Bangsamoro RAPWPS for 2023 – 2028 enhanced in the BARMM region
COTABATO CITY (October 6, 2023) – Bainon G. Karon, Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chairperson, highlighted on her speech the significant step in advancing the women peace and security agenda in line with the region’s contribution to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and succeeding Resolution of WPS during the launching of Bangsamoro Regional Women’s Action Plan on Women Peace and Security of 2023-2028 held at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center in the Bangsamoro Government Centre last October 5, 2023.
She stressed that the Bangsamoro RAPWPS reiterates the Bangsamoro government’s steadfast commitment in ensuring the genuine, just and sustainable peace and development with a meaningful inclusion and participation of women in conflict prevention, peace building in governance in the region.
Karon said that the enhanced Bangsamoro RAPWPS is a fruit of collaborative efforts of various participants who were invited by the Commission from women sector in order to include their agenda for peace and development in the region and the whole country.
“This is supported by the BARMM Government and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority through the Commission, different partners from international community, Oxfam, and other development partners, particularly the UNDP and UN Women.” she added.
The BWC head said, “It is also supported by the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the European Union as well as the Local Government Units in the Bangsamoro and Civil Society Organizations.”
Karon added, “The enhancement of Bangsamoro RAPWPS integrates lessons learned and recommendations to strengthen the implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the updated action plan during their assessment activity.”
BWC as a Commission, recognized that through the conduct of assessment, the emerging trends and cross cutting issues intersects WPS and young people, WPS and the normalization process, climate, peace and security, WPS an engaging men and boys, cyber security, WPS in diverse gender population and mental health and psycho support and among others.
According to Karon, the conduct of multi stakeholder processes during assessment brought together for RAPWPS partners from different sectors and geographical areas building the narratives regarding respective journeys in advancing women peace and security agenda within the context of implementing and sustaining the gains from the Bangsamoro peace agreement.
By enhancing the new cycle of BARMM RAPWPS 2023 – 2028, they considered the assessment activity as a venue to review the gaps and challenges and as well as, the gains and milestones of the 2020 – 2022 cycle of the BARMM RAPWPS.
Some noted gaps and challenges were lack of alignment, across commitment, priorities and resources for RAPWPS monitoring and implementation. It also Included the difficulties in effective mainstreaming and localization, availability of resources and mechanism for monitoring and evaluation and sustainability.
Karon said, “The review processes also surface the significant gains and milestones during the assessment that the Bangsamoro government has sustained its efforts on empowering and supporting more women from the government, civil society, grassroots communities as leaders, mediators and peace builders.”
“In the BTA, sixteen (16) out of eighty-one (81) members of the Parliament are coming from the women sector seated by MP Atty. Sha Elija Dumama – Alba, being the Majority Floor Leader and concurrent Secretary General of the Attorney General Office of the BARMM.,” she underscored.
Karon added, “In the fifteen (15) Ministries, it is led by women ministers’ in person of MP Atty. Raissa Jajurie of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and MP Engr. Aida M. Silongan, of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).”
According to Karon, there are two (2) women in peace serving as School Chairs of Joint Task Force supports the Normalization process MP Atty. Laisa Alamia of Joint Task Force for Decommissioned Combatant and their Communities.
MP Engr. Baintan Ampatuan on the Joint Task Force on Camps and Transformation, Chair of BTA Committee on Women, Youth, Children and Disabilities MP Diamila Ramos, Women MPs Tarhata Maglangit contributed the moving forward of the passage of Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code.
The BWC Chairperson further cited that those empowered women consistently advocate gender equality and women empowerment in their respective peers and influence that promotes women’s rights, gender equality, and peace and security in the Bangsamoro region. (Faydiyah Samanodi Akmad, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
