UNFPA Philippines earlier this month supported a workshop for the crafting of a Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) Guidance Note on Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence.

The regional note was conceptualized after UNFPA Philippines supported the Maguindanao Police Provincial Office in developing their PNP Guidance Note in 2021.

The recent regional workshop, held in Pagadian City last August 14-16, was attended by Police Provincial Directors, Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD) and Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Unit (PIDMU) from six provinces, including Cotabato City and Marawi City.

It aimed to gather insights from the experiences of the participants and information from recorded GBV cases that would inform the GBV Guidance Note at the regional level.

Also present in the workshop were the multi-sectoral GBV service providers Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Health (MSSD), Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), and the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), which leads the technical working group with PNP-WCPD. 

UNFPA, with its implementing partner Nonviolent Peaceforce, has been supporting the Bangsamoro Government in establishing gender-responsive policies, ensuring survivor-centered GBV prevention and responses.