Various BARMM Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons witness the unveiling of the 2nd BARMM Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (RAPWPS) 2023-2028, on October 5, 2023 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center, in Cotabato City. (Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) officially launched on Oct. 5, the 2nd BARMM Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (RAPWPS) 2023-2028, ensuring a broader peace and development agenda across the autonomous region.
The RAPWPS is a 6-year plan that aims to address various needs of women in promoting their protection toward achieving lasting peace and gender equality in the region.
BWC Chairperson Bainon Karon stressed the unwavering commitment of the Bangsamoro Government in upholding a conflict-free BARMM through the RAPWPS.
“There can be no genuine, just, and sustainable peace and development without the meaningful inclusion and participation of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and governance in the region,” Karon stated during the program’s launch at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center in this city.
“We commit to actively advance the RAPWPS 2023-2028 as the blueprint in galvanizing our initiatives towards meaningful participation and leadership of women in charting the pathways towards an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro,” she said.
Karon hopes that RAPWPS may serve as a reminder to ensure the realization of the needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people, as enshrined in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL)
During the launch, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim shared that the action plan not only caters to the immediate security concerns of women but also their long-term development and empowerment.
“It encompasses strategies and cross-cutting themes to promote women’s participation in decision-making, economic opportunities, access to education and healthcare, and protection from gender-based violence,” he emphasized, highlighting more salient points included in the RAPWPS.
Moreover, the plan is also composed of four pillars, namely: Protection and Prevention, Empowerment and Participation, Promotion and Mainstreaming, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
These pillars feature a total of 18 action points with corresponding sub-action points and 68 indicators to be undertaken through concerted efforts of different stakeholders.
Regarding the implementation of the plan, BARMM Ministries, Offices, Agencies (MOAs), local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, and development partners also expressed their support.
Likewise, Minister of Public Order and Safety Hussein Muñoz, represented by Planning Officer Abdulrahman Macapendeg, reassures the tireless efforts of the Ministry to safeguard peace in the region. He also pledged his support and assistance, reaffirming his will to aid in the successful implementation of the RAPWPS.
The Minister mentioned, “It is not only a testament to the commitment of the Bangsamoro leadership to gender equality and sustainable peace but also a model for other regions facing similar challenges.”
After conducting a series of consultations and workshops, the third cycle of the plan marks a significant milestone as it reinforces the region’s achievements and addresses the gaps and challenges identified in BARMM RAPWPS 2020-2022.
RAPWPS is in pursuit of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which ensures systematic and sustainable integration of women into peace and security.
Promoting inclusive development for women as well as sustaining peace and security across the BARMM are in line with Chief Minister Ebrahim’s 11th priority in its Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
