Noorus Salam: - Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2nd NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM

WOMEN PEACE ADVOCATES

Noorus Salam:From Vision to Action,From Conflict to Peace

2ND NS Publication 2012.indd 1 1/18/2012 1:33:54 PM

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2nd NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF

MUSLIM WOMEN PEACE ADVOCATES

Summary of Proceedings

From February 7 to 10, 2011, more than one hundred fifty aleemat (Muslim women religious teachers and scholars) and civil society leaders gathered for the 2nd National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates. The conference featured plenary sessions with speakers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and New York as well as concurrent workshops, and organizational development sessions for the Noorus Salam network.

PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgment 1I. Messages 2II. Introduction:Women,ConflictandPoliticsbyAminaRasul 9III. WomenandWorldInterfaithHarmonySolidarityForum 21IV. “WomenareBetterPeacemakers” 23V. SoutheastAsianPerspectivesonNetworkingand 25 DevelopmentofWomenPeaceAdvocates:PanelDiscussion VI. UNSecurityCouncilResolutions1325&1820onWomen, 27 PeaceandSecurityVII. TheResponsibilitytoProtect(R2P)andtheMindanaoConflict 33VIII.HumanTraffickingandtheVulnerabilitiesofMuslim 42 CommunitiesIX. TheAleematandPreventiveHealthCare 54X. LiteracyforPeaceandDevelopment 61

XI. NetworkingandPlanningforNoorusSalam 66

AnnexI. PhotoGallery 74AnnexII. ProfileofImplementingOrganizations 90 PhilippineCenterForIslamandDemocracy MagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc.AnnexIII. ProfileofPartnerOrganizations 91 JapanFoundation GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders AsiaPacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect VisayanForumFoundation,Inc. OfficeofthePresidentialAdviseronthePeaceProcess UNWomen UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment

AnnexIV. Speakers’Profile:2NDNationalConferenceOfMuslim 94 WomenPeaceAdvocatesAnnexV. ListofParticipantsoftheNationalConference 116AnnexVI. ConferenceProgram 119


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ThePhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracyandtheMagbassaKitaFoundation,Incwishtothankthefollowingfortheirvaluablecontributionsinputtingtogetherthispublication:

Research and Writing

ReyTrillanaSherylPeral

RominaBernardoMajellaPuaGandhiKinjiyoRenjieButalid

SelahuddinHashim

Administrative Staff

Ahmed TillahSandraMartinquilla

Cecil BandaRoelPonesEricMayo

Support Staff

JohnSauragalAbdulBorileGelineAllianLaisa Imlan

MahbubaJamhuriMuawiyaKalamJaliyaHamis


2nd NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM WOMEN PEACE ADVOCATES

I. MESSAGES

Salaam!

GreetingsofPeace!

Wehavecomea longway from thesmall informalmeetingofaleemat during the 1stNationalUlamaSummitinManilaonJanuary25-282008whenmorethanthirtyparticipated togetherwith 185 ulama. The following year, during the 2ndNationalUlamaSummitonJanuary26-29,2009,wehadaformalworkshopforthealeematwhere theDeclarationofMuslimWomenWagingPeacewas issued,asserting theirintentiontobekeyactorsandstakeholdersinpeaceanddevelopmentinitiatives.

In2010,duringthe1stNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocatesonJanuary24-27 inDavaoCity,participatingaleematandMuslimwomencivil societyleaders agreed to establish Noorus Salam (Light of Peace), a national network ofwomenoffaith-aleemat and Muslim women leaders. The formation of Noorus Salam isindeedhistoricasthisisthefirstorganizationofMuslimreligiouswomenscholarsandwomencivil society leaders,promising tomakeMuslimwomenmoreactive inaddressingthemanyproblemsofourcommunity.

Fromtheonset,NoorusSalam’sobjectivewasclear:Muslimwomenwanttotransformthemselves frommere bystanders or victims into active agents of reform.Muslimwomen want to voice out the demands and needs of our communities and, in ahumbleway,servetheUmmah. The conference goal was for NoorusSalamtocomeupwithclearactionplanstobecomemoreactiveagentsinbringingaboutlastingpeaceanddevelopmentinourcommunities.Thisisthereasonwhythethemeforthe2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocateswas"NoorusSalam:FromVisiontoAction,FromConflicttoPeace."

We wish to thank our partners: Japan Foundation, Global Network of WomenPeacebuilders, Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Visayan ForumFoundation, UNWomen, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,USAID’sSustainableHealthImprovementsforEmpowermentofLocalDevelopments(SHIELD)andDepEd’sLiteracyCoordinatingCouncil.

Our partners, have provided Noorus Salam with capacity-building workshops onwomen,peaceandsecurity;theemerginginternationalnormknownas“responsibilitytoprotect(R2P)concerningtheprimeresponsibilitiesofStatesasprotectorsoftheir

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NOORUS SALAM: FROM VISION TO ACTION, FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE

citizens fromgenocide,war crimes, ethnic cleansingand crimesagainsthumanity;lightingtheinternationaltradeofhumantraffickingandexploitation;combatingadultilliteracyandpreventivehealthcare.Alltheserespondtothewomen’scallforactiveparticipationinpeaceanddevelopment.

Thispublicationcontainsnotjusttheproceedingsofthe2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocatesbutalsothepromiseandaspirationofMuslimwomenwhowanttotakepartintransformingtheircommunitiesfromconflicttopeace,frommarginalizationtoself-actualization.

MS. AMINA RASUL-BERNARDOPresidentPhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracyManaging TrusteeMagbassaKitaFoundationInc

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MESSAGE

Assalamualaikumwarahmatullahiwabarakatu!

Women’s empowerment has to underpin all sustainable peace and developmentefforts. Theperpetual underdevelopment andhigh incidencesof conflict inMuslimMindanaoandinMuslimcommunitiesfurtherexacerbatetheoppressionandexclusionofwomenandgirls.Inthisregard,Muslimwomen,forquitealongtime,havebeenaptlyrepresentedas“minoritieswithinminorities.”

This national conference’s theme “From Vision to Action; From Conflict to Peace”signifiestheinseparabilityofvisionfromactionand,conversely,actionfromvision,intransformingour communities.Toquote from JoelBarker, anAmerican futuristwhopopularizedtheconceptofparadigmshifts,“Visionwithoutactionisadream.Actionwithoutvisionissimplypassingthetime.Actionwithvisionismakingapositivechange.”

Weareextremelypleasedwiththefullsupportofourfriendsfromthedonorcommunity.Theenthusiasmwithwhichtheprospectofsuchaconferencewasmetbyourover150Muslimwomenreligiousscholars,womencivilsocietyleaders,andwomenpeaceadvocatesstronglyandpositivelyindicatesthepossibilityofsuchtransformation.

Theseriesofregionalconsultativeworkshopswefirstheldin2009forMuslimwomenpeaceadvocatesbecameavenueforthewomentoorganizethemselves.Duringthe1stNationalConferenceofWomenPeaceAdvocatesheldinJanuary2010inDavaoCity,over150participantsindicatedtheirdesiretoformalizethecreationofnationalnetwork ofwomen peace advocateswhich they namedNoorus Salam:Women ofFaith,LightofPeace.

Weareextremelypleased thaton theoccasionof the2ndNationalConferenceofWomenPeaceAdvocates,thevisionwillnowbegintoturnintoactionastheregionalcaucusesturntheirattentiontoorganizingthemselvesforpeaceanddevelopment.

Thisonlysignifiesthebeginningoftherealizationofthemanybrightpossibilitiesthatawaitouradvocacies.We look forward that the leadershipandmembershipof thenationalnetworkofNoorusSalamwilltransformtheveryrelevantworkshopdiscussionsandplansonthethemesofUNSecurityResolution1325,ResponsibilitytoProtect,HumanTrafficking,Health,andLiteracy,intoconcreteactionsforthecommunitiesinwhichtheyserveatthegrassrootslevel.

Dr. Santanina T. RasulChairpersonMagbassaKitaFoundationInc.

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MESSAGE

Congratulations,PCID!

Indeed,thisisasignificantmilestone–therealizationofthe2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates,“Noorus Salam: From Vision to Action, From Conflict to Peace”!

Onbehalf of The Japan Foundation, Iwish to extend felicitations and convey oursincereappreciationfor thecontinuousendeavorof thePhilippineCenter forIslamandDemocracyinbeinganon-partisanorganizationwithatrackrecordofgatheringvarious sectors in the democratic dialogue for peace and development in Muslimcommunities;weholdinhighesteemthestrongcommitmentofthePCID;Iwishtoexpressourgratitudetotheconvenors,thedistinguishedspeakersandparticipantsofthisconferenceforbeingadvocatesofpeacebuilding.Itisourpleasureandwearedeeplyhonoredtobealong-standingpartnerwithyouall.

It is our hope that this conferencewill intensify network building efforts not onlyamongMuslimwomenpeaceadvocatesinthePhilippinesbutinneighboringcountriesas well.

WelookforwardtoabetterfuturewiththeNoorusSalam–thenetworkofaleematandwomenleaders,asanactiveforceforatrulyfunctionalandsustainablehumansecurity:lastingpeace,genuinedemocracyandequitabledevelopment.

Wewishyouallthebest!

SHUJI TAKATORIJapanFoundationDirector

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MESSAGE

The Global Network ofWomen Peacebuilders (GNWP) – International Civil societyActionNetwork(ICAN)extendswarmcongratulationsandgratitudetothePhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracyandMagbassaKitaFoundationInc.

TheSecondNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates isamilestone inwomen’sorganizingtowardssustainablepeaceinMindanaoandtheentirePhilippines.Theconferencetheme“NoorusSalam:FromVisiontoAction;FromConflicttoPeace”reflectsthepassionandcommitmentof the aleemat and all the local women leaderswho aremembers of the NoorusSalamnetwork.Itspeakstotheirdedicationtostrengthentheirunderstandingoftheirneeds,problemsandchallengesaswellastheirenthusiasmtofindthesolutions.

Thedemonstrationofwomen’smobilizationandactionforpeacethatwehavewitnessedat the conference is verymuch in line with the GNWP-ICAN’s advocacy and actiontowards the full andeffective implementationof theUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilResolutions1325and1820onwomenandpeaceandsecurity.Itisatthecoreofourmissiontobridgethegapbetweenpolicydiscussionsattheinternationallevelandpolicyimplementationandactionontheground,particularlyinconflict-affectedcommunities.

On behalf of ICAN-GNWPmembers and partners from around theworld, I wouldlike to express special gratitude toMagbassaKita Foundation, IncChairpersonDr.Santanina Rasul and PCID President Amina Rasul for their vision and unwaveringcommitment to women’s empowerment, peace and development. It was both adelightandaninspirationtocollaboratewithyouinthisconference.I lookforwardtostrongerpartnership inensuringgreateraccountability to international lawsthatpromotewomen’sfullandequalparticipationindecision-making,conflictpreventionandprotectionofwomenandgirls’rights.

I wish Noorus Salam, PCID, the Magbassa Kita Foundation and everyone whoparticipatedintheconferencetherealizationofourdeepestlongingsforjusticeandlastingpeace.

MAVIC CABRERA-BALLEzAInternational CoordinatorGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders,aprogrampartneroftheInternationalCivilsocietyActionNetworkNewYork,USA

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MESSAGE

TheVisayan Forumextends its heartfelt greetings toNoorus SalamThePhilippineCenter for IslamandDevelopmentand theMagbassaKita Foundation Inc. for thesuccess of the 2nd National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates. Wecongratulateyou for successfullygatheringwomen leaderswhoare trueagentsofpeace,democracyanddevelopment.

The2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocatesprovidedthevenuetocreateandformalizeplansandactionsthatwillaidinusheringanewageofamityand progress inMindanao through a broader knowledge base, amplified advocacycampaignandstrengthenedpartnerships.Asweworktogetherforabetterandsafersociety,maywe be reminded of the lives wework to save and reclaim from theclutchesofviolence,abuseandexploitation.

The Noorus Salam is one of the staunch allies of the Visayan Forum in theWarAgainstHumanTrafficking. Their commitment to endmodern day slavery throughexpandingthelocaladvocacyinbarangaysandmadrasahs;encouragingtheMuslimreligiousleaderstoincorporateanti-traffickingmessagesintheirkhutbah(sermons);andcoordinatingwith lineagenciesandnon-governmentorganizations inprovidingassistance to traffickingvictims inMuslimMindanaowill ensure theprotectionandsafetyofcountlessFilipinowomenandchildrenwhoarevulnerabletohumantrafficking.

Welaudthepassion,dedicationandperseveranceoftheMuslimwomeninupholdingtherightsandensuringthewelfareoftheirfellowFilipinos.

Letuscontinueworkingtogetherforapeaceful,saferandprogressivePhilippines!

MS. MA. CECILIA FLORES-OEBANDAFoundingPresidentandExecutiveDirectorVisayanForumFoundationInc.

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MESSAGE

On behalf of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, I wish tocongratulatetheNoorusSalamthePhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracyandtheMagbassaKitaFoundationInc.forholdingits2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates inZamboangaCity.Wearequitehappy to support thismeeting in the context of our Centre's advocacy of the Responsibility to ProtectprincipleintheAsiaPacific,ingeneral,andinthePhilippines,inparticular.

Our partnership with the PCID has enabled us to hold our first community-basedseminaronR2PforMuslimreligiousleadersinMindanao.Throughthepublicationoftheproceedingsoftheconference,wehopetobuildresourcesthatwouldbeusefulnotonlyforpolicymakersbutalsotoenableotherR2Padvocatestolearnabouthowthenormresonatesatthecommunity-levelintheregion.

We lookforwardto furthercollaborationwithNoorusSalam/PCID inpromotingthenormofR2PinthePhilippinesandinMindanao.

Withbestwishes,

DR. NOEL M. MORADAExecutiveDirectorAsiaPacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect

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II. Introduction: Women, Conflict and Politics

By Amina Rasul

Overthelastcentury,thefaceofwarhaschanged.

AccordingtotheInternationalActionNetworkonSmallArms,almost90percentofthecasualtiesofthemodernwarsarecivilians,themajorityofwhomarewomenandchildren,comparedtoacenturyagowhen90percentofthosewholosttheirlivesweremilitarypersonnel.

Violence against women in conflict zones is often an extension of the genderdiscrimination that already exists in the affected community. Because of their lackof statuswithin these societies,womenare systematically excluded fromdecision-makingopportunities.Theyareoftenstereotypedasvictims;theirexperiencesandcontributionsvirtuallyignoredinconflictzonesandinnationsemergingfromwar.This,despitethefactthatwomencanalsoplayasignificantpartinpeacemakingiftheyareproperlysupportedandgenuinelyincluded.1

Armedconflictalsoexacerbatesgenderinequalitiesthatexist indifferentformsandtovaryingdegreesinallsocieties'andthatmakewomenparticularlyvulnerablewhenarmedconflictbreaksout.Ofthemorethanonebillionpeoplelivinginpovertytoday,thegreatmajorityarewomen.Theyare,moreover,generallydisadvantagedintermsofeducationandareconsiderablylessmobilebecauseoftheirtraditionalroleincaringforothers.

Further,theseinequalitiescontinueafterthecessationofhostilities.Womenareoftenexcludedfromthereconstructionprocessesthattakeplaceafterarmedconflictaswellasfrompeacebuildinginitiatives.

ThisisthereasonwhythePlatformforAction,adoptedbytheFourthWorldConferenceonWomenheldinBeijingin1995,identifiedtheeffectsofarmedconflictonwomenas one of 12 critical areas of concern requiring action by governments and theinternationalcommunity,andstressedtheneedtopromotetheequalparticipationofwomeninconflictresolutionatdecision-makinglevels.2

Inasimilarfashion,theUnitedNationsSecurityCounciladoptedResolution1325onWomen,PeaceandSecurityin2000asapolicyframeworktostrengthenwomen’sroleinpeacebuilding.Itsmostimportantmessageisthatwomenarenotonlyvictimsofviolence;theyarealsoapowerfulforcetowardpeacebuildinganddecision-makingonpeaceandsecurityissues.

1InternationalActionNetworkonSmallArms.2003.WomenandArmedConflict.London.2JudithGardamandHilaryCharlesworth.2001.ProtectionofWomeninArmedConflict.

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3MindanaoisthesecondlargestislandgroupinthePhilippineslocatedinthesouthernareaofthecountry.Its23provincesarenowhometoroughlyaquarterofthecountry’spopulation,whichnumberover18million.ThesociallandscapeofMindanaohaslongbeendefinedbydiversity,sharedby3majorgroupssetapartfromeachotherbytheirreligiousandculturaltraditions:theChristians,theMuslims or the Moros, and the LumadsortheIndigenousPeoples.4TheMILFwasorganizedin1983bythelateUstadzSalamatHashim,whobrokeawayfromtheMoroNationalLiberationFront(MNLF)hierarchyduetoideologicaldifferencesandleadershipsquabbleswithMNLFChairNurMisuari.5Newspaperaccounts6“Lookingforequality:agenderreviewofnationalMDGreports,2005”,reportpreparedfortheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,BureauofDevelopmentPolicy.

These are issues Muslim women in the Philippines know too well. The seeminglynever-endingconflictinMindanao3hasravagedthelivesofcountlessMindanawons.

InAugust2008whenfightingeruptedoverthefailedMemorandumofAgreementonAncestralDomain(MOA-AD)betweenthegovernmentandtheMoroIslamicLiberationFront(MILF)4,overhalfamillionhavebeendisplacedfromtheirhomesandaboutahundredhavebeenkilledduringtheconflict5.Womensufferedparticularhardship,bothasvictimsandcombatants.Althoughmostcombatantstendtobemen,womenhavealsobecomeinvolvedasarmedcombatantsmoreoftenthaniswidelyknown.

Womenoftenshoulderanadditionalburdenduetotraditionalgenderroles:theylabor,oftenwithlittlesupport,tonurturetheirfamiliesduringwarandthroughoutthelong,slowprocessofrebuildingthepeace.

It is for theseconsiderationsthat focushasbeengiventotheadvocacyofgreaterpoliticalparticipationforwomen.Thelogicissimple:women,whobearthebruntofconflict-relatedproblems,shouldbe represented in thepoliticalprocess thatwoulddetermineconflictorpeace.

Women in Politics

TheBeijingPlatformforActionemphasizedthegoalofequalparticipationbywomenandmeninpoliticaldecision-making.ItcallsonGovernmentstomonitorandevaluateprogressintherepresentationofwomenatalllevelsinthepublicandprivatesectors.Increasingwomen’srepresentationinpoliticalofficeisnowawidelyhelddevelopmentgoal.Itis,infact,anindicatorfortrackingprogresstowardstheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalNo.3—promotegenderequalityandempowerwomen6.

Inthisregard,therehavebeenpositivedevelopmentsintheAsiaPacificregionsincethe1995BeijingConference.Theseinclude:

1. Establishednationalgovernmentagenciesforwomenandseveralhavegenderplanswithbudgetallocations;

2. Severalgovernmentshavepassedneworamendedoldlawstostrengthentheprotectionofwomenagainstabuse;

3. Rights-basedframeworktoreproductivehealth4. Morewomenarejoininggovernmentandpolitics;5. Womenareparticularlyactiveincivilsociety

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WOMEN IN NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS8

REGION 2000 2006 2011WORLD 13.8 16.6 19.2NordicCountries 38.8 40 41.6Americas 15.9 20.4 22.6Europe-OSCECountriesMember 16 18.9 21.5EuropeCountriesMember 14.1 17.2 20.0Sub-SaharanAfrica 12.1 16.6 19.1Asia 15 16.1 18.0Pacific 13.6 14.3 14.7ArabStates 3.6 7.7 10.7

Inthesamereport,thePhilippinesranked48thoutof186countriesintermsofthepercentageofwomeninParliament.Basedontheresultofthecountry'sMay2010elections,theHouseofRepresentativeshas62womenoutofthe280lowerhousemembers(22.1%)butamere3outof23(13%)arewomenintheSenate.

