Mindanao women to strengthen role in peace process

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=944194
• Thursday, December 1, 2016

(PNA). LAP/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR/LDP

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -- The Mindanao-based women leaders from the Bangsamoro communities went on a three-day workshop to enhance mediation skills through values based dialogue and public conversations vowing to keep the peace tables open amid hardship and struggles in Mindanao.

Coming from as far as Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and General Santos City), Davao region and Zamboanga, the women leaders showed their solidarity with the peace process. The workshop runs from November 28 to 30 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Among them were the chairperson of the GRP Implementing Panel of the Bangsamoro Peace Accords Irene “Inday Santiago, chairperson of Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women of ARMM Sittie Jehann Mutin, a member of the peace negotiating panel for talks with National Democratic Front (NDF) Angela Librado, Nida Dans of the Mothers for Peace and the different leaders of women local organizations from the indigenous peoples. They were joined by Alma Evangelista, team leader for Resilience and Peace Building Unit of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Alma Evangelista and Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon.

Dubbed as the Bangsamoro Peace Circle, the three-day workshop will pave the way for open conversations among women through the peace tables.

Santiago emphasized the important role of women in the political processes saying, “Women are a force of change, and should be taken seriously on peace tables.”

“Women and mothers are integral part of the implementation of the peace agreements in the drafting and the passage of the enabling law of the new Bangsamoro Government,” she added.

Santiago was hopeful that after the workshop, the women could organize peace circles effectively in their own communities.

“Woman Peace Tables are going to denounce and announce. They will denounce what makes women and their families and communities feel insecure and unsafe. But they will not stop there. They will also announce the alternative, the solution they propose to bring about peace and security not only for themselves but for the community and country,” Santiago said.

Santiago said there are already 150 peace tables in 45 countries including the countries experiencing armed conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

Librado, who has been a strong voice on women issues in Davao and the only woman in the GRP panel, said the women’s perspective and inputs in the peace agreements are needed as there are topics that should be raised and defended by women. She said women issues are real and only a woman can speak about it. “Women should talk louder and talk seriously about peace so that peace talks can proceed successfully,” Librado added.

According to her, peace tables are significant and a necessity ensuring a strong participation of the women sector.

Dans, who has been leading the Mothers for Peace in Isabela City, Basilan, was hopeful for a fruitful result of the training and workshop. Dans said mediation skills of women is one of the first choice in conflict resolution.

“Let us all keep this table up, no matter how hard it would be for us sometimes because the more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war,” Dans said, emphasizing that the women’s peace tables are spaces for values peace conversation.

Mutin welcomed the establishment of the peace circle and opening of the peace table as platform where they can speak out on various issues.

She said the peace talks must be a concern for everybody and not only by one person. Mutin said the women must be given a voice in the peace process.