The City Government led by Mayor John Dalipe and the French NGO Association of Soeur Emmanuelle (ASMAE) represented by Country Representative in the Philippines Michael Bisnar on Thursday, July 27, formally forge a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Promotion of Child Rights of Internally Displaced Ethnic Group of Sama Bajau (PEACE) project in Zamboanga City.

The PEACE project is a 3-year undertaking that aims to contribute to the fulfilment of Sama Bajau children’s rights to development and protection through active agencies among children and youth, women and tribal leaders and responsive duty bearers.

The ASMAE will provide support to the city government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office to complement its existing programs, plans and activities for Sama Bajau. The support covers on 3 specific objectives – promotion of social cohesion (living together), agency building and strengthening of child protection mechanisms and child services.

Specific activities include building capacities to co-construct and implement interventions in addressing the gaps in the realization of children’s rights; increasing access of Sama Bajau children to services that address children’s rights and building capacities of duty bearers toward greater accountability.

The ASMAE is a Quezon City-based French international solidarity NGO that specializes in child development, which is independent, non-religious and non-political.

The signing ceremony that took place at the City Hall conference room was witnessed by City Legal Officer Atty. Haydee Gretchen Panganiban, CSWDO Chief Socorro Rojas and ZABIDA President Atty. Manuel Mamauag. (Sheila Covarrubias)