7 Amina Rasul. Updated data from Women and Conflict. Presented before the 20th Asia Pacific Roundtable on “StrengtheningComprehensiveandCooperativeSecurityintheAsiaPacific”RennaissanceHotel,KualaLumpur,29May-1June20068ThedatahasbeencompiledbytheInter-ParliamentaryUniononthebasisofinformationprovidedbyNationalParliamentsby31March2011.(http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm)

Asregardstheparticipationofwomeninpolitics,theInter-ParliamentaryUnion(IPU)reported that there have been improvements in the representation of women inparliamentsbasedontheirdataasofMarch2011.7

Globally, the percentage of women occupying seats in both houses of Parliamentincreasedto19.2%from16.6%in2006.

Table1-Percentage of women in national parliaments by regionSource:InterParliamentaryUnion.(http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm)

Table2-Percentage of women in key political institutions in the PhilippinesSources:CompositedatafromCOMELEC(www.comelec.gov.ph)andthePhilippineCommissiononWomen

Institution Total Seats No. of % Women

Senate 23 3 13.0

HouseofRepresentatives 280 62 22.1

TrialCourts 1,533 468 30.5

SupremeCourt 15 4 27

CivilService 1,310,000 754,560 57.6

WOMEN IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS, 2010

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9AminaRasul.“TheRoleofMuslimWomeninInterfaithDialogandPeacebuilding.”PaperreadattheSeminaronIslamandInterfaithDialogue,hostedbytheIranEmbassy,February8,2005,Manila

Women, Conflict and Muslim Mindanao

However,thisfreedomtoparticipateisoftenoutoftherearchofMuslimwomeninMindanao.InMindanao, thesituationofMuslimwomen isgreatlyaffectedbytheongoing conflict between liberation groups and government. The current Musliminsurgencyinthecountryisactuallyrootedintheirhistoricstruggleforindependenceagainst the Spanish, American, and Japanese regimes. Presently, the struggle isalso against perceived discrimination by the Philippine government and by thenon-Muslimmajority.Thisisfurtherfuelledbydeep-seatedgrievancesthatremainunaddressed—devastatingpoverty,festeringlandissuesandancestraldomain,lackofequitablerepresentation,andsocialdiscrimination.

Thestrugglehasbeenexacerbatedbytheso-calledglobal“waronterror”resultingfromthe9/11attacks.TheUnitedStatesgovernmentundertheBushadministrationadoptedamoreaggressiveandpolemical‘withusoragainstus’rhetoricasitdeclareda‘crusade’againstterrorism.Insupportofthe‘waronterror’,specificanti-terroristlegislationwas approved allowing arrestwithoutwarrant. Thousands of innocentMuslim‘suspects’weredetainedas‘terrorists’.

InthePhilippines,anti-terrortacticshavebeenwronglyconflatedwithanti-insurgencytacticsthatonlyworsenedthechanceofattainingpeaceinMuslimMindanao.

“MuslimwomeninthePhilippinesarecaughtbetweenarockandahardplace.Therockisthestate’spolicyofmilitarizationandtheoppressiveformitpredominantlytakesinsecuringthepeace.IgnoranceabouttheMuslimfaithmakesmanyleaderstendtoperceiveIslamitselfasathreat.ThehardplaceistheaggregationofextremistfundamentalistgroupswhowanttomonopolizeIslam.Thesegroupsaccuseanyonetalkingofdemocracy,moderation,equalitybetweenmenandwomen,ofbeingun-Islamicoranti-Islam.Thesegroupstendtofocusonwomen’sobligations,andnotonwomen’srights.”9

WomenofMindanaoarealsobearingthebruntoftheconflictthatstartedinAugust2008withthenon-signingoftheMOA-AD.AccordingtoaJuly2009reportbytheNational Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the cumulative total of personsdisplacedfromAugust2008–July2009was756,554.Italsoreportedthatasof7July2009, thenumberofcurrentlydisplacedpersonsstoodat254,119.71.Therewerestill147evacuationcentershousing118,907displacedfamiliestherebyputtingadditional strain on women.

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Filipino Muslim Women as Peace Agents

While ensuring women’s participation in formal political structures is significant,advocateshavealsocalledfortheirmeaningfulparticipationinthepeaceprocessandotherissuesthatdirectlyimpacttheirfamiliesandtheircommunities.Forinstance,asUNSCR1325recommends,womencannotsimplybetreatedasvictimsofwar.Theyneedtobeempoweredsotheycanbecomeeffectivepartnersinfindinganegotiatedsolutiontotheconflict.

Intermsofadvocacy,womenmustalsobeempoweredsothattheycaneffectivelypressurethestatetoliveuptoitsobligationsundertheinternationallyacceptedprincipleof“responsibilitytoprotect.”Inaddition,womencanassumecommunityleadershiprolesindevelopingandimplementinganearlywarningsystemdesignedforsocialandpoliticalconflictsinordertoprotectcommunitiesfromimpendingharm.Womencanlikewiseplayvital roles inaddressing thegrowing issueofhumantrafficking.Theycanleadtheircommunitiesinaddressingtheirvulnerabilitiestotraffickingandotherrelatedcrimeslikeprostitution,slavery,andsextourism,amongothers.

Thereisanemergingwomen’sactivisminMuslimcommunitiesinthePhilippines,adirectresponsetothedoubleburdenwomenbear.First,theyhavebecomeprimarilyresponsibleforthewelfareoftheirfamiliesbutlackaccesstoprogramsandsupport.Second,whileMuslimwomenarenot responsible for thearmedconflict thathasreduced their communities to refugee status, theybear thebruntof keeping thefamiliesandcommunitiestogether.SomuchresponsibilityislaidontheshouldersofMuslimwomenandyettheyarenotheardbutonlyseen.Whenseen,theyarerelegatedtoaminorsector,togetherwithchildrenandyouth,asiftosaythattheyareintrinsicallypowerless”10.

Muslimwomenrealizethatsincetheyareoneofthemostvulnerablesegmentsofthepopulationinconflictsituations,theyneedtobecomemoreactivenotonlyintheachievementofpeacebut inaddressingserioussocial,politicalandeconomicissues.Muslimwomenhavediscoveredthattheycanbeapotentforceinanysocial,political,oreconomicundertaking.

After the signing of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement11, women from the Moro NationalLiberationFront(MNLF)12werevocalabouttheirexclusionfromtheprocess.IncommunityfocusgroupdiscussionsorganizedbyMagbassaKitaFoundationInc(MKFI)13,theywelcomedthechancetoexpresstheirneedsandhopes,arguingthat

10 Amina Rasul.Women and Conflict. Presented before the 20th Asia Pacific Roundtable on “Strengthening Comprehensive andCooperativeSecurityintheAsiaPacific”RennaissanceHotel,KualaLumpur,29May-1June200611The1996FinalPeaceAgreementwasforgedbetweentheGovernmentoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesandtheMoroNationalLiberationFrontheadedbyChairmanNurMisuari.12TheMNLFwasfoundedbyProf.NurMisuariinitiallywagingastrugglefortotalindependencefromthePhilippines.13TheMagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc.(MKFI),foundedandchairedbyformerSenatorSantaninaT.Rasul,isanon-stock,non-profit,non-governmentorganizationdedicatedtothepromotionofliteracy,povertyalleviationandpeace,especiallyinMindanao.Itsmissionisanchoredonthephilosophythatliteracyandeconomicempowermentarepreconditionsforameaningfulparticipationofindividualsinsociety.MKFIstartedtheMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocacyProgramin2001withfocusgroupdiscussions.

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14TheBangsaMoroWomen’sFoundation(BMWF)wasfoundedbyEleonora‘Rohayda’TanMisuari,wifeoftheMNLFChairmanandformerARMMGovernorNurMisuari.15TheregionalcounterpartoftheNationalCommissionontheRoleofFilipinoWomen,RCBWisledbyChairpersonTarhataMaglangitanditsboardiscomposedofrepresentativesformthe5provincesoftheAutonomousRegionofMuslimMindanao

theyshouldalsobeallowedtodecidewhichcommunityprojectstocarryout,asthemen do.

Today,moreandmoreMuslimwomenareenteringtherealmofcivilsociety.Theyhavebecomemorevocalinexpressingtheirdisenchantmentwiththenon-implementationofthe1996PeaceAgreement.

In the MKFI-organized focus group discussions, some women leaders in thecommunitiesoftheMoroIslamicLiberationFront(MILF)evenbelievedtheyneedtopersist in thearmedstruggle inorder toattain theirgoals. Fortunately,morewomenhavebecomeactiveinconflictresolutionprograms,inmassactiontostoparmedconflict,inestablishingzonesofpeace,andtheyaresomeofthemostactivepartnersininterfaithdialogues.

Afterthesigningofthe1996PeaceAgreement,theBangsaMoroWomen’sFoundation(BMWF)14was founded.BMWFbecame the leadingpartner of theMNLFand theARMM in implementing training, livelihoodandmicro-creditprograms forwomen.Up to200 registeredwomen’s cooperativesandmutualbenefitassociationshavebeenorganizedandfederatedwiththeBMWF.TheMNLFwomenalsoorganizedtheBangsaMoroWomenSolidarityForum,agroupthathasbecomeactiveinmonitoringhostilitiesandlobbyingforthecessationofhostilities.

OnJuly9,1997,theARMMRegionalLegislativeAssemblypassedalawestablishingtheRegionalCommissionforBangsamoroWomen(RCBW)15.RCBW,withitsmeagerresources, has supported capacity building for women. Although its programshave beenmostly conducted in the form of livelihood training and humanitarianaidtodisplacedcommunities,theCommissionhassupportedprogramsforconflictresolutionandpeaceadvocacy.OnJanuary23,2005,theRCBWcollaboratedwiththePhilippineCouncilforIslamandDemocracy(PCID)foraconferenceontheRoleofMuslimWomeninPeaceandDevelopment.

The Muslim Women Peace Advocates Program

Realizingtheimportantroleofwomeninpeacebuildingandconflictresolution,theMagbassaKitaFoundationInc.(MKFI)andthePCIDareworkingtoempowerMuslimwomenunderthe“MuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates(MWPA)Program,”aninitiativeintendedtogatherwomenfromtheMuslimcommunitieswhichprovidedthesewomenthevenuefordiscussionandlearningfromeachother.

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The MWPA project had three phases: Phase I – Training Module DevelopmentthruFocusGroupDiscussions;PhaseII–RegionalTrainingWorkshops;andPhaseIII–ProvincialTrainingWorkshops.PhasesIandIIweresupportedbytheKonradAdenauerStiftung(KAS),andPhaseIII(Sulu)wassupportedbytheUSEmbassyand later,by theStrengtheningGrassroots InterfaithDialogueandUnderstanding(SGIDU)programoftheAustralianEmbassy.

The 2001 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involved participants from the conflict-affectedprovincesofSulu,Basilan,Maguindanao,LanaodelSurandCotabatoCity.Thewomenrepresentedgroups,whichareinconflictwitheachothersuchastheMNLF,MILF,widowsofPhilippinesoldiers,womeninthemilitaryandgovernmentagencieshelpinginareasofconflictsuchasnursesandsocialworkers.TheFGDfocusedonthedevelopmentoftrainingmodulesforwomenaspeaceadvocatesandchangeagents,whichresultedinatrainingmanualandaninitialactionplantopromotepeaceanddevelopment inMindanao.MKFI’smanualonconflictresolution isentitled“TrainingWomenPeaceAdvocatesandConflictResolutionandConsensusBuilding”.

In December 11-12, 2003, MKFI and PCID organized the MuslimWomen's PeaceAdvocates Workshop- Conference. The participants presented their formulated“DeclarationofMuslimWomeninWagingPeace”totheNationalCommissionontheRoleofFilipinowomenthroughCommissionerDr.AmelouBenitezReyesandtotheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM)throughthenRegionalLegislativeAssembly Speaker Ismael Abubakar. The Declaration asserted the right of Muslimwomen to actively participate in peace building while outlining the different waysthroughwhichthiscanberealized.

Since2003,MKFIhascontinuedtosupportcapacitybuildingforthewomen intheconflict-affectedareas.Asoftoday,theMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates-SuluCouncilisorganizedinJolo,aswellasintheconflict-affectedmunicipalitiesofIndananandPatikul(whereoperationsareon-goingagainsttheAbuSayyafGroup).TheSuluCouncillaunchedaweeklyradioprogram“WomenTalkPeace”in2004thatisbroadcasttotheentireprovince.

In2006,MKFI andPCIDorganizeda trainingworkshopaimedat enablingMuslimwomentobecomeactiveparticipantsintheadvocacyandprotectionofhumanrights.TrainersfromthePhilippineCommissiononHumanRightsworkedwithMuslimwomencommunityleadersandtaughtthemhowtomonitorandtoreporthumanrightsabusesin their communities.

In2007,withthesupportoftheAustralianEmbassy,MKFIorganizedaseriesoffocusgroupdiscussions16 andworkshops in five provinces inARMM to provide training

16"PreparatoryFocusGroupDiscussionsfortheWomenasPeaceAdvocates:ARegionalconferenceintheRoleofWomeninPeaceBuilding”

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for Muslim women in conflict resolution and to undertake interfaith dialogues.Furthermore,theOfficeofthePresidentialAdviseronthePeaceProcess(OPAPP)fundedMWPAconsultationswithwomen’sorganizationsinSulutodiscusshowtosupportthepeaceprocess.

Inthe2007nationalelectionsandthe2008regionalelections,thePCIDinvolvedtheMWPA-SuluCouncilineffortstomonitortheelectionsbytheParish-PastoralCouncilforResponsibleVoting(PPCRV)17,anelectionwatchdogorganizationaccreditedbytheCOMELEC.

Empowering the Aleemat

DuringtheFirstNationalUlamaSummit18 inJanuary2008,25aleematparticipatedandexpressedtheirneedtoorganizetheirownconsultationsandnetworkingtobetteraddress the issues of Muslim women and families. The aleemat are Muslim women religious teachers and scholarswho have obtained formal training or education inIslamic studies. Most of the aleemat of Mindanao have been educated in IslamicuniversitiesabroadincludingAlAzharUniversityofEgypt,WorldIslamicCallCollegeinLibya,aswellasinthemadaris19andIslamicinstitutesinthePhilippines.Thealeemataregenerallynotorganizedasagroup.Instead,theyprovidesupporttotheulamaorganizationsandalsoteachatthemadaris.

LedbyAleemaKhadijaMutilan,thewidowoftherenownedFilipinoulama,Dr.MahidMutilan20,womenreligiousscholars requested for theirownseparatemeeting.Thealeematpointedoutthattheyhavemuchtoofferasagroupalthoughtheyhavebeenlargelyoverlookedbyinstitutionsthatfocusonprovidingcapacitybuildingforwomencivilsocietyorganizations.Thealeematrequestedthataparallelprogrambeorganizedforthemthatthey,too,couldfocusonpeaceanddevelopmentasaunifiedgroup.Sincethealeematmaybeconsideredapointofintersectionbetweenwomenandtheulama,itwaslogicalandimperativethateffortbeextendedtoinvolvethealeematinpeaceanddevelopmentinitiatives.

Inresponse,MKFIandPCIDjointly launchedaprojectthataimedtoempowerthealeematorMuslimwomenreligiousscholarsincollaborationwithMuslimwomencivilsociety organizations. This collaborative network between the aleemat and otherwomen’s groups allow both the religious organizations and the more secular civilsocietyorganizationstoequallygainfromsharingtheirexperiences.

17PPCRVisaPhilippineelectionwatchdogorganizedbytheCatholiclaityandusingparishesasitspricipalnetwork.18TheSummitwaspartoftheEmpoweringtheUlamaprojectthatwasimplementedbyPCIDwiththesupportoftheBritishandDutchgovernments.19MadrasahisanArabicwordforschool(plural-madaris).MadrasahEducationisasystemofeducationwithcoreemphasisonArabicliteracy,Islamicvalues,andIslamicreligion.20Dr.MahidM.Mutilan(August12,1943-December6,2007)wasarespectedMuslimreligiousscholarandanacknowledgedleaderofpeaceadvocacyandinter-religiousdialogueinMindanao.HefoundedtheUlamaLeagueofthePhilippines.

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Noorus Salam: Bearers of the Light of Peace

DuringtheSecondNationalUlamaSummit,theAleematapprovedtheir“Declaration ofMuslimWomenWagingPeace”(seenextpage),astrongstatementproclaimingtheircommitmenttoattainpeaceanddevelopmentinMindanao.

In2009,PCIDreceivedsupportfromtheOneWomanInitiative(OWI)21 through the CharitiesforAmericaFoundation(CAFAmerica),to implementthe“EmpoweringtheMuslimWomenandAleematProject.”

The project aimed to give Muslim women, particularly the aleemat, a forum forcollaborativeactionanddiscussion.Theproject capacitated thewomenonconflictpreventionandpeacemaking.Five(5)regionalconferences inMindanaoandLuzonwere conductedwhich resulted to the organization of core groupswhich acted asregionalsteeringcommitteestocoordinateactivities.

ThecreationoftheregionalcoregroupsisconsideredabreakthroughforMuslimwomeninthePhilippines,asnonesuchnationalorganizationhasbeenestablishedbefore.InCotabatoCity,theorganizedregionalnetworkcalledthemselvesthe“NoorusSalam,”orLightofPeace.Lateron,theotherregionsadoptedNoorusSalam.Eventually,thegroupsagreedthatNoorusSalambethenameoftheirnationalorganization. Culminatingtheprovincialforumsandseminarswasanationalconferencethatwasheldfrom24-27January2010inDavaoCity.This1stnationalconference,anchoredon the theme “Noorus Salam:” Women of Faith, Light of Peace,”gathered150ofthemostinfluentialandactivealeematandwomenleadersfromcivilsociety.

The Conference, chiefly supported by The Japan Foundation, strengthened andconsolidated women’s initiative in developing common strategies to enhance theirinputsinadvancingdemocraticprocessesintheirareas.ItfeaturedresourcepersonsfromSoutheastAsiaandothercountrieswhohavebeenactiveinorganizingwomentodealwithconflicts,withintheparametersestablishedbytheIslamicfaith.Further,theprojectensuredtheparticipationofwomenfromthedifferentfaithstherebyensuringinterfaithcollaborationforpeace.

21OWIisan internationalwomen’sempowermentfundintendedtoaidwomenthroughwiderangingsupport includingleadershiptraining,workplaceopportunityandsupportforentrepreneurialefforts,aswellas,basiclegalrightsinformation.MKFIwasoneofonlyfivethatreceivedOWI’sinitialgrant.

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2NDNATIONALSUMMITOFULAMAINTHEPHILIPPINESImperialPalaceSuites,QuezonCity,PHILIPPINES

January26to29,2009The Declaration of Muslim Women Waging Peace

(Workshop on Women’s Rights and Issues)

BismillahHirrahmanNiraheem.InthenameofAllah,theMostGracious,theMostMerciful.

Thedemandsoffast-pacedchangesinthe21stCenturyrequiretheparticipationofwomeninaddressingmulti-dimensional problems.Women constitute more than half of the population. Thus, women arestakeholdersandshouldthereforebekeyplayersandPartnersinpromotingsustainabledevelopmentinaculturepeace.

Peaceanddevelopmentare continuously threatenedbyongoingarmedconflict.Whenwarhappens,womentake the lead in theprotectionandwelfareof their families.Armedconflictand theviolationof human rights in situations of armed conflict have long-term social, economic and psychologicalconsequences.Further,womenalsosufferfromothertypesofconflict, including“rido”.Wethereforeassert the need to empower women to participate in conflict resolution, peace negotiations, andreconstructionactivitiestowardreconciliationandhealing. We call for the immediate resumption of the peace process between the government and theMoroIslamicLiberationFront.

Wealsocallforthecompleteimplementationofthe1996GRP-MNLFPeaceAccord,subjecttotheresultsoftheTripartiteReviewconductedbytheOrganizationoftheIslamicConference,theGovernmentandtheMoroNationalLiberationFront.

