Cotabato City, Philippines - “I doubted if I could do it at first. I’ve never experienced any kind of work in my life. My only experience was studying and doing my duties as a BIWAB member,” shares Saima, a 21-year-old former combatant turned parasocial worker.
Saima spent most of her younger years juggling her responsibilities as a student, a daughter who helped take care of her siblings, and as a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB), an all-female supplementary force attended to the medical and other basic needs of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s armed wing.
After the Philippine Government brokered peace and signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018, the MILF began decommissioning its armed wing, along with the BIWAB that also served as its reserve force. During the transition, many BIWAB members were confused about their role in the new government and began looking for a new purpose.
Saima’s Introduction to gender-based violence
With the support of the Government of New Zealand, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Philippines and its partner United Youth of the Philippines-Women, Inc. (UNYPHIL-Women) worked on the “Reintegration and Transformation of Former Female Ex-Combatants to Parasocial Workers Project” in 2021. The project’s goal is to allow the BIWAB ex-combatants to participate meaningfully in good governance and peace-building areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and armed conflict.
Saima entered the program as one of the first beneficiaries of the project, which involved holding workshops and seminars to train ex-combatants to become community servants and to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV).
“I only learned the term GBV and the different forms of violence (including child marriage) here in this program,” she said. “From what I see (in our community), the reality is that the younger ones tend to get married first compared to the older ones… like my cousin who got married at age 14, and the other one at 16; they did not even reach 18.”
According to the Philippines’ 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey 18% of Filipino women who had an intimate partner reported having experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence. Those who married earlier are more vulnerable, especially since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) considers child marriage (under the age of 18) as a human rights violation that disproportionately affects girls and women throughout their lives.
“Not a lot of people know about [the negative impact of] child marriage. Young women need to be aware of GBV so they may recognize the ones they are already experiencing,” Saima said. Through the project, Saima and other BIWAb members trained as para-social workers would visit communities to educate people about GBV and what they can do to realize their rights.
Empowering communities, one member at a time
“When I conduct awareness (raising sessions), I usually target the youth,” Saima said, adding that she uses her own experience as a young woman to connect with community members. “I tell them: I’m also a young person like you. You need to be strong-minded and strong-willed. You need to prioritize yourself before thinking about getting married. All of us will get married, but you must do this at the right time,” she said. This makes it easier for young women to listen to what she has to say and open up about their problems.
Some participants even told her they aspire to be as empowered as her in fighting for their rights.
Saima's community lectures offer a stark contrast to her classroom experiences. Instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations, she brings her message of GBV awareness to life with a bundle of tarpaulins mounted on hardwood during fieldwork. The heat, rain, and fatigue of fieldwork are challenges she gladly endures.
With the “Cash For Work'' allowance she gets from the program, she has been able to attend school and study midwifery.
Covering her face and laughing shyly – Saima recalled how her heart swells when community members offer small gifts as thanks for her help. She tries to refuse the rice or fruit, but their generosity slips into her bag, a connection formed beyond words. All she can offer is a simple “thank you.”
“I did not expect to have this kind of opportunity. From my previous experience of holding guns, now, I am holding a pen and a microphone,” Saima said, “I am proud of myself for being able to stand in front of other people. I am happy just to share what I know, but seeing the smiles on the faces of the people in the community and empowering them is a huge win not just for me but for every woman and every girl all across Mindanao.”
