SEOUL, Republic of Korea — Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez met with UNICEF Philippines Representative Kyungsun Kim on 15 October 2026 to discuss continued development cooperation, child protection, and opportunities to strengthen support for vulnerable children and communities in the Philippines.

The meeting took place during Ms. Kim’s visit to the ROK for consultations with development partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Ambassador Fernandez underscored the importance of sustaining ROK development assistance to the Philippines, particularly in underserved communities and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). She emphasized that continued economic progress must be accompanied by meaningful investments in the welfare of children, including those from indigenous communities and geographically isolated areas.

Discussions also covered UNICEF’s efforts to strengthen local government capacities, improve birth registration, and prevent violence against children, including online sexual abuse and exploitation. Ambassador Fernandez encouraged greater engagement with Philippine local governance institutions and the translation of age-appropriate educational materials into regional languages to ensure that child protection initiatives reach communities most in need.

Both sides also discussed the Philippines’ hosting of the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Manila on 18–19 November 2026, which will bring together international partners to advance collective action against violence and exploitation.

Ambassador Fernandez was joined by Second Secretary and Consul Reisha Olavario, while Ms. Kim was accompanied by UNICEF Public Partnerships Associate Haesun Chang.

The engagement reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Philippines and UNICEF to advancing inclusive, sustainable development and strengthening the protection and well-being of Filipino children. END