COTABATO CITY—Recognizing the crucial participation of women in peacebuilding, the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), together with the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), gathered 30 women belonging to the family of combatants during the one-day activity “Empowering Young Women in MILF Camps: Challenges, Roles and Resources” on Tuesday, March 15, in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
In line with this year’s theme, “We Make Change Work for Women: Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran”, the activity aims to empower young women who are daughters of former combatants of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in different areas of the region through capacitating their skills and enhancing their knowledge on the role of young Moro women in peacebuilding, and by providing a platform for them to share their experiences of conflict and violence and how they have overcome them.
Participants discussed and identified various issues and concerns in their community, and suggested possible interventions to address the said challenges.
Rohaniya Sumail, BWC Training Specialist, stressed the significant role of women in achieving and sustaining the gains of the peace process.
“Women play an important role in realizing our struugle. They might appear as frontliners, but their contribution to peace-building is undoubtedly crucial,” Sumail said.
“Besides, our women are the most vulnerable sector in our society, and this is one of the pursuits of the BARMM government to provide them with programs and initiatives in particular to security sector, in order to safeguard them and amplify their voices,” she added.
Meanwhile, BYC Commissioner Nasserudin D. Dunding, representing Maguindanao, Cotabato City, and Special Geographic Areas of North Cotabato said the women and the youth belong to the most vulnerable sector, and BYC, in collaboration with its partner offices, is here to provide mechanisms to our constituents.”
“Amidst the pandemic, despite these challenges, we will still try our best to find solutions and listen to the concerns of our people, and address them through the help of the Almighty,” Commissioner Dunding added.
The observance of the annual National Women’s Month in March is pursuant to Proclamation No. 227 series of 1988.
It aims at giving due recognition to the contributions of Filipino women in our society, specifically to inform and engage women as stakeholders of government programs and services; to create and facilitate platforms to discuss good practices, gaps, challenges, and commitments in pursuing gender and development; and to inspire and empower women and girls to be agents of change.
“Our women are part of our governance. They are part of the process, no matter what status or state you are, your voices are important. The BARMM government needs you,” Commissioner Dunding added. (BYC PR Unit)