Further,wecallongovernmentanddevelopmentpartnersto:

Peace• Buildthecapacitiesofwomenaspeaceeducators,bothintheirfamiliesandintheircommunities;• SupportthealeemattoformandinstitutionalizeanetworkofMuslimwomenpeacebuildersand

advocates;• Foster a culture of peace, through education, that upholds justice and tolerance for all peoples

toincludeelementsofconflictresolution,mediation,eliminationofdiscriminationandrespectfordiversity,includingeducationalprogramsforyouthandchildren;

• Integrateagenderperspective in the resolutionofarmedorother conflictsandaim forgenderbalancewhen nominating or promoting candidates for judicial and other position in all relevantjusticeandlawenforcementbodies,aswellasinotherbodiesrelatedtothepeacefulsettlementofdisputes;

• Investigateandpunishmembersofthepolice,securityandarmedforcesandotherswhoperpetrateactsofviolenceagainstwomen,violationsofhumanitarianlawandviolationsofthehumanrightsofwomeninconflictsituations;

• Develop awareness of the human rights of women and provide, as appropriate, human rightseducationand training tomilitaryandpolicepersonneloperating inareasofarmedconflictandareaswheretherearerefugees;

• ProtecttherightsofMuslimwomendetainees.TheCommissiononHumanRightshasdocumentedhundredsof casesofMuslimwomen illegallydetained, subjected tohumiliation, rapeandotherviolationsofrights;

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• Raisepublicawareness,asappropriate,throughthemassmedia,educationatalllevelsandspecialprogrammestocreateabetterunderstandingofthesituationofwomenandchildrenaffectedbyconflictsituations;

• AdvocateforthepositiveportrayalofMuslimsinthemediaandotherformsofculturalrepresentationincludingentertainment;

Access to financial resources and economic development• Ensure the actualization of enhanced and increased access of Muslim women to economic

opportunities, capital and Islamic microcredit, information technology and technical assistance,livelihoodopportunitiesincludingHalalproductionandfoodprocessingincludingpackaging;

• Buildcapacitiestoadvocate,mentorandtrainwomenleaders,especiallyMuslimsatthegrassrootslevel,todeveloplivelihoodskillsforempowermentparticularlyinhighvalue,addingindustriesandagriculturalactivities;

• Provideadequateprotectionandallocate financial andother resources todisplacedwomenandchildrenand facilitate their returnor resettlement includingaccess to appropriate andadequatefood,waterandshelter,education,andsocialandhealthservicesincludingreproductivehealthcareandmaternitycare;

• AllocateasubstantialportionoftheGADBudgettoaffirmativeactionforwomenvictimizedbytheconsequencesofarmedconflictandforpeacebuildingactivitiesofthealeemat.

Education and Islamic values formation:• Enablegreateraccessespeciallyofwomentoformalandnon-formaleducation,acholarshipsforthe

aleemat;• SupportliteracyprogramsforMuslimwomen,whohavethehighestrateofilliteracyinthecountry;• Providewomenwithaccesstovocational/professional trainingprogrammes, includingsmall-scale

enterprisedevelopmentandplanning;• Supportthealeemattobeeffectiveteachersandadministratorsinalllevelsofthemadarissystem;• Support the establishment of women’s resource centers for the aleemat for research, training,

networkingandotherservicessuchasEnglishlanguagetraining,computereducationandArabiclanguagetraining;forhealtheducationandcounselingonallformsofviolenceagainstwomen;forparentingskillsand Islamicvalues formation foryouthand families; foreducationon rightsandduties;

• CombattheprostitutionofwomenthruIslamicvaluesformationandeducationofyounggirlsatriskandtheirfamilies;

• Support thealeemat inprovidingguidance,educationandcounseling foryouthespeciallyoutofschoolyouthandyouthinconflictwiththelaw;

Health• Enablegreateraccessespeciallyofwomentocomprehensiveprimaryhealthservicesthattakeinto

accounttheirreproductivehealthfromagenderperspective;• Provideresourcesforthealeemattoresearch,studyanddevelopstrategiestodealwiththeproblems

ofyouthsuchasdrugaddictionandothersubstanceabuse,smoking,earlypregnancyandothers;• Establishdrugrehabilitationcentersandsupportanti-drugcampaigns;• Provideaccesstopotabledrinkingwater;• Supportthealeematincleanliness,environmentalprotectionandsanitationcampaigns;

Clean and honest elections and governance• Providevoterseducationtowomenthatwillpromotehonest,orderlyandpeacefulelections;• Supportthealeematoplayanactiveroleinvoterseducationandguardingofthevote;• Supportthealeematfortraininginparticipationinpoliticsandgovernance;• Support the participation of the aleemat women in the practice of good governance including

transparency,accountabilityandzerotoleranceofcorruption,cronyismandnepotism;• AdvocateforPD1083,CMPL(CodeofMuslimPersonalLaw)togiveaccesstowomentolegalize

redressinafastandinexpensivemanner;

Signed, Participants of the Workshop on Women’s Rights and Issues

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From Vision to Action, From Conflict to Peace

Buildingon thesegains,PCIDandMKFIorganized the2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocateswiththetheme,“NOORUSSALAM(LightofPeace):FROMVISIONTOACTION,FROMCONFLICTTOPEACE.”The2ndNationalConferencetookplacetheGardenOrchidHotel,ZamboangaCityfromFebruary7to10,2011.Theconferenceprovidedthevenueforthenetworkofaleematandwomenleaderstosharetheiraccomplishmentsandexperiencessincetheirlastconferencetofacilitategreaterparticipationinrespondingtoissuesofconflictprevention,peacemakinganddemocracyandsustainabledevelopmentinMindanao.

Theobjectivesoftheconferenceincludedthefollowing:

1. SupportthedevelopmentoftheNoorusSalamnetworkbyprovidingthemthevenuetoimproveorganizationalcapacityandadvocaciesinmanyissues;

2. ProvideaframeworkforempoweringmembersoftheNoorusSalamnetworkforgreatercommunityparticipationandinvolvementbyprovidingaforumforthediscussionof issuesliketheMindanaopeaceprocess;theeliminationofall formsofviolenceagainstwomen,humansecurity,health,humanrights,democraticreformsandpeaceeducation;

3. Assistthealeemattointegrateorcollaboratewithwomen’sorganizationsforsustainedeffortstowardspeace,developmentanddemocracy;

4. Provideaforumforthesharingofexperiencesbetweenandamongwomenpeaceadvocatesofvariousfaiths;

5. Buildconfidenceamongpeaceadvocates/agents.

In addition to the networking and exchange of information among the women leaders, concurrentworkshopswereconductedduringtheconference.“GenderandSecurity–UNSecurityCouncilResolution1325&1820”delvedintothesubstanceofUNSecurityCouncilResolutionsconcerningwomen,peaceandsecurity,aswellasthetopicofsexualviolenceinsituationsofarmedconflict.Theworkshopon“ResponsibilitytoProtect”discussedtheemerginginternationalnormconcerningtheprimeresponsibilitiesoftheStateandtheinternationalcommunityasprotectorsoftheircitizens.Theworkshopon“Anti-HumanTrafficking"lookedintothevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunitiestothisgrowingsocialandincreasinglyglobalproblem.“AleematandPreventiveHealthCare”wasacapacitybuildingsessiononmaternalandchildhealthcare.TheforumonLiteracyforPeaceandDevelopmentprojectsharedthestorybehindtheworkofthefoundationincombatingadultilliteracyespeciallyintheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM).

PCIDandMKFIpartneredwiththeJapanFoundation,theGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders (GNWP), the Asia Pacific Centre on the Responsibility to Protect(APCR2P), Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VFFI) the US Agency for InternationalDevelopment(USAID),UNWomen,andtheOfficeofthePresidentialAdviseronthePeaceProcess(OPAPP).

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III. Women and World Interfaith Harmony Solidarity Forum

Theopeningdinnerceremonyofthe2ndNationalConferenceofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocatesservedasthesolidarityforumtocelebratetheUN-declaredWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek22.

Religious leaders fromdifferent faith groups in ZamboangaCity joined theMuslimwomenleadersandpeaceadvocateshailingfromLuzon,theVisayasandMindanaotoproclaimtheroleofinterfaithharmonyinthepursuitofpeace.

Amina Rasul, President of the Philippine Center forIslam and Democracy (PCID), revealed that 2011marks the first year of the celebration of WorldInterfaith HarmonyWeek. A United Nations GeneralAssembly resolution in October 2010, sponsored byKingAbdullahofJordan,wasapprovedtoencouragethecelebrationoftheWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeekeveryfirstweekofFebruary.

RasulsaidthattheInterfaithHarmonySolidarityDinnerForumisoneof45internationaleventsheldtosupport

global interfaith harmony. Interfaith dialogue is important to strengthen Muslim-Christian relations at the community level, a relation that has become strainedbypersistentconflictsinMindanao.

In his welcome message, Mayor Celso Lobregat ofZamboanga City thanked the organizers for choosinghis city as the venue for the InterfaithHarmonyWeekcelebration. “Our population is a good mixture ofChristians, Muslims and Lumads who co-exist withgreatrespectforandtoleranceforoneanotherdespitereligiousdifferences.”ThepopulationofZamboangaCityis73%Christianwiththeremaining27%percentbelongingtootherfaithssuchusIslamandBuddhism.

Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason, Vice-Chairman of the National Ulama Conference of thePhilippines,encouragedfellowMuslimstoemphasizethatIslamisa“religionofpeace,compassion,forgiveness,moderationandharmony,andnotareligionoflawlessness,kidnapping,violenceandterrorism.”

22TheWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeekwasfirstproposedattheUNGeneralAssemblyonSeptember23,2010byH.M.KingAbdullahIIofJordan.Justunderamonthlater,onOctober20,2010,itwasunanimouslyadoptedbytheUNandthefirstweekofFebruarywasdeclaredasaWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek.

PCIDPresidentAminaRasulexplainsthesignificanceoftheinterfaithsolidaritydinner.

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Archbishop Romulo Valles of the Archdioceseof Zamboanga, appreciated the initiative andwasgrateful for themanyeffortsof interfaithdialoguesinthePhilippines.

Headded,“ItwasnoteasyatthebeginningtoconvincepeopleofotherfaithsthattheCatholicChurch is sincere in promoting interfaithdialogue,butwecontinuetopromotedialogueandhelpmanyintheChurchtobelievethatthisisthewaytobefaithfultoourmission.”

ReverendIraLeeRosalitaoftheZamboangaCityAllianceEvangelicalChurchaddedhissupporttothecelebration.HerevealedthathefeelsatpeaceandsecureinthecompanyofMuslimsandhasneverexperiencedbeingharassedwhilepassingthroughMuslim communities in Lanao and Maguindanao.

BartolomeMadriaga, Zamboanga Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatterDaySaints,urgedZamboangeñostostrengthentheirindividualresolvetobe“doers of theword andnot hearers only”when it comes to promotingpeace andharmonyinthiscityandbeyond.

FromtheRVMCongregation,SisterMariaNiñaBalbas,DirectressofPilarCollege,saidthatpeaceisrecognizedasoneofthehighestvaluestobesoughtanddefended.Shestressedthat,“bybringingharmonyamongthedifferentfaithsintheworld,wethenareabletocontributetothehealingofourwoundedplanet.”

FatherSebastiand’AmbraoftheSilsilahFoundation,saidthat“harmony”isaverygoodsynthesisonecanapplytoone’sfaith.Hepointedoutthatdespitemanyeffortsandinitiativesinpeace-building,troublestillexistwhichtellsusthat“weneedtoworkmore.”

MuslimpeaceadvocatesinZamboangaareactiveinsowingpeaceandharmonyamong the followers of different faiths according to Prof. Ali Yacub, head ofGoldenCrescentConsortiumofPeaceBuilders. “We continuewhat ourpasttraditional leaders have started -spearheadingpeace-buildingeffortstostrengthen Muslim-Christian relationsonwhichweenjoythefruit,”headded.

ZamboangaStakePresidentofChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaintsBartolomeMadriaga.Rev.IraRosalitaofAllianceEvangelicalChurchandFatherSebastiand’AmbraoftheSilsilahFoundation.

ZamboangaCityArchbishopRomuloVallesandNUCPVice-ChairpersonAboulkhairTarason.

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IV. Women are Better Peacemakers

The opening plenary session of the 2nd National Conference featured exemplarywomenleadersfromgovernmentandcivilsociety.Emphasizingthatanempoweredwomanclaimsherrightsasmuchasherobligations,plenaryspeakersurgedMuslimwomenleaders,particularlythealeemat,toasserttheirroleinthesearchforajustpeaceandequitabledevelopment.

IreneSantiago,ChairEmeritusoftheMindanaoCommissiononWomenandaformermemberofthegovernmentpeacepanel,saidthatgenderiscrucialtoresolvingthedecadesoldconflictin Mindanao. Santiago added, "You cannotachieve any kindof just andenduringpeacewithout taking the role of gender into account. Howdoyoudealwith the issuesof security,development, participation and decision-making, and identity, if you do not includewomen?" Any comprehensive solution to the

conflictinMindanao,Ms.Santiagoargued,mustaddressthefourfundamentalneedsofwomen:security,development,participationindecision-makingandacceptanceofidentity.

Newly appointed Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) board member AminaRasulcitedaSocialWeatherStations(SWS)surveyshowingthatagreatmajorityofFilipinosbelievethatwomenarebetterpeacemakers.Sheadded,"Wearenot justtalkingabouttheformalnegotiatingtablepeaceprocess,butalsoourcollectiveeffortswithinourcommunitiestoforgelastingpeace."

Beyondtheformalpeacetalks,RasulsaidthatthealeematcanworktogethertomaketheMadrasahacenterforcommunityservice.Shecited,asanexample,thepossibilityoftheNoorusSalamtoextendhealthservicestothecommunitythrutheMadrasah:"Whatif,throughyou(NoorusSalammembers),wecanhelpoursistersimprovetheirhealthwhenthey’repregnantandhelpchildrenimprovetheirhealth?Withtrainingfromourpartners,youcanbetterserveourpeople.Youcanbecomevaluablepartnersin improving the health of our people by just teaching them simpleways such asdentalhygiene,preventionofinfectiousdiseasesbywashinghandsfrequently."

MindanaoDevelopmentAuthority(MinDA)ChairpersonSecretaryLuwalhatiAntoninoforherparturgedMuslimstobeher"kakampi"(ally)becauseofthemanytasksthatneedtobedoneoverthenext6yearsforthedevelopmentofMindanao.

NOWOMAN,NOPEACE--FormerGRP-MILFpeacepanelmemberIndaySantiagostressestheneedforwomentoparticipateinthepeaceprocess.

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AntoninoalsoaskedMuslimsto"buildbridgesoftrust"givenherhistorywithMuslimsinthepast.ItwillberecalledthatAntoninowasoneoftheso-called"TresMarias"withformerMayor Ma. Clara Lobregat and Rep. Daisy Fuentes whoprotestedthepeaceagreementbetweenthegovernmentandtheMoroNationalLiberationFront(MNLF)in1996.

Sheexplainedthatsheisforpeacebutastheleaderofhercity,shehadtoprotecttheinterestsofherpeople.There

canbenojustpeaceifanagreementisseentobenefitonegroupovertheothers.

UN Women Philippine Coordinator Aida Jean Manipon and Ma. Carmen Lauzon-GatmaytanoftheAsianCircle1325–GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders(GNWP)bothstressedtheneedtobridgethegapbetweeninternationallawsandinstrumentsdesignedtoprotectandempowerwomenandthe"livedrealities"ofMuslimwomeninthePhilippines.

Ms.ManiponemphasizedtheneedtomakeinternationallawsandinstrumentssuchasUNSC1325moremeaningful."Howdowemake itcomealive towomen inan island likeJoloandmakethemreallyfeellikeit’stheirown?”Ms.Maniponasked.Sheposedthischallengetothealeemat:whatcanyoudotohelpmakethevisionofpeace,genderequalityandempowermentofwomenalivedrealityinMindanaoandinthecountry?

Ms.Lauzon-Gatmaytanforherpartstressedtheimportanceofengagementandnetworkingtowardsthepromotionofwomen'srights."Nomatterhowfarwearefromeachother,how different our cultures and ideologies are, we need to sustainourcommonvision,knowingthattherearewomenontheothersideoftheglobewhofacestrugglesweface,helpuspersevere.Nomatterhowsmallourvoicesarewecandependonotherwomentoamplify."

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V. Southeast Asian Perspectives on Networking and Development of Women Peace Advocates: Panel Discussion

Theafternoonsessionof theconference'sdayonefeaturedtwowomen leadersfromIndonesiaandMalaysia:Ms.LilyMunir,DirectoroftheCenterforPesantrenandDemocracyStudiesinIndonesiaandZarinaNalla,aconsultantoftheMalaysia-basedInternationalInstituteofAdvancedIslamicStudies.

Inherpresentation,Ms.Munirassertedthat Muslim women are engaged in a "battle,"abattleforgenderequalityandjustice. She pointed out that womenhave a common enemy in patriarchy,whichshedefinedas"asocialsystemwhere (the) father is theheadof thefamily and (the) man has authorityoverwomenandchildren.Shepointedoutthatmostcasesofviolenceinthefamilyhavethewomenandchildrenasvictims."Haveyouheardofamanbeingavictimoffamilyviolence?Wearealwaysatthereceivingend,"Munirexclaimed.SherejectedtheviewthatthepervasiveviolenceagainstwomencanbejustifiedbyreligionbecauseIslam"infact,raisesthestatusofwomen."Insteadshepointstoculturaltraditions–patriarchy–astheculprit.ShealsocitedpeoplewhomisusereligionaswellasMuslims"whodonotknowtheirreligionenough"toperpetuatethesubjugationofwomen.

Sheurgedthewomentotakeituponthemselvestoorganizeandbepreparedto"jointhebattlefield."Sheaskedthemtoeducatethemselvesandtonetworkwithother women and women's organizations. It is also important, Munir added to"apply(andshare)whatyouknowtomembersofyourfamilyandthentomembersofyourcommunity."

ZarinaNallabeganherpresentationbydistinguishingbetweentwotypesofnon-governmentorganization(NGO–localandnational.SheadvisedtheNoorusSalammembers that they have to be sensitive about the distinction between the twotypes as they embark on strengthening the advocacy of their organization. "Ifyouintendtobeabignationalentityyouhavetounderstandthatthebigworldhasdifferentpressurepointsandmanytimesyouneedtotakeastronger,moreaggressiveapproach.Youhavetoknowwhichapproachsuitsyouthebest."

She related that the "multi-racial harmony inMalaysia today is at itsweakest."Shenoted thatwhile therehavebeenefforts to keepdifferentgroups togetherMalaysiansneedtoworkveryhardtotryandkeepthesocietyunited.

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She added that some people with selfishagendahavebeenexploitingthemultiracialidentity ofMalaysia. She also cited certaingapsinthestatusofwomeninhercountry:"Wedon’thaveenoughwomeninparliament,in senior positions (of government), it’sincreasing slowly but it’s not there yet."She lamented the fact that sexualviolenceis on the rise. She, however, emphasizedthat some policies have been instituted to

addresstheproblemthroughtheinstitutionalizationofwomencrisiscentersand"thefactthatwehavepolicerapesquadsineverystateinMalaysia."ShecreditedMalaysianwomenNGOsfortheseimprovements.

Shealsocitedthefactthatfrom2000to2010therehavebeenmanyachievementsinMalaysiawithregardtothewelfareofwomen."OurwomenNGOSmanagedtoconvincegovernmenttosetuptheMinistryforWomen,FamilyandDevelopment.Theysetupaspecialsecretariatto lookatMuslimwomenrightsandadvancingthe welfare of Muslim women.

Nalla concluded her remarks by encouraging thewomen to act. "It is time forwomentosayenoughisenough,forthemtolookforandcreateopportunitiesforthemselvesandtheirchildren."Itistimetosay:"I’mgoingtotakethingsintomyownhands!"

Theseconddayoftheconferencefeaturedfiveconcurrentworkshopsessionsonthe following themes:

1. UnitedNationsSecurityCouncilResolution1325&1820onWomen,PeaceandSecurity(convenedbytheGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders).

2. TheResponsibilitytoProtect(R2P)andtheMindanaoConflict(convenedbytheAsiaPacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect).

