COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Commissioner Maisara Dandamun-Latiph gave assurance of the establishment of the Bangsamoro Women Commission during her keynote message at the 2nd Bangsamoro Women Economic and Development Summit on March 14, 2018.
“I assure you, there shall be a Bangsamoro Women Commission created by the parliament to promote women’s rights in the Bangsamoro. Women should finally stake their claims in the table,” Latiph said in her message.
She also said 50 percent of the available positions in government service must be occupied by women and that women’s seats in the interim government and the Bangsamoro Council of Leaders should be guaranteed as well.
Latiph said the primary actions of women should be about empowerment so that they are informed of their rights and provided with trainings and strategies that contribute to women’s inclusion and participation in governance and peace building.
“We are here because we are strong and we survived. ‘Wag po tayo mahiya na umupo sa lamesa. Dapat po tayo mismo have our place dahil kung hindi tayo, sino? Nasa inyo po if we want or reject change (Let us not be afraid to sit on the table. We ourselves should have a place there; if not us, then who? It’s up to you if want or reject change),” she said.
The 2nd Bangsamoro Women’s Summit is a two-day consultation among Moro women, non-Moro indigenous women, civil society organizations, and government agencies aiming to strengthen constituency support on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
It also provides an avenue for discourse on insights regarding Moro women’s political participation in governance, peace building, and development.
It is a collaborative activity of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women, and Commission on Elections in celebration of the National Women’s Month.
