COTABATO CITY (March 22, 2023) – The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) together with the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held its 2nd Bangsamoro NextGen Young Women Leaders Workshop on March 17-19, 2023, in Cotabato City.
With the support from the UK Government, the workshop was aimed at capturing the stories of young women during the transition as a basis for intervention.
In her message, BYC Commissioner for Tawi-Tawi Pratima Sabal-Samsaraji stressed the importance of hearing every story of the young women to show their capacity as Bangsamoro women.
“I am seeing here the diverse culture, representation, and delegation from different parts of the region. Tell us about your stories. We know for a fact na ang kaabataang kababaihan ay very empowered. Mahalaga po ang participation natin, kabataang kababaihan,” she said.
Highlights of the program include young women leaders sharing some of their information, knowledge, and experiences during the transition.
BYC MagCotSGA Commmissioner Nasserudin Dunding also addressed the important role of young women in representing their respective sectors.
“The most important repesentation is meaningful representation. Kailangan matutunan natin na yong lahat nung representations natin, lahat ng gusto nating sabihin — napakaraming paraan para ma i-deliver natin siya peacefully. I’m talking about non-violent and peaceful co-existence of advocating for your advocacies, katulad nang pagpunta niyo dito,” Dunding said.
Around 30 young women leaders attended the said program who came from different areas of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Bangsamoro communities outside the region.
Meanwhile, BYC and BWC presented the salient features and objectives of the Regional Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security (RAP-YPS) and the Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (RAP-WPS).
UNDP Project Analyst Catherine Joy Rumbines, reaffirmed the continued support of UNDP in the different programs and campaigns of the BARMM government for the development of young women sector in the region.
The said workshop was held in line with the celebration of Women’s Month. (BYC PR Unit/SAMN)
