GENERAL SANTOS CITY –— A nongovernment organization here highlighted this year’s celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Day by launching activities aimed at empowering girls and agents of change towards gender equality in indigenous and disadvantaged groups ( ENGAGE).
On August 9, 2022, Save the Children Philippines launched the project ENGAGE in Cotabato Province, together with Halad Uma Alang sa Nasud (HaUman) Association Inc. and Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau. The project aims to empower girls to claim their rights, particularly their protection from violence, inequality, and discrimination. It is funded by the European Union and will span for two and a half years.
Data from Philippine Statistics Authority in 2018 showed that the highest number (29%) of violence against women cases in Region 12 is in Cotabato Province, 35% of which involved young women aged 18-25.
Incidences of rape, incest, and other forms of sexual- and gender-based violence occur and are sometimes settled through tribal councils in accordance with customary laws without girls’ acknowledgment. Child, early, and forced marriage and unions have been common practices in indigenous communities in the region. Strategia Development Research Institute (SDRI) identified the need to improve gender data collection and reporting and increase women’s political participation at the grassroots level as contributing factors to address gender disparities in Mindanao.
As Save the Children Philippines launches the ENGAGE project, Field Manager Ms. Ivy Caballes said, “Today, we finally acknowledge that girls are important part of each of our communities. Today, we acknowledge that we need to listen sa mga tingug sa mga kababaihan labi na ang mga bata sa atung mga komunidad (to the voices of women and children in our communities).”
Through the ENGAGE project, young women who are part of indigenous peoples’ communities in the municipalities of Magpet, Arakan, and Makilala in North Cotabato will be trained on life skills and girls’ rights.
Safe spaces will be set up for “girl talks” sessions where girls and their peers discuss their issues and concerns and provide support to one another. Their parents, community support groups, government stakeholders, and other civil society organizations will also be capacitated towards building a safe, protective, and empowering environment for girls.
For more information on the action, please contact Ms. Joanna Marie Condat, Program Coordinator of Save the Children Philippines at +639760683641 or email Joanna.Condat@savethechildren.org.
