In line with its mission to ensure safe and credible elections this May 2016, the COMELEC will be holding a Forum on Gender and Election-Related Violence on Friday, March 4, 2016, 8:00A.M. at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.
According to Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, who also heads the COMELEC’s Gender and Development Focal Point System, the forum “seeks to provide a platform for discussing the nexus between gender and election-related violence in the Philippines… More than half of the entire voting population are women. The COMELEC strives to guarantee their full participation in the coming elections.”
Commissioner Guanzon emphasized that, “Due to the prevalence of election related violence during the past elections, we wish to train the spotlight on recommendations and practices to best combat these incidents, especially when they target women.”
The strong involvement of the AFP, PNP, and various stakeholders within and outside the government will enable the COMELEC to gather sufficient information on practices to effectively prevent or counter the occurrence of ERV in the ARMM, as well as to promote the active and violence-free participation of women this election season.
The Resolution on Gun Ban, Fair Elections Act, and Campaign Finance will also be discussed during the forum, to further the goal of safe and credible elections in the ARMM. The event will conclude with a peace covenant to be signed by local candidates.
COMELEC Commissioner Sheriff Abas, who hails from ARMM, will deliver the closing remarks.Source: Education and Information Department