PHILIPPINES: Women Leaders Want End to Conflict, Protection of Women in Conflict Situations

Women leaders rallied behind Secretary Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as they gathered to launch WE Act 1325 on November 17, 2010, at Miriam College, Quezon City.

In a press release distributed by Myra Tambor, Executive Director of a woman's group in Samar called Katungod han Samareña Foundation (KSFI), it said that the movement has four objectives.

First it wants to ensure the protection of women's human rights and prevention of violation of these rights in armed conflict and post ?conflict situations; second, it wants to empower women and ensure their active and meaningful participation in areas of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, peace building and post-conflict reconstruction.

Other objectives include promote and mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace building and fourth to institutionalize a system to monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) in order to enhance accountability for successful implementation in the achievement of its goals.

WE Act, which stands for women engaged in action was established to ensure that UN Resolution will be implemented in the country.

The number 1325 was appended to symbolize the resolution number.

According to Deles, the same was the first direct reference to women in conflict in a UN document.

The UN Security Council issued Resolution 1325, an important recognition of the role that women play in armed conflicts, whether as combatants, victims, peace advocates, mediators, or negotiators.

The said network is composed of Sulong CARHRIHL, Al Mujadilah Development Foundation, Aksiyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan, Asian Circle 1325, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, Center for Peace Education, Coalition of Mindanao Indigenous People for Peace Advocacy, GZO Peace Institute, Initiatives for Interfaith Dialogue, Isis International, Lupah Sug Bangsamoro Women, Mindanao 1325, Mindanao People's Caucus, Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro, Philippine Coalition for the Internationa Criminal Court, PILIPINA, Panghiliusa sa Paghidhu ? Negros PSPN, Saligan Mindanao, Women and Gender Institute.

The group pushes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution.

It has been ten years, since then, and the women advocates hope that the conflict will be over.

Deles assured the attendees that there is a strong support within the Aquino administration not just to a lasting peace process, but also to the implementation of the action plan and to end the fighting.

Deles added that President Aquino is determined to do all measures to end the conflict so that there would no longer be an armed conflict to be passed on to the next president.