternate GAD Focal Point Ms. Sherlyn Roxas. (Photo by IOSC)

Ambassador Tang presents Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Dr. Valentine Uwamariya with a Filipiniana gift after their discussion on possible areas of collaboration on gender.

FIDA-Kenya Executive Director Anne Ireri talks about Kenya's legal systems and FIDA-Kenya’s advocacy efforts to protect women from violence.

Consul Maria Rosanna O. Josue (center), Vice Consul Merced (second to the right), and Attaché Roxas (rightmost) with the officials of FIDA-Kenya.

PH, RWANDA SIGN MOU TO BOLSTER BILATERAL COOPERATION

PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta sign the MOU on behalf of their respective governments. (Photo by MINAFFET-Rwanda)

NAIROBI, 08 December 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to Rwanda Marie Charlotte G. Tang (with residence in Nairobi) and Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Vincent Biruta signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of General Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda on 05 December 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. 

During a tête-à-tête prior to the signing ceremony, Ambassador Tang hailed the agreement as a milestone in Philippines-Rwanda relations, as it will provide direction and structure for cooperation between the two countries. 

Foreign Minister Biruta noted the longstanding and cordial ties between Rwanda and the Philippines, and expressed the hope that the MOU would open doors for the two countries to have a more vibrant engagement across different sectors.

Under the MOU, the Philippines and Rwanda will collaborate in the fields of human resources development, scientific and technological exchanges, education, health, agriculture, gender, youth, environmental issues, and security. 

During her visit to Kigali, Ambassador Tang also took the opportunity to meet with Rwandan officials from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the Rwanda National Police, and the Rwanda Development Board, initiating discussions on specific collaborations in support of the newly-signed MOU. 

Rwanda, a small landlocked country in central Africa, has emerged from the ashes of the 1994 Rwandan genocide to become one of Africa’s most dynamic and fastest-growing economies. Rwanda, known as the “land of a thousand hills”, is also recognized for its conservation success of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. END.

Ambassador Tang and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta pose for a photo after the signing ceremony (Photo by MINAFFET-Rwanda)

Ambassador Tang and Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Dr. Valentine Uwamariya discuss potential areas of collaboration in advancing SDG5 and other global objectives on gender. (Photo from the MIGEPROF-Rwanda)

Ambassador Tang (fourth from left) met with Inspector General of the Rwanda National Police of Rwanda National Police (RNP) Felix Namuhoranye (fifth from left) to exchange views and best practices on participation in UN peacekeeping missions. (Photo by RNP)

Ambassador Tang also met with Ms. Nelly Mukazayire, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), to identify areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Rwanda, particularly in business and tourism.

FILIPINO FLAVORS FEATURED AT THE ASEAN FOOD FESTIVAL IN KENYA

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (wearing yellow) accompanies Dr. Dorothy Rotich of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and other ASEAN Ambassadors at the Philippine booth at the ASEAN Food Festival

NAIROBI, 29 November 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, together with the Embassies/High Commission of the three other ASEAN member states with Missions in Nairobi namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, organized the ASEAN Food Festival on 26 November 2023 at the Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi.

The ASEAN Food Festival put a spotlight on the rich culinary traditions and authentic flavors of Southeast Asia, while also showcasing the collaborative efforts of ASEAN embassies, Southeast Asian companies, and the ASEAN diaspora in promoting people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and Kenya.

In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, current Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), emphasized the unifying aspects of food within the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia. She noted that food plays a vital role in celebrations, ceremonies, and the social fabric of Southeast Asians.

The Philippine booths offered an array of Filipino cuisine and delicacies prepared by the Filipino community in Kenya. The booths featured popular dishes such as chicken adobo, pancit, and lumpia, along with traditional all-day breakfasts tapsilog (tapa, sinangag at itlog) and longsilog (longganisa, sinangag at itlog). Visitors also enjoyed ginataang mais and a variety of street food favorites including kwek kwek (deep fried, orange-battered eggs), fish balls, and squid balls, complemented by the refreshing sago’t gulaman. An assortment of Filipino desserts like leche flan, puto, sapin-sapin, and biko was also available.

Meanwhile, other ASEAN embassies also showcased their traditional dishes, including bakso and nasi goreng from Indonesia, nasi lemak and roti canai from Malaysia, and green curry chicken and mango sticky rice from Thailand.

The ASEAN Food Festival served as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and increased public awareness of ASEAN's rich culinary heritage in Kenya. It also highlighted some shared culinary traditions and influences between ASEAN and Kenya.

To emphasize the importance of people-to-people exchanges, Qatar Airways raffled off a roundtrip ticket to any destination in Southeast Asia. The ACN will also donate a portion of the proceeds from the Festival to a partner charity organization in Kenya. END

From left: Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Wisit Bunyaritthipong of Thailand, Ambassador Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang of the Philippines (also Chair of ASEAN Committee in Nairobi for 2023), and High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia (Photo by the Indonesian Embassy in Kenya)

Ambassador Tang delivers the welcome remarks on behalf of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN)

Members of the Filipino community in Kenya showcase their culinary creations at the ASEAN Food Festival (Photos by the Indonesian Embassy in Kenya)

Some of the lucky winners of the raffle draw generously sponsored by Qatar Airways (roundtrip ticket from Nairobi to any destination in Southeast Asia), Indomie Kenya, and Golden Africa Kenya Limited.