3. HumanTraffickingandtheVulnerabilitiesofMuslimCommunities(convenedbytheVisayanForumFoundation,Inc)

4. The Aleemat and Preventive Health Care (convened by the United StatesAgency for International Development through the SHIELD and HealthPROprojects.)

5. Literacy for Peace and Development (convened by the Magbassa KitaFoundation,Inc.)

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VI. Concurrent Workshop Session on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 & 1820 on Women, Peace and Security

TheworkshopbeganwithafilmscreeningofPraytheDevilBacktoHell,anaward-winningdocumentarybyAbigailE.DisneyandGiniReticker.ThisdocumentarytoldtheremarkablestoryofthecourageousLiberianwomenwhocametogetherinthemidstofabloodycivilwar,tookontheviolentwarlordsandthecorruptCharlesTaylor regime,andwona long-awaitedpeacefortheirshatteredhomelandin2003.

On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted the UnitedNations Security Council Resolution 1325 onWomen, Peace and Security. It isan international lawunder theUNCharter,andprovidesanumberof importantoperationalmandateswithimplicationsforMemberStatesaswellasotherentitiesoftheUnitedNations.

The resolution reaffirms the important role women play in the prevention andresolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace building, peacekeeping, andhumanitarian responses in post-conflict reconstruction. It also stresses theimportanceoftheirequalandfull involvement inalleffortsforthemaintenanceandpromotionofpeaceandsecurity.

UNSCR1325urgesallnationalgovernments, intergovernmentalandcivilsocietyactorstoincreasetheparticipationofwomen,andincorporategenderperspectivesinpeaceandsecurityefforts.Italsocallsonallpartiestoconflicttotakespecialmeasures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularlyrapeandotherformsofsexualabuse,insituationsofarmedconflict.

The adoption of UNSCR 1325 by the UN Security Council helped to transformtheimageofwomenfromvictimsofwarandconflicttoactivepeacebuildersanddecision-makers. This transformative principle of UNSCR 1325 not only movedtheissuesofwomen,peaceandsecurityfromthegenderagenda–placingitfrontandcentreontheinternationalpeaceandsecurityagendaoftheUnitedNationsSecurity Council–it also provided women the right to sit and be heard at thedecision-makingtablewhendiscussinginternationalpeaceandsecurityissues.

Prior to theadoptionofUNSCR1325, the issuesofwomen,peaceandsecurityinarmedconflict situationswere certainlyaddressed inother international lawsnotedbelow.However,thelimitationsofthesepriorinternationallawswerethattheyviewedwomenandarmedconflictstrictlyfromagenderframeworkandnotnecessarilyfromaninternationalpeaceandsecurityperspective.

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Previousinternationallegislationrelatedwithwomen,peaceandsecurityincludethe 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination AgainstWomen(CEDAW),andthe1995BeijingDeclarationandPlatformforAction.

Following the passage of UNSCR 1325 in 2000, and through the efforts ofwomen’sadvocacygroupsaroundtheworldsuchastheGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders(GNWP),theUNSecurityCouncilunanimouslypassed4subsequentresolutions concerningwomen,peaceand security.These include:UNSCR1820(adopted 2008), Demanding an end to sexual violence in situations of armedconflict,recognizingthatrapeandotherformsofsexualviolenceisnotjustaformofcollateraldamagebutisdeliberatelyusedasawartactic.

1. UNSCR1888(adopted2009)–Furtherstrengthenedexistingmechanismsforpreventingandrespondingtoviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsduringarmedconflict; creating the position of Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict, currently held by MargotWallströmofSweden.

2. UNSCR1889 (adopted 2009) – Builds onUNSCR1325 by emphasizing theneedtoconsiderwomenasnecessaryagentsforcreatingsustainablepeaceand security. Also puts in place measurement indicators, calling for globalindicatorstotracktheimplementationofUNSCR1325byUNMemberStates.

3. UNSCR1960(adopted2010)–CallsontheUNSecretary-Generaltoprovidea listofsuspectedsexualviolators inconflict to theUNSecurityCouncil, inorder tobegin theprocessof investigationandeventualprosecutionat theInternational Criminal Court.

Taken collectively with UNSCR 1325, these Security Council resolutions are verypowerful.However,thepowerwieldedbytheseinternationallawswillonlyremainonpaperiftheyarenotimplementedontheground.Nosuccessfulimplementationoftheseresolutionscanbedonewithouttheparticipationofcivilsocietyorganizationsthat are working hard on the ground, determined to bring lasting peace to thisregion.ThealeematandtheNoorusSalamwouldbevaluablepartners inMuslimMindanao.

Muslim Mindanao Context

TheemergenceofthePhilippineNationalActionPlan(NAP)onUNSCR1325camefromtheMuslimwomencivilsociety leadersofSulu,whoheldasymposiumonthetopicofUNSCR1325onMarch8,2008.ThissymposiumwasheldinordertodiscusstheimplicationsofUNSCR1325onthepeaceprocessbetweentheGRP,MILFandMNLF.ThefulltextofUNSCR1325wastranslatedintothelocallanguage,Tausug,inorderformembersoftheMILFandMNLFtounderstanditbetter.

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Presidential Executive Order 865 on March 2010 created a National SteeringCommittee onWomen, Peace and Security, to implement UNSCR 1325 and 1820.ThePhilippinesbecamethefirstcountryinAsiatodevelopandadoptanationalplanfortheimplementationofUNSCR1325and1820,inspiringwomeninothercountriesaroundtheregiontodothesame.Mostrecently,NepalhasadopteditsnationalactionplanonUNSCR1325.

TheOfficeofthePresidentialAdviseronthePeaceProcess(OPAPP)wastaskedtobethe leadagency for thePhilippineNAP insteadof thePhilippineCommissiononWomen(PCW),movingthis issuefromthegenderagendaandplacing it frontandcenterontheinternationalpeaceandsecurityagenda.

Callsweremadefortheestablishmentofanadvisorygroupcomposedofrepresentativesfrom civil society, particularlywomen’s organizations, thatwould helpmonitor andevaluate reports of the NAP on a regular basis; aswell as identifying responsiblegovernmentactorstohelpimplementUNSCR1325and1820acrossthecountry,butmostespeciallyinARMM.Fourmajorgoalswith18actionspointsandcorrespondingoutcomes/indicatorsalsoemergedforthePhilippinesNAPonUNSCR1325and1820.The4majorgoalsarelistedbelow:

Major Goals of Philippine NAP on UNSCR 1325 and 1820

1. ProtectionandPrevention:toensuretheprotectionandpreventionofviolationsofwomen’shumanrightsinarmedconflictandpostconflictsituations;

2. Empowerment and Participation: to empower women and ensure theiractiveandensuretheiractiveandmeaningfulparticipationinareasofpeacebuilding,peacekeeping,conflictprevention,conflictresolutionandpost-conflictreconstruction;

3. PromotionandMainstreaming:topromoteandmainstreamgenderperspectiveinallaspectsofconflictprevention,conflictresolution,andpeacebuilding;and

4. Capacity Development and Monitoring and Reporting: to institutionalize amonitoringandreportingsystemtomonitor,evaluateandreporttoenhanceaccountabilityforthesuccessfulimplementationoftheNAPandachievementof its goals

ThefirstphaseofresearchfortheimplementationofthePhilippineNAPonUNSCR1325and1820iscomplete,wherethecostingandallocationofresourcesneededforitsimplementationhasbeendetermined.

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Unfortunately, UNSCR 1325 and 1820 are still unknown in most conflict-affectedcommunities.Thus,thegoalsofthisworkshoponUNSCR1325and1820atthe2ndNationalConferenceonMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates,werethree-fold:

1. To raise public awareness, particularly inMindanao, and build the capacityof theAleemat,NoorusSalam,otherNGOsand localgovernmentactors tocontributeintheimplementationofUNSCR1325and1820PhilippineNAP;

2. ToengagelocalactorsandlocalcommunitiesinadialoguetoassesstheuseofUNSCR1325and1820asinstrumentstopromotewomen'srightsandpoliticalparticipationandpreventsexualandgender-basedviolence;and;

3. To promote coordination, shared responsibility and accountability amongnationalandlocalactors–governmententitiesandcivilsociety–involvedintheimplementationofUNSCR1325and1820.

Within this context, the question that is continuously being asked of ourpolicymakers,peacenegotiators,variousstakeholdersis:“Wherearethewomen?”

Toooften,policymakingprocessesare limited tonationalgovernmentactors, inthiscase,Manila.Oncethedecisionswithregardstopolicyhavebeenmade,theexpectationisthatimplementationofthesepolicieswillsimplyhappenandthatallofthelocalgovernmentagencieswillfallinlineandsupportit.However,fortheimplementationofthePhilippineNAPonUNSCR1325and1820tobesuccessfuland sustainable, a localized anddecentralized approach through engaging localactors,suchastheNoorusSalam,needstotakeplace.

WomenintheconflictareasneedtobecomeawareoftheNAP.Ifthelocalgovernmentofficialsoreventhewomenthemselvesareunawareoftheinternationallawsandresolutionsprotectingwomenandgivingthemavoiceinsecuringpeace,howcantheyseekassistance?

The GNWP is also working on advocacy for the Committee on the Eliminationof Discrimination AgainstWomen (CEDAW). CEDAW is often referred to as theinternationallawforwomen,asitembodiesallissuesthataffectwomenbasedongenderinequality.Ithasbeenratifiedbyatleast185UNMemberStates,includingthePhilippines.

Assuch,thePhilippines,alongwithothersigningMemberStates,areobligedtoreporttoCEDAWinGenevaandNewYorkeveryfouryears. There isadefinedlegalmechanismthatrequiresgovernment,aswellascivilsocietyorganizations,toreportwhathasbeendoneto improvegenderequality inthecountry.Atthemoment,suchalegalmechanismforreportingonprogressontheimplementationofUNSCR1325hasnotyetbeenimplemented,althoughthegeneralrecommendation

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andadvocacyworkfocusesonputtinginplacesomethingsimilartoCEDAWanditsimplementationamongMemberStates.

InthecontextofIslam,itisinterestingtonotethatMalaysiaisastrongsupporterofUNSCR1325and1820,andisasignatorytoCEDAW.Malaysiahassuccessfullyutilizedtheseparticularinternationallawsasleverageandframeworkforplanning,settingupreportingmechanismsforMalaysianwomenwhoarevictimsofsexualviolenceandabuse,whomaynotalwaysbeascomfortablereportingtheirabusetothemale-dominatedpolice.

InMalaysia,women’sgroupssuchastheSistersinIslamexamineSharia’h,nationaland international lawsandresolutions.Women’s rightsexistwithinShariah law,such as in rules of war where one cannot harm old men, children or women. However,tensionsariseoverthelackofrecognitionofwomen’srightsinpatriarchalsocieties.

Outputs and Recommendations

The workshop facilitators asked the participants for their expectations andquestions.

1. General principles: sincerity, peace, unity, cooperation, understanding,resolutionsforpeace,redefinitionofpeace,everythinggoodinthisworldtobringsustainablepeace;

2. Aspirationsandthoughtsonwomeninrelationstopeaceandsecurity:women'sactiveparticipation;forwomentobeheardandrecognized;formalizewomen'sparticipationinpeacetalks;affirmparticipationinlocalized,national,regionalandinternationalpeaceprocesses;

3. Veryspecificquestions:Howcanwebringpeacetoourcommunities?Moreinformationon international lawsandUNresolutions;securingprotectionforourchildren;updatesonGRP-MILFpeaceprocess.

Aftergroupdiscussions,theparticipantsagreeduponthefollowingrecommendationsfortheNoorusSalam:

1. Reviewandenhanceexistingprograms,aswellas thecapabilitiesof thelocalgovernmentunits,otheragenciesandcivilsocietyorganizationsintermsofprovidinglegal,economic,educational,psychosocialsupportandspiritualservicesforwomenandgirlsurvivorsofarmedconflict.Theparticipantsagreedthat, theyshouldsupportand linkupwiththe localgovernmentunitprogramsthroughtheirbarangaychairpersons,mayorsandgovernorstohelpandprotectwomen.

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2. Address the special needs ofwomen and girls, and their families, whohavebeeninvolvedinarmedconflict.Thisisrelevanttoalltheprovincesof ARMM since the entire region consists of conflict areas, and wheremostof thepeopleaffectedarewomenandchildren.Thiscanbedonebyengaging indiscussions, consultations,andcounseling;appealing tothePresidenttosignanExecutiveOrderregardingtheimplementationofUNSCR1325and1820;providingbasiceducation,suchasadultliteracy,tothoseaffected;and,providinglivelihoodtraining,suchasfoodprocessing,micro financing, among others.

3. EducatethestakeholdersonUNSCR1325and1820,andstrengthentheawareness of women on their rights, through the conduct of trainings and workshops onUNSCR 1325 and 1820, aswell as on gender sensitivity,CEDAW, and other national laws and policies related to women, peaceandsecurity,bothamongstateandnon-stateactors.Therecommendedactionplan involvespayingcourtesy calls to the localgovernmentunit,advocating UNSCR 1325 and 1820, and conducting a symposium fortrainingandworkshopsonUNSCR1325and1820inmadarisandpublicschools. They plan on also promoting women’s rights by participation,preventionandprotectionthroughtri-mediaandnetworking.

4. Continuously monitor and document the impact of armed conflict onwomen and children. The objective is to gather baseline data on theimpact of armed conflict on women and children, and conduct actionresearch.

About the Convenor: Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) is a membership-basedorganization composed of 50 women peace-building organizations from aroundtheworld.Oftendescribedasa “networkofnetworks”, it aims tobridgepolicydiscussions of international laws pertaining to women, peace and security,betweengovernmentandintergovernmentalagencies,andgrassrootscivilsocietyorganizationsworkingonthegroundtoimplementtheseresolutions.OneofthemandatesthatcurrentlyunitetheGNWPistheiradvocacyinthefullimplementationofUNSCR1325inMemberStatesaroundtheworld.

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VII. Concurrent Workshop on The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Mindanao Conflict

TheResponsibilitytoProtectisaconceptcenteredontheideathatjustasthereareuniversalhumanrights,thereisalsoauniversalresponsibilitytoprotectthosehumanrights.Duringthe2005WorldSummit,192statesagreedthateachstatehastheresponsibilitytoprotectitspopulationfromthemostegregiousviolationsofhuman rights.Theyalsoagreed that, in caseanynation failed toprotect itspopulation, then the internationalcommunityshouldbeprepared to take timelyanddecisiveactioninordertofulfilltheuniversalresponsibilitytoprotect.

This norm emerged as a way of addressing and preventing tragedies on thelevelofthegenocideinRwandaandtheBalkansattheturnofthecentury.TheResponsibility to Protect was first introduced to the international community in2001,whentheUNSecretaryGeneralchallengedtheinternationalcommunitytocomeupwithabetterwayofunderstandingtheideaofabsolutesovereignty,inthecontextofprotectionofhumanrights.

Although the UN consists of states, each of which is sovereign within its ownterritory,asagrouptheyalsohavetheaspirationofprotectinghumanrights.Assuch, it is important tofindawayof reconciling the ideasofself-determinationand theability towardoffunneeded interference,and theprotectionofhumanrights,particularlywhentheworldisseeingthelevelofviolenceonthescaleofthegenocideinRwanda,andthemassrapesthathavebeenhappeninginCongo.PriortotheWorldSummitof2005,theAfricanUnion introducedtheconceptoftheResponsibilitytoProtectinitsfoundingdocuments.Theyagreedthatifmassatrocitiesshouldoccurwithin the territoriesofanymembercountries, likewhathadhappenedinRwandain1994,theneighboringstatescouldnotjustsitbackandrestonthenormofnon-interferencetoremaininactive.

ThebasisoftheResponsibilitytoProtectistheideathatresponsibilityisinherentinsovereignty,andforastatetoclaimsovereigntyoveritsterritoryandthepeoplewithin its territory, itmust fulfill its responsibility,asasovereign, toprotect thepeoplefromthemostviletransgressionsofhumanrights.

TheResponsibilitytoProtect(R2P)refersprimarilytotheresponsibilityofeverygovernmenttoprotectitspeoplefromthecommissionofmassviolationsofhumanrights.Whileitismainlytheresponsibilityofgovernment,itfallsuponeveryonetoensurethatthisresponsibilityisfulfilled.Justasthereareuniversalhumanrights,therearealsouniversalresponsibilities,andtheseresponsibilitiessubsistdespiteconceptsofabsolutesovereigntyandnon-interference.

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There are actually three responsibilities that encompass the R2P. First isthe responsibility of the State to protect its own population. Second is theresponsibility of the international community to assist individual states to fulfilltheirresponsibilitiestotheircitizens.Thirdistheresponsibilityoftheinternationalcommunitytorespondappropriatelytoanyoccurrenceofmassatrocitiesoccurringwithinanycountry.

In the 2005 World Summit Outcome document, 192 states agreed that theresponsibilityofeachgovernmentwastoprotectitspeoplefromthemostegregiousviolations of human rights, and specified four crimes it wasmeant to address:genocide,ethniccleansing,crimesagainsthumanity,andwarcrimes.

Thisglobalcommitmentwasadoptedunanimouslybyworld leadersatthe2005World Summit in New York and was reaffirmed by the United Nations SecurityCouncilinResolution1674(2006).

Theprinciplerestsonthreepillars:

1. The responsibilityof thestate toprotect itsownpopulation fromgenocide,war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and from theirincitement.

2. Thecommitmentoftheinternationalcommunitytoassists inmeetingtheseobligations.

3. TheresponsibilityofUnitedNationsMemberStatestorespondinatimelyanddecisivemanner,inaccordancewiththeUNCharterwhenastateismanifestlyfailingtoprovidesuchprotection.

Theseprinciplesdemonstratethat,whiletheResponsibilitytoProtectismainlytheresponsibilityofanation’sgovernment,itfallsuponeveryonetoensurethatthisresponsibilityisfulfilled.Theseresponsibilitiessubsistdespiteconceptsofabsolutesovereigntyandnon-interference.

ThisideaisparticularlyrelevanttothesituationintheAutonomousRegionofMuslimMindanaotoday,wherehundredsofthousandsofpeoplehavebeenforcedoutoftheirhomesduetotheongoingconflict.Undertheclassicconceptofsovereignty,peopledisplacedfromtheirhomesareaccordedrightsintheinternationalarenaiftheycrossnationalbordersduetoconflict.Theybecomerefugeesandaregrantedthe status of refugees under international humanitarian law.

Ifsuchpeoplestayedwithintheirowncountries,however,theyhadnorightswiththeinternationalcommunity.TheU.N.couldnotrespondtotheirsituations.Thereis a displacement problemwithin the Philippines, specifically within ARMM, but

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becausethedisplacedpeopledonotleavePhilippineterritory,theyareconsideredasInternallyDisplacedPersons(IDP),andnotrefugees.

Undertheclassicconceptionofsovereignty,whichdenotedabsolutesovereigntywithin a nation’s territory and non-interference fromwithout, the IDP situationremains an internal problem, to which the Philippine government alone shouldrespond. Under the conception of sovereignty as responsibility, however, agovernmentcannotclaimthatanymassviolationofhumanrightsoccurringwithinitsterritoryisitsconcernalone.Sovereigntyasresponsibilitydictatesthat,whereverpeoplearevulnerableandtargetedbyconflict,theinternationalcommunityshouldbe concerned,and thenotionof state leadership isnota license for a state topersecuteitsownpeople.

ThisworkshopsessionwasintendedtointroducetheconceptofR2PtothenetworkofAleematandothercivilsocietyorganizationsinARMM,tohelpgenerateinterestinunderstanding,debating,and/oradvocatingtheR2PprincipleinthePhilippines,andtoinformthealeematofthisbasicresponsibility.

TheworkshopparticipantsincludedAleematNGOworkers,teachers,longstandingmembers of theMNLF, students, amember of the Indigenous Peoples ResearchCenter(IPRC),andamemberoftheArmedForcesofthePhilippines.Whiletheirbackgroundsvariedgreatly,allhopedthat,throughthisworkshop,theywouldhaveabetterideaofhowtoprotecttheirfamilies,theirhomes,theircommunities,andthegroupofparticularinteresttothemwasthesituationofrefugees.

