Davao City – Another major milestone was achieved in the pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the BARMM as the 3-day write shop on the policy research and formulation was successfully conducted at Go Hotels, Davao City, on September 24 to 26, 2021. These policy papers will eventually be translated into legislative measures and hopefully adopted by the Bangsamoro Parliament.
The write-shop aimed to develop comprehensive policies addressing women’s specific needs and challenges in the BARMM region. Seven policy areas were focused on and discussed during the activity: combating violence against women, GAD budgeting, addressing the situation of women deprived of liberty, ending child-early and forced marriages, addressing mental health and climate security concerns, and empowering women economically. All of these underwent rigorous scrutiny by Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) experts, headed by Director Dr. Nassef Manabilang Adiong.
As the Commission’s Chairperson Hadja Bainon G. Karon puts it in closing the activity, “I want to underscore the paramount importance of policy research in decision-making. We’ve delved into evidence-based information’s profound impact on guiding policymakers toward making informed choices. Research not only answers our most pressing questions but also widens our understanding, contributing to the ever-expanding body of knowledge that shapes our world.” Chair Karon went on to commend the BWC Technical Team and express her gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme, particularly the Peace and Stabilization team led by its dedicated project manager, Dr. Judith De Guzman, for funding and supporting this important initiative and the PRLS team for their expertise and dedication in facilitating the write-shop.