Emanating from the memorandum order no. 0323-030 series of 2023 issued by the Office of the Parliament Speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) designating Policy Research and Legal Services to facilitate the creation and development of the “Humanitarian Handbook for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentarians” and in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a roundtable discussion (RTD) was held at Royal Hall, Pagana Kutawato, Cotabato City, last May 17, 2023, Wednesday.
The RTD aimed to consult your different offices to develop the completion of the Bangsamoro humanitarian handbook with the following contents: (1) Overview of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and related laws; (1.1) IHL general overview; (1.2) distinctions between IHL and International Human Rights Law; (1.3) IHL in the Philippines; (1.4) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the Philippines; (1.5) IHL and Islamic Law; (2.) Role of the BARMM Parliament on IHL; (2.1) enacting legislation on conflict and IHL-related themes; (2.2) possible participation in the IHL ad hoc committee; (3) Key humanitarian issues in the BARMM such as urban warfare, sexual and gender-based violence, women protection, children protection, missing and dignified management of dead, IDPs, refugees, health care, humanitarian access, terrorism and counterterrorism, PWDs, cultural properties, paramilitary groups and private armies, data protection in humanitarian activities, victim compensation, and environmental protection; and (4) References and model laws in the Philippines.
Nassef Manabilang Adiong, PhD 