Cotabato City -  The Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) has emphasized the critical role of men in ensuring a violence-free Bangsamoro region. This call came during the launch of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on November 25th at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) in this city.

BWC Chairperson Bainon Karon, speaking during the 6th State of the Bangsamoro Women Address (SoBWA), highlighted the need for engaging men and boys, along with community and religious leaders, to create a supportive environment for survivors and build safer communities for women and girls.

 

"By engaging men and boys, along with community and religious leaders, we can foster a supportive environment for survivors and build safer communities for women and girls," Karon said.

 

The 18-Day Campaign, which runs annually from November 25 to December 12 under Presidential Proclamation 1172, aims to raise awareness and encourage collaboration to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

 

Karon acknowledged the progress made in addressing social issues concerning the security and welfare of women and girls in the region, but emphasized the need to review strategies and approaches to achieve the goal of a VAW-free BARMM.

 

"Ensuring the welfare of the survivors is the utmost priority and not the other way around, where survivors suffer more as they are married to the perpetrators," she added.

 

She stressed that human-rights-based and multi-sectoral approaches to VAW are crucial to guarantee survivors' access to dignified life-saving services such as health, psychosocial support, social services, protection, justice, and legal aid.

 

Minister Elijah Dumama-Alba of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) also highlighted the importance of the Barangay VAW Desk, which is designed to address concerns related to Republic Act No. 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004, and other forms of gender-based discrimination.

 

"The VAW desk is not merely a requirement under Section 408 of the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code (BLGC), it is a declaration of our commitment to protect and empower the women of Bangsamoro," Alba stated.

 

The launch of the 18-Day Campaign and the emphasis on male engagement in ending VAW demonstrate the Bangsamoro government's commitment to creating a safer and more equitable society for all.