News

2nd BJA Congress underway in Davao
December 01, 2007

The 2nd Barangay Justice Advocates (BJA) Congress is taking place on December 3-4, 2007 at the Grand MenSeng Hotel, Davao City.  About 300 BJA Delegates from various barangays in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be attending.  The Congress celebrates the accomplishments and sharing of experiences among the BJAs in promoting family and community peace.  The Congress is organized by the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) under its United States Agency for International ngDevelopment (USAID)-funded Barangay Justice Service System (BJSS) Project.  The BJSS Project aims to facilitate access to justice at the community level and promote awareness and use of the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) Law. Highlights of this event include an Exhibit of BJSS Best Practices, Workshop and Consensus Building on Policy Reform Agenda for community justice delivery, and a cultural presentation by delegates.  Expected to attend are Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, who will administer the BJA Oath-taking, USAID Mission Director Jon D. Linborg, and Senator Mar Roxas. 

The 2nd Barangay Justice Advocates (BJA) Congress
December 3-4, 2007
Grand MenSeng Hotel, Davao City

Theme: Peace Among Us

I. Congress Background

In December this year, some 300 Barangay Justice Advocates in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will converge in Davao City for the 2nd BJA Congress. The occasion will gather BJA-delegates representing all barangays covered by the Barangay Justice Service System (BJSS) Project. These delegates bring along with them rich experiences in pursuing peace in their communities to be shared with fellow delegates. They also bring along with them collective aspirations of a reformed justice delivery system to be presented before decision-makers invited.

The two-day 2nd BJA Congress sets a tradition started in July 2004 where 267 BJAs also gathered in Davao City to celebrate accomplishments and share experiences and lessons in promoting family and community peace. They discussed thoroughly the BJSS challenges and built consensus on how to face the same challenges. They engaged in dialogue the guests who attended. These guests included Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Sen. Manuel A. Roxas, II and USAID Mission Director Michael Yates.

This year, the delegates of the Congress will showcase the results of the BJAs’ efforts in confronting the challenges since 2004 and communicate with each other the innovative practices that emerged from these challenges. While celebrating the impact of the BJSS through the years, the Congress delegates will press on while leaving an enduring legacy in the promotion of family and community peace in the ARMM.

II. Congress Expected Output

The Congress in Davao City will be the last in a series of congresses conducted starting from the community where the discussions of the BJSS gains and challenges emanate and are consolidated at the municipal and provincial levels. In all these gatherings, the following outputs are sought to be achieved:

• renewed commitment and dedication of BJAs in the pursuit of peace and justice;
• recognition of BJA performance and contribution to peace-building efforts in the ARMM;
• advocacy of reforms in community justice delivery; and,
• solidarity between and among BJAs.

 

III. Expected Participants and Program

The participants of the Congress comprise three delegates from 54 BJSS municipalities in the ARMM. These delegates include the BJA Organization President and BJA representatives elected by the community. There are also several delegates from Luzon, Visayas and other parts of Mindanao. Speakers and guests from government and BJSS implementation partners are also invited.

IV. Congress Highlights

The Congress, by tradition is conducted in a festive atmosphere. This comes naturally as BJAs, though coming from different backgrounds and experiences share common training and mandate towards pursuing justice and peace. Congress activity highlights include the following:

• Exhibit of BJSS Best Practices;
• Workshop and Consensus Building on Policy Reform Agenda for community justice delivery;
• Oath-Taking of BJAs before Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno;
• Dialogue with Senator Mar Roxas and U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney; and,
• Cultural presentation by delegates.

Program of activities is outlined in a separate page.

 

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