Bangsamoro women want draft laws translated to languages in the BARMM

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews) -- Women groups across the six-province, three-city Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are asking Members of Parliament (MPs) to use the languages in the region through translation of the draft legislative measures and during public consultations.

These were some recommendations aired by women’s groups during a series of consultations conducted by the regional government.

“We have to admit there exists a communication gap,” said Faija Taalil, commissioner of the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) in Basilan.

“Sad to say many women could not understand English, the language used during consultations, and because of that, they are not … interested,” Taalil said.

Ranisa Salahuddin, BWC commissioner in Tawi-Tawi, shared Taalil’s observations.

“Legislators use technical terms and ordinary folks in the countryside could not understand,” she said, adding that if these are translated to the languages in the region, “people will surely show interest and will actively participate in moral governance.” She said

MP and Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema noted that the draft legislations are in English and this has been the normal procedure from national level to the regional and local legislative bodies.

“This is the norm and typical in the country’s legislative process so we also seek the help of local government executives in the smallest local government units to help in bridging the gap,” he said.

Sema said local chief executives have lawyeradvisers who can review the materials provided them before the public consultations.

Knowing fully well how important communication is legislation, the Mindanao Organization( for Social and Economic Progress, Inc. (MOSEP) and The Asia Foundation (TAF) worked together with the BWC.

MOSEP and TAF noted that among the challenges in engaging the public on how the Bangsamoro Parliament operates is the absence of strategic communication and advocacy mechanism for public information on the legislative agenda, issues on where and how to access information and a feedback mechanism for laws and resolutions enacted, the status of codes and bills lodged, and other information about the Parliament that should have been made accessible through the different online platforms - social media accounts, websites and radio programs.

The two organizations partnered to help the BWC develop a communication plan so women in remote communities can easily understand and get involved in legislation of important laws. It is also to ensure that