A three-day training on Birth Registration Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations to End Childhood Statelessness (BRAVE) concluded on April 19, 2025, in New Dawn Hotel Plus, Cagayan De Oro City. The training equipped young leaders from Cotabato City and the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, del Norte, and Lanao del Sur with the knowledge and skills to champion the rights of children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This training is aligned with “Leaving No One Behind” in the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals, and the respective mandates and comparative advantages of UNICEF and UNHCR for advancing every child’s right to nationality. The UN agencies developed the UNHCR-UNICEF Strategic Collaboration Framework, with “statelessness” as one of its priority interventions.
It aims to introduce the BRAVE Project and the Initiative on Promoting Digital Birth Registration in BARMM and in Sulu, provide orientation on the fundamental rights of children, statelessness and its link to birth registration, discuss social behavioral change as an advocacy strategy, and develop an advocacy plan for implementing the community-based campaigns.
Organized by the UNHCR, UNICEF, CFSI, and CBCS with the generous support from the Government of Japan. The training brought together a diverse group of young leaders, including youth representatives from various organizations and student leaders from Cotabato City, Datu Paglas, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Balindong, Butig, Marawi City, Masiu, Mulondo, Pualas, and Saguiaran. The training focused on empowering these young advocates to play a crucial role in ensuring that all children in the BARMM have access to birth registration, a fundamental human right that secures their legal identity and access to essential services.
“We stand at a moment for the Bangsamoro, a time where the energy and vision are crucial to building a more peaceful future. This gathering is not just a discussion; it’s a testament to our collective commitment to empowering the next generations of leaders. The Bangsamoro Youth Commission believes in your strength, in your resilience, and in your unwavering dedication to positive change. We see the passion in your eyes, the drive in your hearts, and the determination in your actions. You are the architects of tomorrow, the builders of a brighter Bangsamoro,” a message from the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission, Hon. Nasserudin D. Dunding, M.A.
“This training has been an eye-opening experience,” shared Mohammad Mis-Al Guiamaludin, a youth leader from Synergistic Individuals with Nurtured Aspirations of Generating Change in Society (SINAG) of Cotabato City. “We learned about the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in accessing birth registration and the critical role we can play in addressing these issues.”
The training covered a range of topics that includes
- Introduction to Child Rights
- Birth Registration as a fundamental right and its importance in strengthening Child Protection System in BARMM
- Introduction to BRAVE Project
- Role of Bangsamoro Youth in Nation Building.
- Overviews on Statelessness and its link to Birth Registration and the Initiative on Promoting Birth registration in BARMM and Sulu
- Developing Effective Birth Registration Advocacy
Key messages on child rights will be disseminated, focusing on the rights of nationality and protection, as well as active accreditation of youth networks with the Bangsamoro Youth Commission and the provision of seed grants for advocacy and activities amounting to Php.50,000 per youth organization of the chosen municipality.
Interactive sessions, workshops, group discussions, and practical exercises, allowing participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge, are all included in this training. The young leaders demonstrated a strong commitment to advocating for birth registration and ensuring that all children in the BARMM and Sulu have their right to a legal identity recognized.
A Solidarity Night concluded the three-day training to promote camaraderie among the young leaders, build connection, raise awareness and commitment to continue their advocacy efforts in their respective communities, working with local officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to address the challenges of birth registration and ensure that all children in the BARMM have their right to a legal identity recognized and to create a positive change
This training serves as a testament to the power of youth engagement in promoting social change and ensuring the rights of all children. The young leaders who participated in this program are poised to become powerful advocates for birth registration. Contributing their passion and dedication will truly inspire a brighter future for children in the BARMM.
By: JAMAHERIA G. COMPANIA
Communications and Advocacy Officer
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