COTABATO CITY—Chairperson Bainon Karon of the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) underscored the Government of the Day’s concerted efforts in continuously implementing initiatives to ensure gender equality and eliminate gender-based violence against women and girls in the BARMM.
This was highlighted during the 2023 State of the Bangsamoro Women Address (SoBWA) on Nov. 28 in this city, alongside the kickoff of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), pursuant to Proclamation No. 1172 series of 2006, carrying the theme “United for a VAW-free Bangsamoro.”
SoBWA is a yearly event, spearheaded by the BWC, that reflects the progress of the BARMM Government’s interventions and caters to the challenges encountered in order to advance the well-being of Bangsamoro women and girls.
“As we observe the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, we renew our commitment and must accelerate our actions to address this pervasive issue by putting women and girls at the center and engaging men and boys at the same time,” Chairperson Karon said.
“We must invest to prevent violence against women and girls and focus our attention on the importance of financing different prevention strategies to stop violence from occurring in the first place,” she continued.
The Chairperson discussed significant topics pertaining to gender-based violence; Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM); social protection programs for women and children; capacity building on Gender and Development (GAD); decommissioned women combatants; and the enactment of relevant priority codes that empower women, among others.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim then emphasized that the path to progress can be achieved through unlocking Bangsamoro women’s utmost potential and giving them equal opportunity.
CM Ebrahim further expressed the unwavering dedication of the Government of the Day to fostering the rights of Bangsamoro women in the continuous improvement of the BARMM.
“We will continue our task to safeguard their rights and empower them to be partners of this government on its journey towards an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro,” he stated.
The activity was attended by representatives from BARMM Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (MOAs), development partners, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders.
Promoting the self-sustaining and inclusive development of Bangsamoro women is in line with CM Ebrahim’s 12th priority under the Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
