PHILIPPINES: Philippines addresses needs of women in conflict

The Philippines National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security was officially launched on 25 March at Miriam College in Manila. It is not only the first Action Plan to be adopted by an Asian country but also the first ever to include commitments on reducing gun violence against women.

The Action Plan is a victory achieved by women's rights and peace movements in the Philippines who worked with government officials to create a plan addressing the needs of women in both conflict and non-conflict situations .It also promotes their full participation in peace building.

Thanks to the expertise of IANSA women such as Dr. Jasmin Nario-Galace of the Centre for Peace Education the Action Plan specifically addresses the direct link between weapons and women's death, injuries, rape and forced displacement.

The plan's action point on firearms commits the government to creating and enforcing laws regulating gun possession; improving gun registration; destroying weapons surrendered by rebels; and obtaining accurate data on women victimised by gun violence. It also proposes to include women's human rights training as a requirement before gun license are issued or renewed and urges the government to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty.

“The action point on firearms and gun violence requires significant reforms in the legislation and the security sector and this is why we'll continue persuading parliamentarians to make sure that our firearms laws include provisions that protect women and girls from armed violence. We'll also work closely with the official Steering Committee on Women, Peace & Security to ensure that gender balance is achieved in peace keeping operations and public security agencies at the local and national levels”, said Dr. Nario-Galace.

National Action Plans are required to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1888 and 1889. To date, 17 other countries have adopted National Action Plans on Women, Peace & Security: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liberia, Norway, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Uganda and UK.