APCR2P outreachDirector, Sarah Teitt, theworkshopmoderator, explained thatwhencitizensofonestatecrossedborderstoescapeconflict,theybecamerefugees,andtheygainedcertainprivilegesunderinternationallaw.However,thesituationofinternallydisplacedpeopleswastrickier.Theinternationalcommunity,andtheUN,hadnoability to respond to theproblemsof internally displacedpeople, iftheystayedwithintheirnation’sborders,becauseofthethenpervasiveideasofabsolutesovereigntyandnon-interference.

Thus,theideaofR2PcomesfromthenotionofSovereigntyasResponsibility,asopposedtosovereigntybeing“absolutesovereignty;asapartofitssovereignty,governmenthastheresponsibilitytoprotectitspopulationfromthemostheinousof crimes and mass atrocities. The government is accountable to the people.And if theyareunableorunwilling toprovidesuchprotection, the internationalcommunitycanandmuststepintoofferprotection.

Forinstance,whyshouldaconflictinEgyptbeaconcernforpeopleinEurope,orin Asia?

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Early Warning Signs: Conditions for the Commission of Atrocities

Ms.Teittexplainedthat,insofarasthecommissionofmassatrocitiesisconcerned,therearecertainconditionsthatwereobserved inthemajorityofthesituationswhichledtomassviolencearoundtheworld.

Thereisaperiodpriortothecommissionofmassatrocities,duringwhichstrategiescanbeadopted,whichcouldaddressrootcausesof,andpreventescalationintolarge-scaleviolence.Thereisaneedtobeveryawareofpreventingconflictsintheregions.Oneofthemajorconditionsforthecommissionofatrocitiesiswhensmallincidentsofviolencegounaddressed.Situationsofimpunitymushroomintosituationsofmassviolence.

The intensification of a situation to the point ofmass atrocities does not occurovernight "Ms. Teitt emphasized that, wemust be surewe’re takingmitigatingstrategiesmuch sooner andmuch better, beforemonths, and sometimes yearsofsmallerscaleviolenceallowforanenvironmentwhere largescaleviolence ispermissible,becomesalogicalresponsetothesituationontheground,ratherthansomethingunimaginable."

It is important for people to undertake strategies much sooner, so that it canrespondimmediately.Begintothinkaboutthisnotasanisolatedevent,butrather,apatternofeventswhoseescalationcanbeprevented.

Oneparticipantasked,howisthisnormoperationalized,andwonderedwhetherthere exists any monitoring mechanism for the operationalization of R2P. Sheexplainedthat“Ithinkmostofusherearefromconflictareas,andconflictislikeawayoflifealready.”HerhomehadbeenrazedtothegroundinJoloin1974,andshejoinedthemilitaryasawayofhelpingherpeople.“Becauseofthisseriesofconflicts,thetendencyofthepeopleistobecomepassiveandacceptitasitis.”Shesaidthatoutsidersaretellingher“weshouldmakeastand.Isaidsurewe’llmake a stand but thenwhat happens?” She expressed utmost concern for thesafetyandprotectionofthosewhodomakestands.

Sheaddedthat,“maybetheproblemissohuge,wefeelsohelpless…incidentafterincidentoccurs,andsowe’reprogrammedalready…ifyoutellusweshouldreportwhatishappening,we’vedonethat,we’vebeenthere,andnothing’shappening…you talk aboutmedia, but we do not sell.We only sell if there will be 10,000Muslims who die, then they’ll put us on the front page.” She commented thatperhapstheUNwasobsolete,notingthattheideaofR2Pemergedin2001,andyettherearestillmassatrocitiesbeingcommittedthroughouttheworld.

Ms.Teittrespondedbysayingthatthefrustrationthatpeopleinconflict-affectedareasfeel issharedbythoseoutsidetheircommunities,whoaretryingtohelp.

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Sheaddedthatthisenormousamountofsharedfrustrationovernotbeingabletodomorethantheyarecurrentlydoingdoesnotmeanthattheyaredisempowered.Althoughthiswillremainfrustrating,andthereisnoovernightsolutionorovernightrevolution,theystillpossessacertainamountofagencywhichisempowering.

Normsareexpectationsofbehavior,andwhattheyaredoingwithR2Pisengagingin a normative exercise, to create a community of people, across borders,whowillensurethatstatesgovernresponsibly.Shementionedthatittook60yearsforpeoplethroughouttheworldtorealizethatthereissuchathingasbasichumanrights,andthat,itmaybealongprocess,butitishappening.

LawyerLaisaAlamiaproceededtotheconferenceimmediatelyafterassistingtheprovincialgovernmentofSuluinadoptingitsGenderandDevelopmentCode.Shesaid that theCodehadpassed thepublic hearingbecause therewere somanytrainedwomenpresent at thehearing, and that itwasagoodexampleofwhycapacitybuilding,especiallyamongthewomen,issoimportant.

AttorneyAlamiacontextualizedtheconceptofR2PwithintheMindanaosituation.Attheendofthemorningsessionoftheworkshop,onealeematvolunteeredheropinion,proclaiming,“NowthatIknowaboutR2P,Iknowthatthealeematbelonghere…Weplayveryimportantroles.Theleadersareaccountablenotonlytothepeople,theyarealsoaccountabletoAllahwhoisthemostsovereign.”

Toanotherparticipant,thesubstanceoftheworkshophadbeenarevelation.Shesharedthat,“TheR2Pisanewwordtome,intheacademe.Butitisgood…nowweknowthatthestatehasaresponsibilitytoprotectus.”

Duringtheafternoonsession,Ms.Teitttalkedaboutthepreventionofmassatrocities.Thereare twotypesofprevention:directprevention,andstructuralprevention.Direct prevention is concerned with resolving a conflict as it is happening, themitigating strategies that may be employed to stop a conflict from escalating.Structuralprevention,ontheotherhand,addressestheunderlyingconditionsthatmakeviolenceandconflictlikelytohappenincommunities.

Withrespecttoprevention,R2Phasthreemaingoals:

1. To address the root causes and preconditions of the occurrence of massatrocities

2. Toimplementeffectiveearlywarningandassessment,suchthat,ifthereisalikelihoodoftheoccurrenceofmassatrocities,anearlywarningsystemisinplacetoassessinformationandcommunicateittotheappropriatepeople,inordertothwartormitigateanyviolence

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3. Toexerteffortstoactuponearlywarnings,sothatconflictsdonotcontinuein the direction of the commission of mass atrocities

Ms.Teittcontinuedbyexplaining,indepth,theacts,whichR2Paimstoprevent,and noted how preventing those particular crimesmay be very relevant in thecontextoftheARMMconflict.Onebyone,shediscussedthecrimesofgenocide,ethnic cleansing,war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and said that thereare provisions under international humanitarian law that relate to some of theinstancesofviolencewhichtheparticipantshadbeenseeingintheircommunities,intheirowndailylivedlives.

TheRomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt,adoptedin1999,containeddefinitions that codified crimes against humanity. These are widespread orsystematic attacks directed against a civilian populationwith knowledge of thecivilian status of the targets. She said that even conflicts that happenbetweenclansmaybecrimesagainsthumanity,sayingthattheremustbeastateorlocalresponsetothoseconflictsbecauseattacksrelatedtheretoaredirectedagainstacivilianpopulation.

Therehavebeenstoriesofattacksagainstwomenandchildren,wherethevictimsweretargetedpreciselybecauseoftheirbeingwomenandchildren.Sheaddedthat crimesagainsthumanity can cover anywidespread inhumaneacts, even ifthoseactshadnotbeen specificallymentioned in theRomeStatuteasa crimeagainsthumanityunderinternationalhumanitarianlaw.

Ms.Teittmentionedenforceddisappearancesandforcibletransferofpopulationsinparticular,notingthatmanyresidentsofARMMareencounteringthosecrimes.Many stories from IDP persons camps have emerged of mass sexual violenceor prostitution. Rape, slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forcedsterilization, or any form of sexual violence of comparable gravity is a crimeagainsthumanity.Ms.Teittmentionedthattrafficking,which isanotherproblemthepeopleofARMMface,isincludedthereaswell.Whentherearewidespreadorsystematic instancesof theabovementionedcrimes, theyno longerconstitutearegularcrimethatcanbemitigatedbythestatealone,butrather,acrimeofcrimesininternationalhumanitarianlaw,oracrimeagainsthumanity.

As such, R2P concerns itself not just with conflict prevention, but also conflictmanagementmechanismstopreventtheescalationofsmallerconflictstoconflicts,which may involve mass atrocities. Mass crimes are a profound crisis in theinstitutions that regulate social interactions.They reveal systematicproblems ingovernmentsandinsocialstructures.

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Therearecertainpreconditionstothecommissionofmassatrocities.Thepresenceofwhichcouldtipoffobserversandanalyststoconcludethat,giventhepresenceof those preconditions, mass atrocities may be committed in the near future.Amongthoseconditionsaresocialdivisions,weakness ingovernment,economicweakness.

One of the major underlying conditions is gender inequality. When differentstatistical factors are isolated, the areas of gender inequality and of the abilityofwomentobeinvolvedinpubliclifearetwoareasthattendtobepredictorsofviolentconflictwithinsociety.Becauseofthis,itisimportanttoempowerwomen,toavoidsituationsofgenderinequality,toinvolvewomeninpubliclife,andtherebysomehowdecreasethelikelihoodofviolentconflictinsociety.

Thus,theeffortsofNoorusSalamtobuildnetworksofwomenandpeaceadvocates,effortstoempowerwomenandthewomen’svoiceinthepeaceprocessisnotjustanelementofjusticeandequalityforall,itisalsoaconflictpreventionmechanism.Ethnicityandreligionhavealsoplayedrolesintermsofearlywarningsignsofmassviolence.Ethnicor religiousdivisionhasmanifestedconflict innearly two-thirdsofallgenocides.Wherethepoliticaleliteisrepresentedentirelybyoneminoritygroup,orentirelybyonegroup,theriskofgenocideis2.5timesgreaterthanunderother circumstances. Because of this high risk, various forms of discriminationagainstanygroupareaseriouscauseforconcern.

Ms.Teittalsomentionedthemobilizationofarmedforcesasanecessaryrequisitebeforemassatrocitiescanbecommitted.Peoplehavetobemobilizedinordertocarryoutthecrimes.Assuch,oneoftheearlywarningsignsthatatrocitiesmaybecommittedisthereorganizationofmilitaryorarmedgroups.

Thecrimes thatR2Paims topreventare the resultofdeliberateandcalculatedpolitical choices, most often the result of choices of the decision makers andpolitical leaders. Often these decisions aremade to take advantage of existingsocialdivisionsandinstitutionalfailures.Thereneedstobeaformofmitigatingaction to interveneandstop the trendso that it isno longerbeneficial toworkonsocialdivisions.Thesedecisionsandactionsofdecisionmakersandpoliticalleaders require permissive conditions, both domestically and internationally, tocontinue.Thus,tobuildpeaceandpreventatrocities,itisnecessarytounderstandhowpopulationssupportthepeaceprocess.

Ms.Teittstressedtheimportanceofeducatingmembersofthecommunityinvolvedinconflictonthoseprovisionsinthelawthattheycanfallbackonforprotectionfrom the government and the international community, and not maintain thepermissiveenvironment thatmightallow for the commissionofmassatrocities.

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Theremustbeaccountabilitymechanisms,andcommunitiesmustnotcondoneorassenttoapermissiveenvironmentthatdoesnotholdpeopleaccountablefortheiractsand/orshortcomings,whenitcomestothecommissionofviolentacts,andtheprotectiontherefrom.


After a thorough discussion of the theoretical aspects of the Responsibility toProtect, participantswereasked to formsmallergroups todiscuss thepracticalissues, how the Responsibility to Protect is relevant to the peace and securityissuesconfrontingtheircommunities,aswellasthegreaterNoorusSalamnetworkof Muslim women peace advocates. The participants said that R2P is relevantto their own peace and security issues because it relates to the human rightsofallcitizens,andtheNoorusSalamcanactasabridge,andhelpprotecttheircommunities from mass atrocities.

They also talked about existing actions and programswithin their communitiesthatarerelevanttothepreventionofandresponsetomassatrocities.Theysaidthatthemostcriticalgapsinensuringadequateprotectionagainstmassatrocitiesintheirrespectivecommunitieswerelackofgovernmentengagementandlackofcommunityawareness.Participantsaddedthatthepolicedonotfulfilltheirroletoprotectandservethepeople,andasaresultabusesofhumanrights,especiallyincidentsofclanrivalry,gouninvestigated.

Thereasonsthepolicedonotfulfilltheirmissionaretwofold:first,likethecivilians,areafraidofwhatmighthappentothemiftheyreportwrongdoingsofpeopleinpower.Second,thepolicehavetoomanyclosetieswithinthecommunitythattheyhesitateonreportingpeoplefromtheirowngroupsorclans.

Toaddressthesegaps,theparticipantsrecommendedthattheircommunitiesbeintroducedtothehistoryoftheongoingconflict.Theyalsothinktheircommunitieswould benefit from training and capacity building programs, and group supportfor thosethatmayspeakout intheeventofconflict.Theyalsowishtoengageinmediamanagingsothatpeoplefromotherregions,orindeedothercountries,mighthavesomesenseofthesituationintheARMMprovinces.Atthesametime,they want the Noorus Salam to become a rolemodel for others, and to avoidmagnifyingincidentsofMuslimcrimeordrama.

Afterthat, theyweretaskedtocreateplansofaction,usingthenewlyacquiredknowledgegainedfromtheworkshop.ThesamegroupsnamedpriorityareasfortheNoorusSalamnetworktopromotetheconceptofR2P,withaviewonprotectingcommunitiesfrommassatrocities.Theyalsonamedshorttermandmediumterm

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activities related to theR2P that could be undertakenwithin their communitiesandadvocacynetworks.Inrelationtothis,theywereaskedtoconsiderthekindsof external support Noorus Salamwould need in order to pursue these namedactivities. The participants alsowere asked to consider their roles as individualwomeninpromotingtheResponsibilitytoProtect.

The Noorus Salam participants discussed undertaking an information drive orawarenessprogram through suchactivities as apeople awarenessday, or daysofremembrancethatmightincludedocumentary-showingsofpastviolence.Theyalso recommended engaging in prayer rallies, youth orientation programs, andcreating support groups forwomen, and holding couples orientation aswell asfamilyorientation.Trainingonhuman rights is important so thepeopleof theircommunities are aware of what acts are violations of law, and what responsechannelsseekhelpfrom.TheyfeltthateventheNoorusSalamitselfshouldhavetrainingspecificallyonhumanrights.

About the Convenor: Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

The Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect's (APCR2P) mission isto advance the Responsibility to Protect principlewithin the Asia-Pacific Regionandworldwide,andsupportthebuildingofcapacitytoprotectpopulationsfromgenocide,warcrimes,ethniccleansingandcrimesagainsthumanity.

Launched by Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Edward LuckandformerForeignMinisterofCanada,LloydAxworthyinBangkokon20February2008,TheAsia-PacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect(APR2P)isoneoffourfoundingassociatesoftheGlobalCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect,basedinNewYork.HousedattheprestigiousUniversityofQueenslandinAustraliaandwithprogramssituatedacrosstheregion,theCentreconductsresearch,policyworkandoutreachaimedatfurtheringacceptanceofR2PwithintheAsia-PacificRegion.

Throughcountryprograms,theCentrefacilitatesdialogue,researchandtrainingaimedatbuildingnationalconstituencies,deepeningunderstandingandconsensusand developing innovative ideas for implementing the Responsibility to Protect.Eachprogram is different, reflecting thedifferent ideas, issues, and institutionsofconcern ineachcountry,andprovideavehiclefor international learning.TheAsia-PacificCentre for theResponsibility toProtecthascountryprograms in thefollowingcountries:China,Indonesia,Japan,Korea(Republicof),thePhilippines,Thailand,andCambodia.

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VIII. Concurrent Workshop Session on Human Trafficking and the Vulnerabilities of Muslim Communities

Traditionally,theterms“trafficking inpersons”or“humantrafficking”havebeenusedtodescribetheactivitiesinvolvedwhenonepersonobtainsorholdsanotherpersonincompelledservice.TheTraffickingVictimsProtectionAct(TVPA)describesthis compelled service using a number of different terms: involuntary servitude,slavery,debtbondage,andforcedlabor.

Under the UN’s Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,especiallyWomenandChildren(thePalermoProtocol)andtheTVPA,peoplemaybetraffickingvictimsregardlessofwhethertheywerebornintoastateofservitudeorweretransportedtotheexploitativesituation,whether theyonceconsentedtoworkforatrafficker,orwhethertheyparticipatedinacrimeasadirectresultofbeingtrafficked.23

Theillegaltradeandexploitationofhumanbeingsisaglobalproblem:161countriesarereportedtobeaffectedbyhumantraffickingbybeingasource,transit,and/oradestinationcountryforhumantraffickers.In2005,itwasestimatedtobea$31.6billionindustry.

ThePhilippinesisespeciallyvulnerabletohumantrafficking,anditisoneofthetopsendingcountriesintheworldintermsofmigration.Theaverageyearlydeploymentof the Philippines is one million overseas contract workers. The exploitation ofFilipinosisparticularlymassive,doneundertheguiseofsafemigration,sincethecountryhassucha largeoverseascontractworkerpopulation. In thePhilippines,thecrime isverymuchanorganizeddeception.The“headhunting”starts inpoorcommunitieswhose residents aremisinformed and deceived about the nature ofworkthetraffickersareoffering.

Therearefivephasesoftrafficking:first,aperson isrecruited,ormovesawayfromhome.Afterthisthepersonundergoesaperiodduringwhichshe/heis intransit.She/hethenundergoesaperiodofexploitation.Then,duringthewithdrawalperiod,sheeithermanagestoescapethoseexploitingher/him,ortheycometoanagreement,or she/he iswithdrawn fromexploitation throughoutside intervention.During thelastphase,she/heisfinallyrecovered,andpossiblyreintegratedintohercommunity.

Foryearsnow,theUnitedStateshasbeenmonitoringtheactionsofotherstatesonhumantrafficking.Theyrankthecountriesusingathreetiersystem,whereaTier1country isonewhereinnohumantraffickingoccurs,Tier2 isonewhereinhuman trafficking is prevalent, but the government acts on it, andTier 3 is onewherein the state does not act on the ongoing human trafficking problem in itsterritory. Since 2001, the status of the Philippines has bounced between Tiers 2

23Fromhttp://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164220.htm

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and3.Unfortunately, thePhilippinesdonot complywith theminimumstandardsof theU.S.A. for theeliminationof trafficking,anduntilearly thisyear, thestatehadnotbeenabletoconvictasingleoffenderof labortrafficking.ThesignificantlevelsofcorruptioninPhilippinegovernmentalsoallowshumantraffickingcrimestocontinue,andmustbeaddressed.

ThePhilippinegovernmenthasalreadydeclaredanalloutwaragainsthumantrafficking.Becausethecrimebeginswithinthecommunitieswheremostoftherecruitmenttakesplace,thebattleagainsthumantraffickingisonethatmustbeundertakenbyFilipinosthroughout thearchipelago.Traffickershavealreadymastered theartofdeceptionandtargetthosewholiveintheprovincesbecausemostoftheresidentsarenotveryinformedaboutthecrime.

WhileitgoeswithoutsayingthattraffickingisaproblemthatconcernsallFilipinos,itshouldbeofparticularconcerntomembersofNoorusSalam.Inthepast3years,60-70%of the girls rescued from traffickers have included indigenous people andMuslims.Thesadfactisthatoftentherecruitersbelongtothesametribesasthegirlstheyvictimize.Accordingtotheworkshopfacilitator,itispossiblethatthoserecruitersarenotawarethathe isguiltyof illegal trafficking.This iswhy it is importantthatpeople likethemembersofNoorusSalambuildcapacityandawarenesstopreventhumantraffickinginMuslimhomesandcommunities.

