COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front in partnership with The United Nations Children 's Fund (UNICEF) organized a third batch training of Para - Social Workers for Protection of Children and Families affected by Armed Conflict held at LM Metro Hotel, Zamboanga City from March 8-12, 2018.
The participants were selected and recommended by the MILF through their SWC (Social Welfare Committee), and BIWAB (Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade) which is under the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
The training is implemented by CFSI (Community and Family Services International) an international NGO with financial assistance from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The said activity aims to capacitate the para - social workers of the MILF in handling disengaged children as one component in the delisting by United nations (UN) of MILF Child Soldiers used in armed conflict.
There are about 1,689 identified disengaged children that the para - social workers tend to cater thru CFSI - MILF - UNICEF partnership.
The BIWAB is represented by its focal person Magda T. Kali who gave a background on UN - MILF Action Plan.
Engr. Aida Silongan, Focal Person of SWC talked about the programs, and rationale of the activity, while Ustadz Marhan Burhan, Focal Person for Da'wah Central Committee of the MILF spoke about on the rights of children in Islam, and why MILF agreed to disengaged their child combatants.
Shiekh Abdulhadie B. Gumander of MILF Secretariat, and Team Leader of the focal persons reminded the participants of the correct aqeedah (religious belief or conviction) in Islam.
He argued that if you have correct aqeedah you will be in the right path, and will result in not so moderate, and not so extreme in your religious belief.
Shiekh Gumander also talked about the passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). He lamented that there are individuals who are against the passage of BBL but they could not give an alternative solution to the Bangsamoro Question.
" BBL is the fruit of four decades of peace negotiations started during the time of MNLF, and now with the MILF... It will address centuries - old biases, prejudices, discriminations, and oppressions committed against the Moro People. It is now the right time to heal the wounds of conflict, and animosities, the sufferings of the people affected by it through passage of the proposed law. " he added.