Above: Philippine Ambassador Enrique Manalo with Baroness Scotland of Asthal (left) and Father Jim Teeling SJ (middle).

(London) – A British foundation has expressed its keen interest to work with the Philippine government to pre

vent domestic violence and promote better awareness of the issue.

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the current Shadow Attorney-General and, conveyed this to Philippine Ambassador to the UK Enrique Manalo at their meeting in the House of Lords on 7 March 2012.

With Baroness Scotland at the meeting was Father Jim Teeling, whose long history of social work in the Philippines led him to establish the Philippine Children Trust Fund (PCTF). The PCTF operates an orphanage and a school in Sapang Palay, Bulacan, aimed at orphaned, abandoned, impoverished or abused children. The PCTF and EDV support each other’s activities.

“The Philippine government considers domestic violence, and the protection of women and children, among its important social concerns. The country is also a strong advocate of these issues in ASEAN and in the United Nations. Government may find it helpful if new foreign partners, like the EDV, could assist in the effective implementation of policies and programs, such as the 2004 Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262) and the 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208)”, explained Ambassador Manalo.

The Global Foundation to Eliminate Domestic Violence (EDV) was established by Baroness Scotland in 2011 to promote Britain’s best practices against domestic violence with other countries. It currently operates in India, Spain and the US. Its activities in those countries involve country-specific needs assessments, training and promotion of community-led approaches.