The facilitators began the workshop with a thorough explanation of the crime ofhumantrafficking,anddetailingthecurrentstateoftheanti-humantraffickingeffortsinthePhilippines.Relatingthattherearemanygapsintheanti-humaneffortsofthegovernment,thefacilitatorssharedwiththeparticipantsmanywaysthattheycouldhelpwinthewaragainsthumantrafficking.Thesimplestepsthattheycouldbeginwith are the following:

1. Stopbeingby-standers2. Stopblamingthevictims3. Stoppatronizingthetraffickers4. Stopblamingtheproblemonpoverty5. Stopavoidingtheproblem

Morethanthat,however,theparticipantscouldengageinenhancingthereformsoflocalpolicies.

During the open forum,Noorus Salammembers relatedmany troubling situationsthatexistwithin their respectivecommunities.Oneparticipantsaid that inBasilan,povertypusheswomentogoabroadinordertoearn,andsaidthatthegovernmentmustaddressthepovertyissuesothattheseFilipinowomenhaveviableoptionsforlivelihoodwithinthePhilippines.

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AnotherparticipantsharedthatalthoughthegovernmenthasbeenprovidingfinancialsubsidiesthroughtheDepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment(DSWD)topoorFilipinos, inher town, therehavebeenanomalies in thedistribution, involving thebarangayofficials.Inresponsetothis,AminaRasulinformedtheworkshopthattheissuehadalreadycometotheattentionofDSWDSecretaryCorazon“Dinky”Soliman,andthattheagencywasalreadytryingtoaddresstheproblem.SheaskedthewomenintheworkshoptorelatethespecificsoftheanomaliessothatshecouldreportthemdirectlytotheDSWDSecretarywithconfidentiality.

AttorneyRalphCataquisof theDepartmentofJusticedeliveredareport, informingthealeematoftheirimplementationofR.A.No.9208,otherwiseknownastheAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActof2003.HesaidthattraffickinginpersonshasdestroyedthelivesofmanyFilipinos,andthatgovernmentattentionhasintensified,especiallybecausethecrimeinvolvesorganizedsyndicates.ThePhilippinesisthefirstcountryinSoutheastAsiatohaveitsownlawsagainsttraffickinginpersons.

Although the government has been exerting efforts to curb the crime, there arenotenoughfacilitiestorehabilitatethevictimsofhumantrafficking,andtherateofapprehensionandconvictionortheperpetratorsislow.

In the Global Trafficking in Persons report, the Philippines has been in the Tier 2categoryandwatchlisteveryyearsince2001.Atty.CataquissaidthatthereisaneedtoremovethePhilippinesfromtheTier2list,asthecountrywilllosemuchfundinginforeignaidifthegovernmentfailstoactonthehumantraffickingproblem.

On May 26,2003, Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-trafficking inPersonsActof2003wasenactedintolawinstitutingpoliciestoeliminatetraffickinginpersonsespeciallywomenandchildrenandestablishingthenecessaryinstitutionalmechanisms for the protection and support of trafficked persons and providingpenaltiesforitsviolation.RA9208anditsimplementingrulesandregulations(IRR)established under Article III, section 6 created the National Inter-agency CouncilAgainstTraffickingor (IACAT)which isprimarily tasked tocoordinate,monitorandoverseetheimplementationoftheAct.

The government has created the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)whichhasthefollowingstrategicmemberagencies:theDepartmentofJustice,theDepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment,theDepartmentofForeignAffairs,theDepartmentofLaborandEmployment,theBureauofImmigration,thePhilippineNationalPolice,thePhilippineOverseasEmploymentAgency,theNationalCommissionon the Role of FilipinoWomen, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and theTraffickingofChildrenforSexualPurposes(ECPAT),theCoalitionAgainstTraffickinginWoman–AsiaPacific,andtheOverseasForeignWorkerssector.Itsex-officiomembersare theDepartment of the Interior and LocalGovernment, theNationalBureauofInvestigation,andthePhilippineCenteronTransnationalCrime.

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Part of the IACAT efforts include concerted operations at the Ninoy AquinoInternationalAirport (NAIA)whereconfidentialagents roamaround towatchoutfor possible incidents of human trafficking. Representatives from IACATmemberagencies, includinganon-dutyfiscal,maintainpresenceontheNAIAgrounds.Incasearescuedvictimisaminor,personnelfromtheDSWDtakescareofit.

Among the dilemmas the IACAT faces is the need for more personnel from theBureauofInvestigationtobeondutyattheNAIA.TheNAIATaskForce,whichistaskedtoinvestigatealloccurrencesoftraffickingofpersonsattheairport,interceptundocumented passengers, provide assistance to returning victims, and to filetraffickingcases,operates24hoursaday,7daysaweek.Ithasfiled6traffickinginpersoncases,assistedin6traffickingcases,andintherepatriationof34victims,andhasinterceptedthetraffickingof300possiblevictims.

Asofthedateoftheworkshop,therehadbeenatotalof37convictionsfortrafficking.Intheentirecountry,therehadbeen938casesfiledfortraffickinginpersons,andAtty.Cataquisdisclosedthestagesthateachofthosecaseshadreached,asofthetimeoftheconference.128ofthecaseshadbeendroppedordismissedattheProsecutor’slevel,and39hadbeendroppedordismissedduringtrial.Therehadbeen2acquittals.

Inordertotrackcases,acomprehensivedatabasehasbeendevelopedtounifyallthedataontraffickinginpersonsmaintainedbythedifferentgovernmentagencies.Theprogramsoftwareanduser’smanualforthedatabasearestillindevelopment.The standard operating procedure focuses on the detection and investigation oftrafficking cases at international airports, and provides specific guidelines onintelligence,surveillanceandmonitoring,arrestofsuspectedtraffickers,interceptionoftraffickedpersons,filingofcases,victimprotectionandassistanceandinformationexchange.

DOJprosecutorsfiledthefirsttraffickinginpersonscaseinKualaLumpur,againstaSingaporeanwhovictimizesFilipinonationals.Thetrialisstillongoing.

Atty. Cataquismentioned a “model local ordinance”24 that supplements the Anti-TraffickinginPersonslawatthelocallevelandpenalizesactsnototherwisepenalizedbythelaw,suchasactivitiessubjecttotheregulationandvisitorialpowerofthecityormunicipality.

Cataquizemphasizedtheimportanceofhavingthenationalandregionaltaskforcesontraffickinginpersons,andsaidthattheIACATappreciatesitsNGOpartners.The

24TheInter-AgencyCouncilAgainstTrafficking(IACAT)crafteda local lawthatwill serveasa"modelordinance" toencourage localgovernmentstoadoptlawstocurbtherisingcasesofhumantraffickinginthecountry.The"modelordinance"willserveasaguideforlocallegislatorsincomingupwithalocallawthatwillstrengthenandempowertheRepublicAct9208ortheAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActof2003.

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IACATthereforegrantsfinancialassistancetotheirpartners,suchasVisayanForum,OpleFoundation,BatisCenterforWomen,andAsiaAgainstChildTrafficking,tohelpinthebattle.

TheDOLEandPOEAconductthefollowingregularly:Anti-illegalrecruitmentcampaignsnationwide, pre-employment orientation seminars for OFWs, pre-employmentorientation-seminars for graduating students in schools and universities, and theydisseminateIECmaterialsonhowtoapplyforemploymentinothercountries,withalist of licensed recruitment agencies.

TheDOJhasitsWitnessProtection,Security,andBenefitProgramtohelpthevictims.R.A.7309anActcreatingaBoardofClaimsundertheDept.ofJustice,fromwhichtrafficking victims can claim compensation. The DSWD is tasked to accommodatetraffickedpersons in its44 residential careunitsand temporaryshelters,providingcounselingandskillstrainingtotherecoveredFilipinos.Likewise,DOLEandPOEAhavealsoestablishedareintegrationcenterthatprovidesskillstrainingandcounseling.Todate,469victimshavebeenassisted there,and theyhavefiled173casesagainstillegal recruiters.

He also mentioned that the Guidelines on Labor Trafficking seek to address theproblemsofdistinguishingbreachofemploymentcontract,whetherwrittenororal,fromviolationsoflabor,civil,migration,andanti-traffickinglaws.

AnotherresourcepersonfromtheDepartmentofJustice,ZamboangaCityAssistantProsecutorDarlenePajarito,deliveredatalkentitled“TraffickingandtheVulnerabilitiesofMuslimCommunities”. She sharedmany disheartening statistics on the rates oftraffickingofpersonsinthePhilippines,andmentionedthataround60,000to100,000Filipinochildrenareinvolvedinprostitutionrings.

InMindanao,theAutonomousRegionofMuslimMindanao(ARMM)isrankedasthe2ndhighestsourceofworkerstoMalaysia.Atty.PajaritosharedthateveryMondayandThursday,aseacraftcarriesMuslimFilipinostoMalaysia,andthoseindividualsarepotentialtraffickingvictims.Somepassengersdonotevenknowthedestinationoftheship.

Inorderfortheaudiencetobetterunderstandthecrimeoftraffickinginpersons,Atty.Pajaritonamedwhatspecificactsconstitutethecrime,andwhatmeansperpetratorstendtouseincommittingthecrime.Shesaidthatthemeansofcommissioninvolvethreat, coercion, force, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, abuse of apositionofvulnerability,andgivingorreceivingpaymenttoachievetheconsentofapersonwhohascontroloverthevictim.Sheexplainedthatthesemeansofforceanddeceptionarenotnecessarilyinvolvedwhenthevictimisachild.

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Thecrime involvesexploitationofpersons,andtheseexploitativepurposes includethe following:

1. SexualExploitation–participationbyapersoninprostitutionortheproductionofpornographicmaterialsasaresultofbeingsubjectedtoathreat,deception,coercion,abduction,force,abuseofauthority,debtbondage,fraudorthroughabuseofavictim’svulnerability

2. Prostitution–anyact,transaction,schemeordesigntheuseofapersonbyanother,forsexual intercourseorlasciviousconductinexchangeformoney,profitoranyotherconsideration

3. Pornography–anyrepresentation,throughpublication,exhibition,cinematography,indecentshows, informationtechnology,orbywhatevermeans,ofapersonengagedinrealorsimulatedexplicitsexualactivitiesoranyrepresentationofthesexualpartsofapersonprimarilyforsexualpurposes

4. Forcedlaborandslavery–extractionofworkorservicesfromanypersonbymeansofenticement,violence,intimidationorthreat,useofforceorcoercion,includingdeprivationoffreedom,abuseofauthorityormoralascendancy,debtbondageordeception

5. Involuntaryservitude–aconditionofenforced,compulsoryserviceinducedbymeansofanyscheme,plan,orpattern,intendedtocauseapersontobelievethat, if the person did not enter into or continue in such a condition, thatpersonoranotherpersonwillsufferseriousharmorotherformsofabuseorphysicalrestraint,ortheabuseorthreatenedabuseofthelegalprocess.

6. SexTourism–aprogramorganizedbytravelandtourism-relatedestablishmentsand individuals that consist of tourism packages or activities, utilizing andofferingescortandsexualservicesasenticementfortourists.Thisincludessexual services andpractices offeredduring rest and recreationperiods formembersofthemilitary.

7. Debtbondage–pledgingbythedebtorofhis/herpersonalservicesorlabororthoseofapersonunderhis/hersecurityorpaymentforadebt,whenthelengthandnatureofservicesisnotclearlydefinedorwhenthevalueoftheservicesasreasonablyassessedisnotappliedtowardtheliquidationofthedebt.

Somekey indicatorsof theexistenceof trafficking for thepurposeof forced labor,slavery,orlaborexploitation,arebad,unsafeorabusiveworkingandlivingconditions,excessiveworkingdaysorhours,workbeingdifferent from thatwhich thepersonwaspromised,thepersonhavingnochoiceinhisorhertypeofemployment.Certainconditions for the maintenance of labor or services are also key indicators oftrafficking,andtheseconditionsinclude:

1. Threatsoractualphysicalharm,violenceandsexualabuse2. Restrictionofmovementandconfinementtotheworkplaceoralimitedarea3. Nofreewilltoleavejob

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4. Confiscationofdocuments/retentionofpassports5. Clientisafraidofviolence,retaliation,abuse,orotherharm6. Threatsofdenunciationtoauthorities,i.e.,police,immigration,etc7. Debtbondage8. Withholdingofwagesorreducingwagesexcessively

Thecrimeofqualifiedtraffickingiscommittedseveralways:

1. Traffickedpersonisachild2. AdoptioniseffectedthroughRA8043(Inter-countryAdoptionLaw)3. Committedbyasyndicateorinlargescale4. Offender is an ascendant, parent, sibling, guardian or a person exercising

authorityoverthetraffickedperson5. Engagementinprostitutionwithanymemberofthemilitaryorlawenforcement

agencies6. Offenderisamemberofthemilitaryorlawenforcementagencies7. Trafficked person, by reason or on occasion of the act of trafficking, dies,

becomesinsane,suffersmutilationorafflictedwithHIVorAIDS

Victimsoftraffickingareentitledtoprotectionandassistance,andthelawrecognizestrafficked persons as victims, not offenders. Trafficked persons are thus exemptedfromthepaymentoffilingfeesforcivilactionsfordamages,andaregivenpreferentialentitlementundertheWitnessProtectionProgram.Thelawalsoprovidesprotectionandassistancetotraffickedpersonswhohappentobeforeignnationals.

Theresourcepersonexplainedhowtraffickingcasesmaybefiledincourt,aswellasbywhomandagainstwhomtheymaybefiled.Shealsoexplainedwhichcourtshavejurisdictionoverthecase,theprescriptiveperiodsofthecrime,andthepenaltiesthatoffendersmayfacefortraffickingpersons.

Thereareseveralotherlegalremediesthatcanbeavailedof,asidefromthefilingofacriminalcaseagainsttheoffenders.Avictimcanfileacivilactionfortherecoveryofdamages.Theoffender’sregistrationwiththeSECmaybepermanentlycancelled.Theirlicensetooperatemaybepermanentlyrevoked.Theproceedsandinstrumentsderivedfromtraffickinginpersonsmaybeconfiscatedandforfeited.Administrativeactionsmayofcoursebefiledagainstpublicofficialsandemployees,withoutprejudiceto thefilingof separate criminal and civil actions.Anadministrative action for thecancellationofatrafficker’slicensetorecruitmayalsobefiled.

Atty. Pajarito also explained thoroughly the concept of recruitment by abuse ofvulnerability,wherethetraffickedpersonisinasituationwhereinheorshehasnorealandacceptablealternativebuttosubmittotheabuseinvolved.Someconditionsor

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factorsthatmaybeabusedareminority,gender,poverty,socialandculturalexclusion,lackofaccesstoeducation,warandconflict.

Thevulnerability isnotastatic,absolutestate,butone thatchangesaccording tocontextaswellastothecapacityoftheindividualtorespond,andistheresultofhowindividualsnegativelyexperiencethecomplexinteractionofsocial,cultural,economic,politicalandenvironmentalfactorsthatcreatethecontextfortheircommunities.

InARMM,theongoingconflict,highnumberofschooldropoutsandlackofeducationarefactorsthatcontributetowomenandchildrenleavingtheareainordertoearnmoneytosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Limitededucationalopportunities,theproliferationoffirearmsandtheconstantstateofinsecurityandfearhavemademanyyoungboysdecidetojoinmilitantgroupsandtakeuparmsinMindanao.

Armedgroupstargettheemotional,psychological,mentalandphysicalvulnerabilitiesof children, as well as the situations in their families or communities. According to theHumanRightsWatch,thechildren(andevenadults)whoaremost likelytoberecruited,arepoor,separatedfromtheirfamilies,displacedfromtheirhomes,livingincombatzones,havelimitedaccesstoeducation,andcomefromcommunitieswhichhaveinadequatesocialservices.

Atty.PajaritoconcludedherreportbysayingthatthehighlyvulnerableconditionsinMuslimcommunitiescontributetotheincreaseinillegalrecruitment,aswellastheexploitationofpotentialvictimsinforeigncountries.Shebelievesthatsocialservicesshould be extended to the communities in awider sense, and that advocacy andinformationcampaignsonthelaw,aswellasonsafemigration,mustbeintensified.

ZamboangaCityhasdistinguisheditselfasthefirstcitytohaveconvictedatraffickerunderRepublicAct9208or theAnti-trafficking inPersonsLaw.Records show thatof the twenty (20) convictions on human trafficking cases all over the Philippinesas of 2011, ZamboangaCity had the first conviction in 2005, followedby two (2)moreconvictionsintheyears2007and2008;onein2010andthelatest,onFeb.8,2011.ThecityholdsthehighestnumberofconvictionsinthePhilippines,whichisatestimonyofitsseriouspursuitagainsttraffickersinthecountry.Tohelpparticipantsunderstandthissuccess,MayorCelsoLobregatgaveatalkonthelocaleffortsthatZamboangaCityhasundergonetocombathumantrafficking.Hegaveaglimpseofthecity’scontinuousquestfordynamicandcomprehensiveapproachesineradicatinghumantrafficking,andingivingjusticetothevictimsandtheirfamilies.

ZamboangaCity’ssize,location,populationandculturaldiversityarethekeyfactorsthatmakethecityhighlysusceptibletohumantraffickingchallenges.Over800,000peopleliveinZamboangaCity,whichislocatedinthesouthernmosttipofWestern

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Mindanao.Outof the122cities in thePhilippines,ZamboangaCity isnumber6 intermsofpopulationandinlandarea,Zamboangaisthe3rdlargestcitywithanareaof1,483.38squarekilometers.

Zamboangaisacityofdiversecultures.It isamulti-ethnicsociety,andistheonlyhighlyurbanizedcityinWesternMindanao—itisafinancial,commercial,educational,medical,tourism,transport,convention,sports,communicationcapitalandisthedefactogovernmentcenteroftheregion.ItisthemostaccessibletotheareasofBasilan,SuluandTawi-TawiandisalsogatewaytotheBIMP-EAGA,closesttotherestoftheASEAN,havingalongcoastlineof130kilometersandaporousborder.BeingclosetoMalaysia,ZamboangaCity istheentryandexitpointforundocumentedmigrantworkersseekingopportunitiesinMalaysia.

Humantraffickingisahighlyorganizedcrimethatvictimizestheinnocentandthelessfortunate.Itisoftentimescarriedoutbysyndicatesandpersonswhotakeadvantageintheweaknessofourconstituentswhoaspiretouplifttheirstandardofliving.

Awareofallthis,thecitygovernmentofZamboangaisoneofthefirstLGUsinthecountrythatrespondedtothecallforthecreationofanInter-AgencyCouncilAgainstTrafficking(IACAT)thatmirrorsthenationalcouncil.Thisbodygathersdifferentlocalgovernment units and agencies involved in trafficking to work closely in pursuingtraffickinginpersoncases.

RA 9208 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) also mandates thedevelopmentofmechanismstoensureimplementationofthelawandtheserulesandregulationsatthelocallevel.ItwasthenthatZamboangawaschosenasthekickoffareaforthecountywideimplementationofRA9208anditsIRR.

ThecitygovernmentissuedExecutiveOrderNo.CL59-2005creatingtheInter-AgencyAgainst Trafficking (IACAT) in Persons in Zamboanga City on September 9, 2005coincidingwiththeFilipinoInitiativesAgainstTraffickingRoadShow.

TheagencyhasthefollowingmajorFunctions:

1. Coordinateandinstitutepoliciesandprogramstoprotectwomenandchildrenwhoarevictimsoftraffickingpolicies

2. MonitorandoverseethestrictimplementationofRA9208andRA9262andotherrelatedlawsfortheprotectionofwomenandchildrenincludingMC2005-2006

3. Ensuretheeffectivecoordinationamongagenciesonsurveillanceinvestigationand rescue

4. Undertake informationeducationandadvocacycampaignagainst traffickingandVAW-C

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5. Assist in filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions orestablishmentsthatviolatetheprovisionsoftheact

Sinceitsformalcreationin2005[althoughtheCityGovernmenthasbeenexertinganti-human traffickingeffortsevenbefore the lawwasenacted], theCIACAThasattainednumerous strides in the campaignwith the support and collaborationofdifferentagencies,NGOsandothergroups.

