ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan (right) discusses the water sytem projects for ARMM with DPWH Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan, Cabinet Secretary Mustapha Sambolawan, DPWH-ARMM OIC Rasul Abpi and Legal Adviser Arnel Datukon. (BPI-ARMM)

ARMM conducts symposium on fight against women discrimination

A symposium was conducted Thursday on the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) led by the Regional Commission on the Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in partnership with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCFRW) to discuss current vital issues and concerns that affect the status of the women.

ARMM Governo Zaldy Ampatuan in his message during the symposium delivered by ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Oscar Sampulna said that “this administration believes in women as partners in building a responsive and more developed region.

“We value oneness”, Sampulna said even as he stressed the importance of women’s participation and efforts in all the programs being undertaken by the regional government.

He said that the Regional Governor has women as members in his cabinet. “This is a concrete example and manifestation that women are given equal opportunities and this administration believes in the capabilities of our women as leaders and partners in development.”

Governo Ampatuan in his first State of the Region Address has committed to support initiatives that will promote and protect the rights and welfare of women including the children and the full implementation of RA 9262 known as “Anti-Violence Against Women and the Children Act of 2004.”

Women officials, heads of offices and focal persons on Gender and Development (GAD) of the regional government from its line agencies participated in the symposium and representatives from the non-government organizations and other stakeholders including the men sector.

NCRFW Commissioner Florencia T. Cabatingan in her message said that the government has obligations to protect women against all forms of abuses. “We have many laws to address issues of women and to protect them.”

Cabatingan stressed that the problem seen by her group on the implementation of this laws is that these laws are not articulated well to women and the advocacy campaign is less.

“We must express it fully. We have many laws for the protection of women and our GAD budget of 5% should be used on the promotion of this advocacy. Our women and our people should be aware of these laws,” Cabatingan said.

Solo Parent Law and the RA 9262 are concrete efforts of the government to protect women from any form of abuses.

This year’s Women’s Month celebration has a theme: CEDAW ng Bayan Karapatan ng Kababaihan!” The celebration commemorates the 25th Anniversary of CEDAW as ratified by the Philippine government.

RCBW-ARMM Chairperson Tharhata Ampatuan challenged all the women to make a difference in their respective fields. “Let us make this day a start of a positive difference and let us be united in all our efforts in advancing women empowerment.” (BPI-ARMM)