Even with minimum supervision, HLAF volunteer Valerie Ancero guides other volunteers during their planned program for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Talisay City Jail, Talisay, Cebu.
She leads more than twenty-five (25) law student volunteers from the University of San Carlos (USC) in planning and implementing an Anti-LGBT+ PDL Discrimination Seminar for Male and LGBTQ+ PDLs, held on May 9, 2023.
The Anti-Discrimination Seminar to the LGBTQ+ Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) addresses gender-based harassment inside and outside the jail facilities. Moreover, this seminar serves as a vital educational platform to raise awareness about the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are PDLs. It provides an opportunity to elucidate existing laws and legal protections against discrimination and harassment, empowering the LGBTQ+ PDLs to better understand and assert their rights.
This initiative signals a critical step towards combating discrimination and promoting inclusivity within the justice system. By fostering understanding and empathy through education, participants, including law enforcement, correctional officers, and community members, can gain insights into the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ PDLs, leading to positive changes in attitudes and behaviors.
HLAF believes by providing a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ PDLs to voice their experiences, the seminar can help identify instances of gender-based harassment, both within the correctional system and in broader society. This knowledge can inform targeted interventions and policy advocacy to address and prevent such abuses.
This collaborative effort not only empowers LGBTQ+ PDLs but also contributes to building a more inclusive and equitable justice system, where all individuals, regardless of gender identity, are treated with dignity and respect