OnJanuary11,2008,thehalfwayhousedubbed“BahaySilungansaDaungan”wasinaugurated.ItwasbuiltbythePhilippinePortsAuthorityandmanagedbytheVisayanForumFoundationisunderMs.CeciliaFlores-Oebanda.ThisfacilityisareplicationofcentersbuiltattheManilaNorthHarbor,BatangasInternationalPort,MatnogPortinSorsogonandSasaPortinDavaoandservesasatemporaryshelterwhereproperprotectionandeventualrehabilitationareprovidedtotraffickingvictims.

The inauguration of the Halfway house, graced by then American AmbassadorKristie Kenney boosted collaborative efforts of government and non-governmentorganizations ineradicatinghumantraffickingand ingiving justice tovictimsandtheir families. The ambassador was very impressed with the interventions beingmadebythedifferentagencies,thelocalgovernmentandNGOsonthefightagainsthumantrafficking.

The city government’s thrust to continuously develop concrete plans across thedifferentlevelsoninstitutingright-basedinterventionsagainsttraffickingofpersonsfurtherboostedwiththesigningoftheMemorandumofAgreement(MOA)amongdifferentstakeholderstoimplementtheZamboangaCitySea-BasedAnti-TraffickingTaskForce’sStandardOperatingProceduresandGuidelines.TheMOAincorporatesareviewoftheschemeoftrafficking,theinvestigativeprinciples,intelligencegatheringandinternationalcooperation,thetreatmentoftraffickedvictimsandvariousothertechniquesthatcanbeusedintheprocessofinvestigationandlitigation.

Toaddressthecoreissuesofhumantrafficking,theCityGovernmentinitiatedprogramsandservicesthatwereactivelypursuedandcontinuetobepursued:

1. The active participation of the CIACAT and its stakeholders in respondingpromptlytotraffickingproblemsinthecity

2. Closecoordinationwithsea-basedtaskforceinaddressingproblems3. Regularmeetingwithstakeholders

Mayor Lobregat detailed the hard work that went into the first prosecution of atraffickingoffender in thenation.Combinedeffortsofmembersof the localpolice,prosecutorsandsocialworkersin2005ledtothefirstconvictioninthecountryunder

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theAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActof2003orRepublicAct9208.Thecase,concludedinarecordperiodoffivemonths,causedtheaccusedtosuffertwolifeimprisonments.

TheconvictionwashandeddownbyJudgeJesusCarbonJr.ofBranch16,RegionalTrialCourt(RTC)ofZamboangaCityonDecember5,2005.ItwasverycoincidentalthatthedecisionwasissuedwhenUSAmbassadoratlargeJohnMiller,directoroftheOfficetoMonitorandCombatTraffickinginPersonsoftheUSStateDepartmentwasvisitingZamboanga,atatimewhenthePhilippineswasdowngradedtoTier2watchlist ranking.

This landmarkdecision in2005wasfollowedbytwomoreconvictions in2007(lifeimprisonmentandthepaymentofafineofP1million—adecisionthatwashandedbyJudgeJesusCarbonofBranch16)andin2008—alsoheardandtriedbeforeRTCBranch16withHon.JudgeCarbonasthepresidingjudge—sentencingtheaccusedfor20yearsimprisonmentandafineofP1millionbutnotmorethanP2million.

The fourth conviction came last August 6, 2010, barely a day before the CityGovernment hosted a very special gathering in honor of a fellow Zamboangueño,Sheron Dayoc, whose film “Halaw, Ways of the Sea” provides a deeper sense ofsocialawarenessonhumantrafficking.Halawbaggedthebestfilmawardinthe6th CinemalayaIndependentFilmFestivalonJuly18 lastyear.ItalsobaggedtheBestDirectorawardforDayoc,BestactorandBestEditingawards.

Justadaybeforetheworkshop,onFebruary8,2011,ZamboangaCitywonits5thconviction(butthefirstforlabortrafficking)undertheAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActof2003orRepublicAct9208wheretheaccusedissentencedfor20yearsimprisonmentandtopaythefineofP1million.

Theprosecutorforall5convictionsinZamboangawasAtty.DarlenePajarito.

Workshop Outputs and Recommendations

The participants discussed their responses to the presentations,which affected allheavily.

TheworkshopparticipantssaidtheywereawarethatMuslimcommunitiesareparticularlyvulnerabletohumantraffickingandsimilarformsofabusebutwerenotawareoftheseverity of the problem. Pervasive poverty, illiteracy and lack of opportunities foreconomic,social,andpoliticaladvancement,andculturaldiscriminationaresomeoftheidentifiedrootcausesoftheirvulnerability.Theworkshopparticipantsrecommendedthatallthemembersofthisconferencejointhefull-scaleWarAgainstTrafficking.

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FortheWarAgainstTrafficking,theysaidthattheywouldpursuethefollowingagenda:

1. Generatemassiveawarenessontheissueofhumantraffickingamongthosewhoaremostvulnerable.

2. Establishnetworksandcoregroupsthatwillprovidesupportandassistancetotraffickedvictimsandsurvivors

3. Build the capacities and level of commitment of local actors, such as localgovernmentleaders,sothattheycouldbetterrespondtocasesoftrafficking

4. IntegratetheissueoftraffickingintoMadarisandintotheteachingsofspiritualleaders

5. Lobbyfortheenactmentof localordinanceandprogramsthatwillestablishandstrengthenlocal,community-basedinter-agencyactionagainsttrafficking

Tothatend,theypledgedthattheywould:

1. BevigilantandreportcasesoftraffickingtoauthoritiesandNGOsworkingonthe issue

2. Facilitatetheconductofseminarsthatwouldteachstakeholdershowtopreventtrafficking,howtodetect,andwheretoreport

3. Conductcreativeandappropriateinformationcampaignswithinourcommunities4. Engagewithgovernmenttoinfluencethepassageoflaws

About the Convenor: VISAYAN FORUM FOUNDATION, INC. (VFFI)

VFFIworks for theprotectionand justiceofmarginalizedmigrants, specifically thetraffickedwomenand childrenand thedomesticworkers or kasambahays.VFFI isrecognizedforitspioneeringeffortsinadvocatingtherecognition,developmentandfulllegalprotectionofdomesticworkersinthePhilippines.

VFFI’sworkwithchilddomesticworkershasbeencitedbyILO-IPECandtheUnitedNationsGirlsEducationInitiative(UNGEI)asaninternationalbestpractice.Itsanti-traffickingpartnershipwiththePhilippinegovernmentandprivateshippingcompanieswasalsohailedasoneoftheinternationalbestpracticesbytheU.S.StateDepartmentinits2005TraffickinginPersons(TIP)Report.Itisalsointheforefrontofprovidingservices to trafficking victims by managing Halfway Houses constructed by thePhilippinePortsAuthorityinmajorPhilippineportsandtheManilaInternationalAirportAuthority.

VFFIPresidentandExecutiveDirectorCeciliaFlores-Oebandaledtheworkshop.

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IX. Concurrent Workshop Session on Preventive Health Care

Dr.RicardoGonzalesofHealthPRO25highlightedthedireneedformaternal,newborn,childhealthandnutritionadvocacy towidelyundertake in theARMMand inotherMuslimcommunities.Dr.Gonzalesobservedthatmoreoftenthannot,whenmothersare admitted in health institutions, they are already very sick.He emphasized theimportanceofadvocacystrategiesthatproactivelyreachouttoMuslimwomenbeforetheyreachcriticalconditionor,evenbetter,longbeforetheybecomemothers.

In partnership with two USAID-funded projects, Sustainable Health ImprovementsthroughEmpowermentandLocalDevelopment(SHIELD),andHealthPromotionandCommunicationProject(HealthPRO),MKFIandPCIDorganizedthehealthworkshopto assist theNoorus Salam to formulate concrete action plans on how to preventmothers and babies from dying, thereby contributing to the achievement of thecountry’s commitment to improvematernal health underGoal 5 of theMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.

Muslim Mindanao Context

ThreeactivitiesheldinpartnershipwithSHIELDprecededthisworkshop.OnAugust6, 2010 at the Amil’s Tower in Zamboanga, twelve Aleemat participants from theislandsofBasilan,Sulu,Tawi-TawiandthecityofMarawiandZamboangagatheredforthePCID-SHIELDConsultationwithAleematincooperationwiththeNoorusSalamZambasulta Chapter and sponsored by the USAID-SHIELD in response to ARMM’suniquepoliticalandculturalenvironment.

Capacity BuildingSpecialist andChiefOperatingOfficerDr. LeonardoAlcantara, Jr.headedtheSHIELDteamintheconsultationwiththeAleemat,whichwasconductedprimarily toestablishpartnership forhealthaswell asgenerate support forhealthservicedeliverysystemsintheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM).

Theconsultationwasfollowedbyatrainers’Capacity-BuildingTrainingandWorkshopon Preventive and PromotiveHealth Care forMaternal, Newborn andChildHealthandNutrition(MNCHN)organizedbythePhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracy(PCID) and SHIELD. Twenty-five Aleemat orMuslimwomen religious leaders fromtheBasilan,Sulu,Tawi-Tawi,Zamboanga,attendedtheworkshoponOctober19-22atJardindelaVinaHotel inZamboangaCity.Likewise, twenty-fiveparticipants fromLanaodelSur,MaguindanaoandthecitiesofCotabatoandMarawijoinedthetrainingworkshoponOctober25-28,2010attheDynastyCourtHotel,CagayandeOroCity.

Thehealthtrainors’trainingaimedtoempowerthealeemattobeleadersofsustainablehealthpromotionandcommunicationintheMuslimcommunities.Thetraining-workshop

25HealthPROisafive-yearUSAIDPhilippinesprojecttosupporthealth-relatedbehaviorchangecommunication(BCC)activitiesinthecountry.

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coveredthecriticaltopicssuchasmaternalcareduringpregnancy,deliveryandpostpartum,familyplanning,nutritionformotherandchild,breastfeeding,essentialnewborncareandinfectionprevention.Theworkshopaimedatdevelopingandstrengtheningthecapacityofaleemattoserveasvolunteerswhocouldhelpthegovernment’scommunityhealthworkerstodeliverqualityMNCHNservicesinthecommunity.

Increasinghealthawarenessanddevelopingpositiveattitudesandbehaviortowardshealthier living is a crucial need of the people in ARMM. ARMM’s population faceoverwhelmingobstaclesintheprovisionofservicesformaternalhealth,childhealthandnutrition,andpreventionandcontroloftuberculosis.

ThemembersoftheNoorusSalamgrouprecommendedforaprovisionofasustainableprogram that will promote both health and peace advocacy in rural communities.ThiswillalsotackleIslamicperspectiveonhealthanditssignificancetopeaceanddevelopment.TheparticipantsemphasizedthattheAleematmustnotonlybeseenasreligiousleaders,butalsoas individualswhocandealwithevery issueaffectingMuslimsofdifferenttribes.

Dr. Leonardo Alcantara, Jr., recounted that during the 1st National Conference ofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocatesinJanuary2010inDavaoCity,thealeematincludedhealthintheiragendaandpriorityplansandprograms.ThisbecamethebasisforthepartnershipbetweenPCID,NoorusSalam,andSHIELD.Dr.Alcantarastatedthatoneofthemajorobjectivesofthisworkshopistodiscusswiththealeematthebestwaytopreventmaternalandinfantmortalityintheircommunities.Participatedinbyover40aleematand representatives from theCSOsallover thecountry, thisworkshopsessionwillprovideavenueforthenationalnetworkofNoorusSalamtoformulatetheirregionalplanspertainingtohealthandfamilyplanning.

Dr.Alcantaraemphasizedthatfamilyplanningplaysabigpart inachievingMDG5.Strategiestoreducematernaldeathsaswellasgoodpracticeshereandabroadwillbesharedinthisworkshop.“Youaremorethanhealtheducators,”Dr.Alcantaraaddressedtheparticipants,“forgraduatesoftheMNCHNtraininginZamboangaandCotabato,thisisanotherstepinourpartnership.”Intheend,heposedthequestion,“whatareyourplanstohelpARMMandthenationalgovernmentachievetheMDGtarget?”

Ms. Rosalynn “Pinky” Serafica, Behavior Change Communication Specialist fromSHIELD,providedthebackgroundontheFatwaonfamilyplanning.Intheearly1990s,Muslimreligiousleadershavestarteddiscussionsaboutfamilyplanninginthecontextof Islam. During this time, there was a consensus among the Muslim religious leaders abouttheneedtocreateafatwa26onfamilyplanninginordertoclarifyissuesanduniteonvariousinterpretations.

26AlegalopinionorrulingissuedbyanIslamicscholar.

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In2002,afteraseriesofmushawarah27,Basilan,Tawi-Tawi,andthenLanaoMuslimreligiousleaderseachdraftedtheirprovincialFatwa.

In2003,theAssociationoftheDarulIftaofthePhilippinesledkeyMuslimreligiousleadersinvolvedindraftingprovincialfatwa to draft a national fatwa. The draft national fatwawasdiscussedwithIslamicscholarsofAlAzharUniversityinEgypt.GrandMuftiofEgypt,Dr.AliGoma’a,gavehisblessingsonthesaidfatwa.

Now that there are clear guidelines on reproductive health and family planning inIslam,itishopedthatthisshallprovideastrongfoundationtosupporteffortsaimedatimprovingfamilyplanningpracticeintheregionandinotherMuslimcommunitiesoutsideARMMtoreducematernalandinfantmortalityrates.

Dr.RicardoGonzalesofHealthPROprovidedtheoverviewoftheARMMfamilyplanningsituation.Thereare1,732maternaldeathsrecordedinthePhilippinesin2006,ARMMaccountsfor245ofthesedeaths.In2006,maternaldeathsarethreefoldhigherthannationalaverageandaremainlyduetopostpartumhemorrhage.Alsoin2006,infantmortalityrateishigherthanthenationalaverageandaremainlyduetopneumoniaanddiarrheawhichareotherwisepreventable.

Persistence of traditional practices influences these maternal and infant healthindicators.Tociteafewexamples,Dr.Gonzalesmentionedthatmanydeliveriesareattendedby“panday”athome–althoughprenatalcareisdonebyhealthpersonnel,deliveryisdonebythe“panday.”Themidwife'sroleislimitedtocuttingofcord.

Dr.Gonzalesnotedthatmothersusuallydonotseekpostpartumconsultationifthereareno“problems.”Thelackofwell-equippedfacilitiesandequipmenthasalsobecomeamajorobstacleforhealthpersonneltoencouragethedeliveryinhealthfacilities.

Dr.Gonzalesalsoenumeratedseveralmisguidedbeliefs,whichhaveprovedtoincreasetheriskofinfantmortality.Examplesoftheseincludethe“cultural”practiceofthrowingashesonfreshumbilicalcordandthebeliefthatnon-immunizationencouragesstrongerimmunesystemamongbabiesandinfants.

Use of Family Planning Methods

Ontheuseoffamilyplanningmethods,thecontraceptiveprevalencerateinARMMis15.1%whichisfarbelowthe50.7%nationalaverage.ThemostcommonlyusedmodernmethodsinARMMareinjectableswith3.2%usageragefollowedbyligationandpillwith3.1%and2.5%usagerate,respectively.Interestingly, theLactationalAmenorrhea Method (LAM), a modern, temporary family planning method that isbasedonthenatural infertilityresultingfromcertainpatternsofbreastfeeding,has

27MusyawarahisawordinBahasaMalaythatmeans'discussion'or'deliberation

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0%usagerate intheregion.Onthetraditionalfamilyplanningmethods,themostcommonlyusedarethewithdrawal,folkmethod,andrhythm,with2.8%,1.4%,and0.9%,respectively.

Existingbeliefsinfluencingfamilyplanningindicatorsincludethebeliefthatabundanceof children is a source of power and blessing from Allah, that patriarchal or thehusband’sdecisionisfinal,andalotofmisconceptionspertainingtotheilleffectsofusingartificialmethods.

The Framework for Maternal and Child Health Care

Birthdelaying,birthspacing,andbirthlimitingcomprisetheframeworkforMaternalandChildHealthCare.Theabovementionedconceptshaveapplicationstodifferentscenarios.Forwomenwhoaretooyoung,birthdelayingisapplicable.Forthosewhoaretooold,birthlimitingisprescribed;forthosewithchildrenspacedtooclose,birthspacing;forthosewithtoomanychildren,birthlimiting;and,finally,forthosewhoaretoosickly,thethreeconceptsarerecommended.

Benefits of Birth Spacing

Indiscussingthebirthspacingnorms,Dr.Gonzalesdiscussedthatbirthspacingbelowtwoyearsareobservedtohaveadverseeffectsbothonthemotherandthe infantwhile interval of over five years are known to have adverse on themother. Birthintervalbetweentwotothreeyearsareknowntohavebeneficialeffectsonthebabywhilebetweenthreetofiveyearsisidealandknowntohavebeneficialeffectsbothonthemotherandthebaby.

Dr.Gonzalesfurtherenumeratedthebenefitsoftheoptimumbirthintervalofthreetofiveyears.Thechild,accordingtohim,islessmalnourishedandlessunderweight.Thechildalsohasmuchhigherchancesofpostnatalsurvival.Onthepartofthemother,intervalofthreetofiveyearswillmakeherlessanemic,lesspronetothirdtrimesterbleeding,andwithlesserriskofpostpartumendometritis.

Tumpukan Na!

Ms.SeraficasharedthatSHIELDProjectdevelopedamethodologycalledTumpukanNa (literally "let's group together") designed for health advocates to engage theircommunity in discussion on health issues. It could be an organized or a randomsession.This isspecificallydesigned for thecultureandenvironmentof theARMMwhere sources of information on health are gathered from peers, neighbors, andfriends.Thisisalsousedforresource-poorareaswherereadingisnotpopular.TwotypesofTumpukanNaare1)Tumpukannaforfamilyplanningand2)Tumpukannaforchildhealth(“parasamgabatangmalulusogatmasasaya”).

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Togaugetheexistingbeliefsoftheparticipantsonfamilyplanningissues,Ms.Seraficaaskedthemtoevaluatethestatementsandchooseiftheseare“Chismis”(rumor)or“Totoo”(truth).

Statement1:It’sthemanwhodecideshowmanychildrentohave. Chismis(70%oftheparticipants) The man or the husband is not alone in making decisions, decisions

pertainingtothefamilyarejointdecisions. Mandoesn’tgetpregnant,thewoman’shealthisapriorityconcern.

Totoo(30%oftheparticipants) Themanearnstheliving.Heistheheadofthefamily.Althoughthewoman

cangiveheropinion,it’stheheadofthefamilywhoshouldfinallydecideonhowmanychildrenhecouldsupport.

Statement2:Ifthewomantakespills,willthisleadtogivingbirthtotwins. Chismis(95%oftheparticipants) Thereisnostatisticsthattwinpregnancyareduetopills .

Totoo(5%oftheparticipants) OnlyAllahknowsifthewomanwouldgivebirthtotwins.Awomanmay

givebirthtotwinswhetherornotshetakespills.

Statement3:Itishurtfultowomenwhenmanusescondom. Chismis(80%oftheparticipants) Itdependsifthewomanisarousedenough.

Totoo(20%oftheparticipants) Nocommentfromtheparticipants

Statement4:Awomanwhoonlyhasonechildcanhavealigation. Chismis(80%oftheparticipants) Thisisirreversible.Thewomanmayregretthislatershouldshedecideto

havemorechildren. Totoo(20%oftheparticipants) Thedecisionshoulddependonthehealthconditionofthemother.


Someoftheparticipantsaffirmedthebenefitsofthethreetofiveyearbirthintervals.Afewofthemsharedtheirpersonalexperiencewithsuchinterval.

Participantsalsosharedthat“hilot”isprevalentintheruralareas.Theyinquiredaboutthemedicalimplicationsofavailingofsuchservice.

Dr.Gonzaleswarnedtheparticipantsthatextremepressureontheuteruscouldcauseprematuredelivery.Extremepressure,headded,cancausetheplacentatobetouchedprematurely.

