The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) held a three-day workshop on the intricacies of basic law making and public engagement from September 12 to 14 at the Alnor Convention Center along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City.
The capability building seminar-workshop was sponsored by the European Union and the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue for the Commissioners of the BTC including their staff to prepare them in their main task of drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law for the soon-to-be formed Bangsamoro government.
It can be recalled that each of the fourteen (14) Commissioners and the Chairman are assisted by an executive assistant, legal officer, researcher and driver.
BTC Chair Mohagher Iqbal and the MILF Peace Panel are in Kuala Lumpur engaging the GPH Peace Panel to hopefully complete the annexes on the power-sharing and normalization prior to the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.
The tandem of husband and wife International experts on Constitutional law Dr. Yash Pal Ghai and Dr. Jill Cottrell came all the way from Kenya in Africa, where they are currently based, to Cotabato City for the very important knowledge-sharing workshop.
Professor Ghai is the head of the Constitution Advisory Support Unit of the United Nations Development Programme in Nepal, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cambodia on human Rights and Chairman of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. He used to advise and assist NGOs on human rights law related work in many parts of the world, helped in drafting the Asian Human Rights Charter and also Director of the International Center for Transitional Justice. A professor of law, he taught in many Universities and did many research work in law and published numerous books and papers on constitution and basic law making.
His better half, Professor Jill Cottrell-Ghai is a scholar in constitutional law who had lectured in many universities and worked on constitutional projects in Sri Lanka, East Timor, Nepal, Somalia, South Africa, and Iraq. She also played a key role in the elaboration of the Kenya constitution and author of numerous books, articles and papers related to constitution-making, human rights, sovereignty and democracy.
Speaking alternate of each other, the two international legal luminaries began the workshop on the general principles of translating agreements into legal text, the basic law making process and presentation and critiquing of transitional provisions during the first day.
On the second day, case study of the Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Sudan and the Aland, Finland experiences were discussed one after the other as the resource persons were actually personally involved in those areas. Each day’s activity was capped by breakout group discussions where the participants were grouped into four for group reporting to ensure participation and understanding of the topic taken during the day.
The third and final day proved more lively and participatory as the topic of public engagement focused on informing people about issues and the drafting process, asking them what they think and strategies to deal with their responses.
Each group was made to report on their plan of action on who they will ask, what will they ask, and how will they engage the target consultation group.
Noticeably observed was the active participation of Commissioners Pete Eisma, Talib Benito, Froilyn Mendoza and the numerous inputs contributed by lawyer-commissioner Johaira Wahab.
Synthesizing on the workshop, Dean Ben Bacani reminded the Commissioners and the participants of their role as drafters of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the inherent difficulties to be faced in the days to come with the final note saying the agreements are on principles and the main task is to supplement them with the needed procedures.
It can be said that after the grueling and informative workshop and the group discussions and reporting that followed each session the participants are now well-equipped to hurdle the challenge ahead.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/569-btc-holds-workshop-on-basic-law-and-public-engagement
It can be recalled that each of the fourteen (14) Commissioners and the Chairman are assisted by an executive assistant, legal officer, researcher and driver.
BTC Chair Mohagher Iqbal and the MILF Peace Panel are in Kuala Lumpur engaging the GPH Peace Panel to hopefully complete the annexes on the power-sharing and normalization prior to the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.
The tandem of husband and wife International experts on Constitutional law Dr. Yash Pal Ghai and Dr. Jill Cottrell came all the way from Kenya in Africa, where they are currently based, to Cotabato City for the very important knowledge-sharing workshop.
Professor Ghai is the head of the Constitution Advisory Support Unit of the United Nations Development Programme in Nepal, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cambodia on human Rights and Chairman of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. He used to advise and assist NGOs on human rights law related work in many parts of the world, helped in drafting the Asian Human Rights Charter and also Director of the International Center for Transitional Justice. A professor of law, he taught in many Universities and did many research work in law and published numerous books and papers on constitution and basic law making.
His better half, Professor Jill Cottrell-Ghai is a scholar in constitutional law who had lectured in many universities and worked on constitutional projects in Sri Lanka, East Timor, Nepal, Somalia, South Africa, and Iraq. She also played a key role in the elaboration of the Kenya constitution and author of numerous books, articles and papers related to constitution-making, human rights, sovereignty and democracy.
Speaking alternate of each other, the two international legal luminaries began the workshop on the general principles of translating agreements into legal text, the basic law making process and presentation and critiquing of transitional provisions during the first day.
On the second day, case study of the Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Sudan and the Aland, Finland experiences were discussed one after the other as the resource persons were actually personally involved in those areas. Each day’s activity was capped by breakout group discussions where the participants were grouped into four for group reporting to ensure participation and understanding of the topic taken during the day.
The third and final day proved more lively and participatory as the topic of public engagement focused on informing people about issues and the drafting process, asking them what they think and strategies to deal with their responses.
Each group was made to report on their plan of action on who they will ask, what will they ask, and how will they engage the target consultation group.
Noticeably observed was the active participation of Commissioners Pete Eisma, Talib Benito, Froilyn Mendoza and the numerous inputs contributed by lawyer-commissioner Johaira Wahab.
Synthesizing on the workshop, Dean Ben Bacani reminded the Commissioners and the participants of their role as drafters of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the inherent difficulties to be faced in the days to come with the final note saying the agreements are on principles and the main task is to supplement them with the needed procedures.
It can be said that after the grueling and informative workshop and the group discussions and reporting that followed each session the participants are now well-equipped to hurdle the challenge ahead.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/569-btc-holds-workshop-on-basic-law-and-public-engagement
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