23 November 2025, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through its Gender and Development (GAD) Unit, successfully conducted a Digital Safety and Awareness Forum aimed at equipping the Filipino community in the Republic of Korea with the knowledge and tools to prevent and respond to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). Held on 23 November 2025, the event addressed a broad spectrum of digital risks, while promoting responsible digital citizenship and awareness of online rights. The forum forms part of the global observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (25 November–12 December), highlighting digital safety as an essential pillar of anti-VAWC initiatives.

The hybrid forum engaged a notably wide audience, with over 50 participants attending onsite at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy and more than 6,500 viewers joining virtually across the Embassy’s online platforms. The strong turnout reflects the community’s growing recognition of digital safety as a critical component of personal and collective protection in an increasingly technology-driven environment.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador-designate Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez emphasized the need to understand TFGBV as a crucial step in recognizing online threats, safeguarding personal information, and protecting digital identities. She urged the community to remain vigilant and to seek assistance when faced with online abuse or gender-based harm, underscoring that reaching out to the Embassy is both a protective and courageous act. 

The forum featured special video messages from Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chair Ermelita Valdeavilla and UN Women Korea Director Yun Jeong Hwang, both of whom commended the Embassy’s timely initiative and underscored the urgency of addressing the rapid rise of tech-facilitated forms of violence. Chair Valdeavilla said, “The theme is not just timely–it is urgent. It correctly identifies the new, insidious frontier where violence against women and children is being perpetrated. The very title of the seminar, ‘Hindi Nakikita, Hindi Naririnig,’ captures the hidden nature of digital abuse.” Director Hwang added, “Today’s discussion is vital for collective action to make online spaces safe, challenge tech-facilitated abuse, and ensure women and girls can live free from violence–online and offline.”

The forum’s resource speakers provided diverse, practical and forward-looking insights. Ms. Gichelle Cruz, from the PCW GAD Resource Pool, shared essential digital protection tools tailored for Filipinos in Korea; Mr. Ahn Sung-pil, of the Yongsan Metropolitan Police, offered guidance on legal rights and available mechanisms in the ROK for preventing and responding to tech-based gender violence; and Ms. Sujung An, from UN Women, provided a global overview of emerging trends such as AI-driven misinformation, normalization of harmful online content, and the growing vulnerability of young male demographics due to digital isolation. The session was moderated by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, who serves as the Embassy’s GAD Focal Officer.

By empowering the Filipino community with essential information and practical strategies, the Embassy contributes to the Philippine government’s broader commitment to eliminate violence against women and children and to strengthen community resilience through education and digital literacy. 

The Embassy will continue expanding programs that promote a digitally resilient, informed, and empowered community and contribute to the long-term well-being of overseas Filipinos. END