PH Embassy in Berlin Screens Indie Film “Verdict”, Promote Discussion on Violence Against Women and Children

Film viewing at Katolische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist.

BERLIN 30 March 2022 – Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the Filipino Community in Berlin conducted a film screening of the indie film “Verdict”, written and directed by Raymund Rivas Gutierrez, on 27 March 2022 at the Katolische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist (Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit) in Berlin to highlight issues affecting women in observance of the 2022 Philippine National Women’s Month.

The film, which focuses on the search for justice by a battered wife, received the Orizzonti Special Jury Prize at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival.

The Embassy’s Gender and Development (GAD) Officer Mary Luck Hicarte provided the context that violence against women and children is rooted in gender inequality or the uneven distribution of power among men and women in a society. “Bakit ba kailangan ng gender equality? Dahil kapag hindi pantay ang tingin sa lahat ng kasarian, kapag hindi ginagalang ang karapatang pantao ng bawa’t isa, iyan ang ugat ng maraming mga isyu sa lipunan, kabilang na ang karahasan laban sa kababaihan” she said.

Charge d’affaires Lillibeth Pono called on the members of the community to be vigilant against cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) and rallied their support for women victims of VAWC, regardless of their nationality.

The Chaplain of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin, Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD, provided insights on the sociological underpinnings of this phenomenon and enriched the discussion by drawing on his wealth of pastoral experience.

Around 40 members of the Filipino community who participated in the event had varied reactions, with some moved to tears by the indie film, and expressed appreciation for the activity. END