MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Nov. 5 (PIA) –
In an effort to deepen the knowledge and skills of humanitarian workers in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on gender issues, the region’s
Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW-ARMM) conducted a training workshop for
gender focal persons from different ARMM agencies and humanitarian workers on
October 26 to 30, 2015 in Davao City.
Sittie Jehanne Mutin, RCBW-ARMM
chairperson, said the workshop was conducted in partnership with the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA). It was
aimed at ‘genderizing’ humanitarian action during emergencies, such as disaster
or crisis, to ensure that women’s needs are properly addressed.
Gender sensitive approach in disaster risk management is
vital in safeguarding the distinct needs of men, women, as well as boys and
girls during humanitarian response activities, Mutin stressed.
One of the workshop’s objectives, said Rowena Dacsig, gender
and focal point person of UN-OCHA, was to engage and equip government
counterparts on gender equality programming during emergencies for focus
targeting, specifically to build confidence and competence in the teams that
support humanitarian action. It also aims at imparting knowledge on the
concepts of gender mainstreaming.
As one of the agencies of the United Nations, OCHA is
responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure coherent
response during emergencies. It has been complementing the Philippine
government’s response to disaster and engaging humanitarian coordination since
2007.
Education and advocacy with local government officials and
community leaders are also important in order to fully involve not only men but
also women and marginalized groups in disaster management activities and
decision-making.
ARMM, through its Regional Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (RDRRMC), has been implementing disaster preparedness,
mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce risks and widespread destruction
in times of calamities.
RDRRMC-ARMM is composed of different line agencies operating
in the region. The ARMM Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team serves
as its rapid response mechanism and nerve center.
Several areas in ARMM are disaster-prone, both natural and
man-made, thus preparedness is crucial to help mitigate the impact of
disasters. Dacsig said participants should have increased their understanding on
the dynamics of gender equality and sensitivity using gender responsive
programming and that these would be applied in their respective areas of work.
(BPI/PIA-10)
No comments