COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) launched the third generation Regional Action Plan (RAP) to strengthen the promotion of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in the region. This groundbreaking initiative, slated to be implemented until 2028, will enhance the meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls in the Bangsamoro in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and governance, and thus contribute towards the broader peace and development agenda in the region.

Supported by the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the European Union, and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the Bangsamoro government updated the RAP WPS and aligned it with the Philippine National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security and key international agreements. The updating process involved a consultative approach and a series of regional and provincial validation workshops held across the region’s provinces and included Bangsamoro areas outside of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In her welcome remarks, BWC Chairperson Hadja Bainon G. Karon recognized the steadfast commitment of Bangsamoro’s partners towards establishing sustainable peace. “As we launch [the RAP WPS], I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the different peace partners who have accompanied us in this journey. We offer this new cycle 2023-2028 in honor of the women in the Bangsamoro who continue to aspire and build peaceful and resilient communities in the region,” she remarked.

The RAP WPS identified emerging trends and cross-cutting issues in the Bangsamoro — such as cybersecurity, mental health and psychosocial support, and climate security — through extensive consultations with various stakeholders. 

In his message of support, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran commended the action plan’s inclusion of intersectionality to ensure a more concrete and gender-responsive plan for the protection and empowerment of women. “It is our hope that the RAP-WPS 2023 to 2028 will continue to solidify the agenda for Bangsamoro women and girls. UNDP will remain a steadfast ally in the implementation of the action plan,” he added.

Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim highlighted the importance of the action plan in the overall peace agenda of the Bangsamoro. “The RAP WPS is a testament to our collective pursuit to address the unique needs of and challenges of women in conflict situations. We recognize the valuable role women play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution,” he said.

Messages of support poured in from the BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), BARMM provinces and local governments, United Nations Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo González, UN Women, Oxfam, and the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

The current cycle of RAP WPS includes 18 action points and 64 indicators divided into four pillars: Protection and Prevention, Empowerment and Participation, Promotion and Mainstreaming, and Monitoring and Evaluation. As the implementation progresses, the plan will be regularly reviewed and updated to adapt to emerging realities on the ground.

One of the key recommendations from the various consultation and validation workshops focuses on strengthening the localization of the RAP WPS. This localization process will need to take into consideration the different initiatives that have already been implemented or are being implemented by local government units and civil society organizations in each province. Thus, the provincial roll-outs of the RAP WPS 2023-2028 will be conducted in all BARMM provinces and are scheduled to start in November 2023.