Posted to the MILF Website (Apr 14): Central Mindanao youth convene to help shape a better Bangsamoro
![]()
About a hundred youth leaders comprised of Moro, Indigenous People and Christians from Central Mindanao gathered in the recent Bangsamoro Youth Peace Summit to understand deeply the Bangsamoro situation and their role in supporting the peace agreement and the envisioned Bangsamoro government.
About a hundred youth leaders comprised of Moro, Indigenous People and Christians from Central Mindanao gathered in the recent Bangsamoro Youth Peace Summit to understand deeply the Bangsamoro situation and their role in supporting the peace agreement and the envisioned Bangsamoro government.
The activity, held at the Pacific Heights in Cotabato City on April 6 to 8, 2014, provided an opportunity to the delegates to learn more about the history of Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, values formation, peace-building, and human rights advocacy.
Spearheaded by the Young Advocates for Peace and Development Network (YAPDN), the activity was realized with the support of partners namely International Organization for Migration, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
In his inspirational message, BDA Executive Director Dr. Mohamad S. Yacob cited the youth as one of the important sectors of society.
He said the energy of the youth and wisdom of the elderly when mixed together makes a society progressive and sustainable.
Abdulbasit Benito, Chairman of Mindanao Human Rights Action Center, tackled the Role of Moro Youth in Human Rights Advocacy.
“All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status, and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development,” he said.
He added that human rights documentation, culture, passive and apolitical and having no sustained Moro human rights groups are the challenges in the past faced that need to be addressed.
Benito enjoined the youth to be active in human rights advocacy so that “the culture of impunity will not perpetuate in the Bangsamoro homeland.”
Among the highlights of the activity was the consultation of the BTC which also provided inputs on how the delegates could effectively participate in the realization of the establishment of Bangsamoro government.
Engr. Mohajirin Ali from the BTC narrated the roadmap of the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He explained the Annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the addendum on Bangsamoro waters.
The delegates underwent workshop on Bangsamoro Community Visioning whose outputs will be integrated in the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan.
![]()
Thanking the summit organizers, an IP participant said, “It's an opportune time for the participants to be equipped with knowledge and skills they needed. We feel honored to be part of this historic activity.”
“This is the ideal time for all of the Bangsamoro to work hand in hand to achieve one goal, that is to change the status quo. We must commit ourselves in this gigantic task and the challenge is on for all of us,"YAPDN President Morsidin Husain said in his message to the participants.
He said one of YAPDN's thrusts is to explore innovative programs and services towards sustainable human development taking into consideration the value of partnership and complementation.
Husain pointed out, “Let us bind ourselves with purity of intention because everyone plays a vital role in building the future for Bangsamoro.”
YAPDN also appreciated the overwhelming support of other agencies such as Health Organization of Mindanao, Coordinating Development Office-Bangsamoro Youth Affairs and the Bureau of Public Information of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the forty (40) youth organizations and non-government organization which comprised the 104 participants.
The host organization further thanked the International Organization for Migration (OIM) for its sponsorship on the youth peace summit.
The participants expressed their commitment to support the peace agreement and the upcoming Bangsamoro government for the better future of the people in the homeland.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/921-central-mindanao-youth-convene-to-help-shape-a-better-bangsamoro
Spearheaded by the Young Advocates for Peace and Development Network (YAPDN), the activity was realized with the support of partners namely International Organization for Migration, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
In his inspirational message, BDA Executive Director Dr. Mohamad S. Yacob cited the youth as one of the important sectors of society.
He said the energy of the youth and wisdom of the elderly when mixed together makes a society progressive and sustainable.
Abdulbasit Benito, Chairman of Mindanao Human Rights Action Center, tackled the Role of Moro Youth in Human Rights Advocacy.
“All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status, and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development,” he said.
He added that human rights documentation, culture, passive and apolitical and having no sustained Moro human rights groups are the challenges in the past faced that need to be addressed.
Benito enjoined the youth to be active in human rights advocacy so that “the culture of impunity will not perpetuate in the Bangsamoro homeland.”
Among the highlights of the activity was the consultation of the BTC which also provided inputs on how the delegates could effectively participate in the realization of the establishment of Bangsamoro government.
Engr. Mohajirin Ali from the BTC narrated the roadmap of the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He explained the Annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the addendum on Bangsamoro waters.
The delegates underwent workshop on Bangsamoro Community Visioning whose outputs will be integrated in the formulation of Bangsamoro Development Plan.
Thanking the summit organizers, an IP participant said, “It's an opportune time for the participants to be equipped with knowledge and skills they needed. We feel honored to be part of this historic activity.”
“This is the ideal time for all of the Bangsamoro to work hand in hand to achieve one goal, that is to change the status quo. We must commit ourselves in this gigantic task and the challenge is on for all of us,"YAPDN President Morsidin Husain said in his message to the participants.
He said one of YAPDN's thrusts is to explore innovative programs and services towards sustainable human development taking into consideration the value of partnership and complementation.
Husain pointed out, “Let us bind ourselves with purity of intention because everyone plays a vital role in building the future for Bangsamoro.”
YAPDN also appreciated the overwhelming support of other agencies such as Health Organization of Mindanao, Coordinating Development Office-Bangsamoro Youth Affairs and the Bureau of Public Information of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the forty (40) youth organizations and non-government organization which comprised the 104 participants.
The host organization further thanked the International Organization for Migration (OIM) for its sponsorship on the youth peace summit.
The participants expressed their commitment to support the peace agreement and the upcoming Bangsamoro government for the better future of the people in the homeland.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/921-central-mindanao-youth-convene-to-help-shape-a-better-bangsamoro