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ParticipantsaskedabouttheeffectsofDepoProvera.Dr.Gonzalesrespondedthatmenstruationwilllessen,whichisasignofeffectiveness.Headvisedthat“depo”willtakeabout3monthsbeforeitbecomeseffective.Also,thisshouldbeinjectedinthemuscles and not the fats.

With theoverall objective of contributing to theachievement of improvingmaternalhealth under the country’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, theparticipantsformulatedactionplansthataimtosupporttheDepartmentofHealth-ARMMinintensifyingcommunityeffortsonmaternalandchildhealth,andfamilyplanning.

Severalofthebroadstrategiesidentifiedtohelpachievethetargetsincludethefollowing:1)usingMNCHNwhich isalso theDOHresponseandstrategytoreducingmaternalandinfantmortality,2)birthspacingasapreventivestrategy,3)TumpukanNaasamethodologyforchangingbehaviour,and4)sharingandscalingupofbestpractices.

Ontheworkshopquestionofwhatrolescanthealeematplaytosavemothers’andchildren’s lives and what can they do to assist DOH-ARMM fulfil itsmandate, theparticipantsidentifiedtheirrolesasfollows:

1. AleematasHealthEducators. As Health Educators, the aleemat can integrate health education in the

madrasah curriculum, as most of them are also teachers in the madaris. As religious scholars, the aleemat can integrate health messages in the da’wah28 and khutba29. Other venues that may be used to disseminate informationincludeweeklyandmonthlyseminars.Also,healthinformationdrivesmaybeundertakenbythealeemat.

2. AleematasCounselors. AsHealthCounselors,thealeematareeffectiveagentsininfluencingbehaviour

change especially among women in the community. They can providecounsellingsessionsamongtheMuslimWomenofReproductiveAge(MWRA).ToproactivelyreachouttoMWRAs,thealeematcanalsoconducthouseholdvisits.

3. AleematasHealthTrainors. Members of the Noorus Salam network that have received training or

participatedinhealthtrainingsorseminarscanfacilitateinformationsharingamongeachother.Theycanconductcapabilitybuildingsessionsamongotherpotentialhealthworkersorvolunteersintheirrespectivecommunities.

28Theword"Da'wah"inArabicsimplymeanstoinvitetosomething.WhenitisusedinconjunctionwithIslamitisunderstoodtomean"InvitingtotheWayofsubmissionandsurrendertoAllah."(http://www.islamtomorrow.com/dawah/)29ReferstothesermondeliveredespeciallyataFridayservice.

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4. AleematasHealthAdvocate AshealthadvocatesandchampionsofMNCHN,thealeematcanconducton-

airadvocacythroughthelocalradiostationsandtappingthelocalmedia.ThealeematcanalsolobbytopolicymakersforsupportundertheLGUDevelopmentPriorityPrograms.Also,thealeematcanencourageMuslimreligiousleaders,especiallytheulama,tobepartnersinhealtheducationandadvocacy.

5. AleematasCommunityOrganizer Ascommunityorganizers,thealeematcanfacilitateself-relianceinmanaging

health emergencies, diseases and outbreaks at the community level. Thealeemat can conduct community survey or mapping to chart not only thevulnerableinthecommunitybutalsotochartalltheexistingresourcesavailablewithinthecommunity.Settingupof“BotikangMadrasa”isalsoidentifiedasoneactivitythatcanhelpattaintheobjectiveofaself-reliantcommunity.

6. AleematasNetworkers/liaison Asnetworker,thealeematcanreferhealthcasestoappropriateprofessionals

or institutions.

7. AleematasHealthAsssistants As health assistants, the aleemat can assist the DOH-ARMM specially in

conductinghealthsurveyormappingintheircommunities.Theycancomposethehealthsupportgroupwhoaretrainedtoassessandfacilitatereferralsofhealth cases.

About the Convenor: Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD)

Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development(SHIELD)intheARMMisafive-yearUSAID-fundedprojectbeingimplementedinthecontext of the PhilippineGovernment’s SectorDevelopment Agenda forHealth. Inresponsetotheregion’suniquepoliticalandculturalenvironment,SHIELDpartnerswiththeARMMDepartmentofHealth,provincialandmunicipalhealthoffices, localgovernmentofficials,NGOsandcommunityorganizations.SHIELDassistanceisrootedinitstagline:Tocelebratelife,notmourndeaths.Toenjoyhealthy,qualitylives,notjuststayingalive. SHIELDisimplementedbyaconsortiumledbyHelenKellerInternational,Inc.withACDI/VOCA, Christian Children’s Fund and Save the Children. SHIELD started inOctober2006andwillendinSeptember2011. Theprojectsmaingoal is "to achieve sustainable improvement of family health incommunitiesintheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM)."

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X. Concurrent Workshop Session on Literacy for Peace and Development

Dr. Santanina T. Rasul, Chairperson of the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc.,(MKFI)sharedwiththeworkshopparticipantsthestorybehindtheworkofthefoundationincombatingadult illiteracyespecially intheAutonomousRegion inMuslimMindanao(ARMM).Dr.Rasul,backin1966,wasdeeplyaffectedbyahumblingrealizationthatherhometownof Sulu had the lowest literacy rate in the country.Mrs.NoraihanAli,wifeofthenConsulGeneralAliAbdullahoftheMalaysianEmbassysharedthebookTerusMembacha(LetUsRead)whichutilizesthephono-syllabicapproachtoteachingreadingandwritingtokindergartenstudentsinMalaysia.

Mrs.Ali andherhusbandgladlyaccepted the invitationofDr.Rasul to test themethod among 15 adult non-literates in Sulu. The successful outcome of thegroundbreakingpilotclasswasenoughreasonfortheheightenedoptimismattheprospectofempoweringnon-literatestoparticipatemeaningfullyinthesociety.

The innovative phono-syllabic method employed by the Project Magbassa Kitaenables a non-literate to acquire basic reading andwriting literacy in amonth.The method teaches reading and writing simultaneously. Learners, instead ofmemorizingtheletters,learnthesoundtheymake.Forinstance,thesoundofletter“S”istaughtasthesoundofthehissingofasnake,oroftheaircomingoutofadeflatingballoon.Thecloseassociationbetweenthesoundofthelettersandthesoundthatobjectsthatarefamiliartothelearnersmakefacilitatestheirlearningprocess.Aftermasteringthesounds,thenextstepinvolvesformingsyllablesandthen words.

At the time the Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE), now the Bureau ofAlternative Learning System (BALS), published their research study on threedifferent methods in 1989 entitled “The Effect of Phono-Syllabic, Global andEclecticApproachesonOut-of-SchoolYouthandAdultLiteracy”withconclusionshighlyinfavorofthePhono-syllabicmethod,theMagbassaKitahasalreadybeenimplementingthismethodfor22years.Amongthethreetestgroups,thescoreofthephono-syllabicgroupscoredthehighestwithmeanof42.75,followedbytheeclecticgroupwith38.22,andtheglobalgroupwith36.94.

ThegovernmentthroughthethenMinistryofEducation,CultureandSports(MECS)asafive-yearnationalstrategytoeradicateilliteracybytheyear2000eventuallyadopted what started as literacy classes in the barangay and municipalities ofSulu. Another nationwide implementation of the Project Magbassa Kita was apartnershipwiththeDepartmentofEducation,CultureandSports(DECS)andtheDevelopmentOptionsofthePhilippines(DOPHIL)in1995.

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TheUNESCO-EducationforAll-EFA2000AssessmentofCountryReports:Philippinesmakesthefollowingobservations“IntheregionsanddivisionalofficesoftheDECS,manyformsofsimpleandfunctionalliteracyprogramswereimplementedbetween1990andthepresent.Themostwidelyadopted,however,aretheMagbassaKita(LetUsRead)Project and theFunctional EducationandLiteracyProject that isnowacomponentoftheADBNon-formalEducationProject.Theformerisalong-runningproject thatwasalready inplaceevenbefore the start of EFA. It aimstoreducebasic illiteracythroughregularfundsprovidedbysomeDECSregionaloffices,buthasbeendiscontinuedinsome.

TherestillareMagbassaKitaclassesthatareconductedespeciallyintheNationalCapitalRegion(NCR)wherethereisaregularinfluxofilliteratesfromtheprovinces.These basic literacy efforts continue through books and materials provided bytheMagbassaKitaFoundationalusingregularDECSteachers.There isaclamorfromsomeregionsfortherevivalofthisprogramwithincreasedfundingintheirlocalities.”

The LIPAD Project

SupportingtheeffortgearedatimprovingbasicandfunctionalliteracyamongadultsintheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM),Dr.DiamarKadon,announcedthat the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded MKFIonNovember9,2010thethree-yearLiteracyforPeaceandDevelopment(LIPAD)Project.

Withinitsthree-yearduration,LIPADtargetstograduate62,500neo-literates.Adultliteracy classeswould be conducted to include especially the out-of-school youthandwomenwhocomprisethelowestliteracylevelintheARMMtowardssustainablepeaceanddevelopmentintheregion.

Dr.DiamarKadon,LIPADProjectDirector,updatedtheparticipantsontheeffortsundertaken for the past two months since the project award. Literacy Mappingor Survey and Provincial Information and Promotion Activitywere planned to beconducted in all the provinces. However, due to the recent disaster in Sulu andthe unavailability ofmost officials inMaguindanao, the conduct of the ProvincialInformationandPromotionActivitythatwouldgathermulti-sectoralstakeholdersinthesaidprovincesfordiscussiononpossibleareasofcooperationandcollaboration,hasbeenrescheduledinlateFebruary.

Dr.Kadon,whoalsopresidedtheLIPADEvaluationandPlanningMeetingheldthedaybefore,tooktheopportunitytoupdatetheparticipantsontheProvincialCoordinators’First Quarter Reports of Accomplishments. This includes the identification of

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ProvincialAdvisoryCouncilmembers,thefinalizationofbarangayswithinthepre-identifiedmunicipalities,andthenetworkingandpartnershipactivitieswithmulti-sectoral stakeholders.

Duringtheworkshopsession,participantsweredividedaccordingtoprovinces.TheProvincial Coordinators acted as facilitators in their respective provincial workshopgrouping.ThissessionprovidedtheLIPADcoordinatorswithanopportunitytointeract,discuss,andgatherinputsfromtheparticipantsmostofwhomareteachers.

Onthecausesofhighilliteracyrate,theparticipantsidentifiedthefollowingfactors:

1. Poverty.ARMMcontinuouslyrankslowestinthePhilippineHumanDevelopmentIndexandalsorankslowestintermsofeconomicindicators.Thispersistentunderdevelopmentisafactorthatcontributestothehighilliteracyratebothverticallyandhorizontally.Verticallybecauselocalgovernmentsarestrugglingtoallocateappropriateresourcesamongcompetingpriorities,andhorizontally,becausetimespentbylearnersinschoolareconsideredlostopportunitiestoearnimmediately.

2. UnstablePeaceandOrder.Frequentoutbreaksof conflictand incidencesof“rido”interruptschoolingandliteracysessions.

3. CulturalorTraditionalBeliefsandPractices.Earlymarriagewasidentifiedasanexampleofculturalor traditionalbeliefsandpractices thatcontribute tothehighilliteracyrateespeciallyamongwomenintheregion.Youngwomen,insteadofbeingencouragedtopursuetheirstudies,arepreferredtotakeondomestic functions.

4. LargeNumberofChildren.Havingalargefamilysizeisseenasafactorthatseriously challenges theattainmentof functional literacy rate in theARMM.Large-sizedfamilies,majorityofwhomarepoor,finditdifficulttoprovidebasicservicesfortheirchildren.Education,inthisregard,isseenasaluxury.

5. LackofInterestorMotivationamongLearners.Inmanyinstances,theadultlearnerslacktheinterestormotivationtopursueliteracyclasses.Manyofthesewhoarealreadyexposedtopersistentpovertyandgovernmentcorruptiondonotseethebenefitsthattheirnewlyacquiredliteracycouldhelpcreate.

6. GeographicalLocation.Accesstoformalandnon-formaleducationisparticularlydifficultforthosewhoareresidinginremoteareas.

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Onthepossiblesolutions to the identifiedcauses, theparticipantsenumerated thefollowing:

1. Provisionoflivelihoodandothereconomicempowermentactivities.Economicempowerment can sustain literacy and education advocacy in the long-term. By empowering the families to earn decent income or have gainfulemployment,theneedtohavechildrenshareintheburdenofmakingalivingisminimized.Therewouldbemoreincentivetokeepchildreninschool.Thisalsoworkstheotherwayaround.Thenewlyacquiredliteracyskillsofadultscouldtranslateintoimmediateemploymentorlivelihoodopportunities.

2. Conduct of conflict resolution training and peace advocacy. Very closelylinkedtotheadvocacyforliteracyandeducationisthepeaceadvocacy.Solongasthereisunstablepeaceandordersituationintheregion,classeswillbeinterrupted.Also,effortstoputinmoreprogramsandprojectsonliteracyimprovementwillbethwartedifnotlimitedonlytorelativelypeacefulareaswithin the region.

3. Conductofmassiveinformationontheimportanceoffunctional literacyasenjoined by Islam.One of the bestways identified by the participants tochallengethetraditionalbeliefsandpracticesthatpreventtheattainmentofhighliteracyrateespeciallyamongwomenintheregionisthroughinformationdisseminationon the importanceof literacy using the Islamic perspective.MenandwomenareequallyexpectedtobeliterateinordertobeabletofullyexercisetheirdutiesforthebettermentoftheUmmah.DiscussionongenderequalityusingtheIslamicperspectivecanalsobeintegrated.

4. CombinationofHealthEducationwithAdvocacyforLiteracyandEducation.Asmost of the aleemat participants are already trained on Maternal andNewbornChildHealthandNutrition (MNCHN), they identifyasoneof thesolutionstohighilliteracyratetheconductofhealtheducation,particularlyonMNCHN and family planning. As having a large-sized family or having“unmet” needs, meaning not achieving the desired number of children,usuallymuchmorethanthedesirednumber,seriouslychallengetheresourceallocationoffamiliesinensuringchildrenareprovidedqualityeducation,theparticipantsrecommendedtheintegrationofhealtheducationinthestrategytoimproveoverallliteracy.

5. Communication of the Benefits and Practical Applications of Literacy.Literacyespeciallyamongadultshasawiderangeofpracticalandimmediateapplications. They would be more equipped to safeguard the conduct ofelections in their communities, to gain decent and gainful employment.

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Also,beingabletoreadreadingmaterialswouldmakealotofinformationaccessibletothem.

6. Conductofliteracymappinginall,especiallyremote,barangayswherethereareilliterates.Participants,inordertoinfluencedecisionsonlocatingliteracyoreducationprojectsandprograms,recommendedthat therebeaconductof massive literacy mapping covering especially the remote barangays orcommunities intheregion.Inthismanner,acompletepictureofwheretheilliteratesareconcentratedcouldbedrawnandserveasbaselineinformation.

OnpossiblecollaborationwiththeLIPADProject,theparticipantscommittedtoassistin the following areas:

1. Coordinatewiththebarangayofficialstohelppromoteliteracy;2. Identifypossibleapplicantswhoarequalifiedtobecomeliteracyteachers;3. Assist in the identification of barangays and also in the conduct of literacy

mappingforthesubsequentbatches;and4. Monitortheconductofliteracyclassesintheirlocalareas.

About the Convenor: Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI)

TheMagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc.(MKFI),isanon-stock,non-profit,non-governmentorganization dedicated to the promotion of literacy, poverty alleviation, and peaceespecially in Mindanao.MKFI was registered with the Securities and ExchangeCommissionin1991andlaunchedthatsameyear.

TheMagbassaKitaFoundationgotitsnamefromthe“MagbassaKita”literacyproject,which former Senator SantaninaT.Rasul launched in 1966. “MagbassaKita is aTausugphrasewhichmeans“letusread”.Itsmissionisanchoredinthephilosophythatliteracy,educationandeconomicempowermentarepreconditionsforthemeaningfulparticipationofindividualsinsociety.

Whilemaintainingliteracypromotionasitsmajorareaofconcernovertheyears,MKFIexpandeditsactivitiesto includelivelihoodskillstraining,capabilitybuildingamongfarmers,developmentofself-helporganizationsandcooperatives,anddevelopmentofpost-literacymaterials.

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XI. Networking and Planning for Noorus Salam

The last day of the conference was devoted to regionalplanningworkshops.Theaimsoftheregionalworkshopare:

1. DiscusspriorityareasforeachoftheregionalgroupingsofNoorusSalammembers;

2. Draftactionplanspertainingtopriorityareas;and,3. Elect regional representativeswhowillmakeup the

interimboardoftrusteesofNoorusSalam.

Beforetheplanningsessions,Prof.AuroraJavatedeDios,executivedirectoroftheWomenandGenderInstituteofMiriamCollege,sharedherthoughtsontheimportanceofnetworkingforanorganizationlikeNoorusSalam.

DeDiossaidshewasimpressedbythetremendousgrowthofNoorusSalam.DeDiosandWAGIwerepartnersofPCIDintheinitialyearofsettinguptheorganization.Shenotedthatthesuccessandlongevityoforganizationswouldbegreatlyenhancedbysuccessfulnetworkinginitiativesbyitsofficersandmembers.

She defined networking as "the process of discovering and utilizing connectionsbetweenpeopleanditcanbeconsideredascommunicationdeviseoramechanismthatlinkspeople/organizationsthatsharecommonvaluesofobjectives."

DeDiosexplained thatwhile traditionalnetworking includes face-to-facemeetings,snailmail,telephone,businesscards,newslettersandradio,theadventofadvancedinformationcommunicationtechnologies(ICT)liketheInternetandsocialnetworkingsiteshaveprovidedorganizationswithmorenetworkingtools.

DeDiossaidthatnetworkingisvitaltostrengthenorganizationsandtoenhancework.Communication keeps the relationship stronger and strengthens the bond amongpeople,sheexplained.

DeDiosurgedthealeemattodevelopaschemeonhowtheycanbettercommunicatewitheachothergiven thedifficultyandthefinancialconstraintsofgatheringalloftheminanassemblyormeetingofofficers.ShesuggestedthatNoorusSalamshouldagreeamongthemselvesonhowtheycanholdmeetingsdespitethedistancesoftheofficersandmembers.

ShefurthersuggestedthatNoorusSalamputupitsownwebsitetoenablethemtoinformotherpeopleabouttheirexistenceandactivitiesandsothattheorganizationmemberscanposttheinformationontheirownlocalactivitiesintheirwebsite.

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Regional Planning Sessions

Theregionalplanningworkshopssessionsweredesignedtoaccomplishtwoobjectives:

1. Discuss and determine action plans for Noorus Salam in their respectiveregionsintermsofthethematicworkshopsessionsaswellasthefiveareasofadvocacythatwerefinalizedduringthe1stnationalconference.

2. Elect regional representatives to the Noorus Salam board of trustees andaddresskeyorganizationalissues.

Zambasulta

TheZambasultaclusteriscomposedofrepresentativesfromthecityofZamboangaandtheprovincesofBasilan,SuluandTawi-Tawi.Theirkeyrecommendationsinclude:

Issues

HumanTrafficking

HealthandLiteracy

ResponsibilitytoProtect

UNSCR1325and1820

ActionPlan

1.Advocacycampaignagainsthumantrafficking.2.UtilizingtheMadrasahtodiscusscommonactioninordertoreducethevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunitiestohumantrafficking

1. Informationcampaignonhealthandliteracyissuesatthebarangaylevel.

2.PuttingupofNoorusSalamCounselingServicefor health.

3.ActivesupportforMKFI'sLIPADproject.4.Advocatefortheintroductionofhealthissuesinliteracyclasses.

1.Massiveinformationcampaignontheconceptof"responsibilitytoprotect"includingtheproductionofleafletsandotherinformationalmaterialsandtheorganizationofsmallgroupdiscussions.

1.InformationdisseminationdriveonthekeyissuescontainedinbothUNSecurityCouncilresolutions.

2.OrganizationofdiscussiongroupstocontextualizethemwithinMuslimMindanaorealities.

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The Zambasulta cluster also emphasized the need for Noorus Salam to create amechanismfor fundgeneration.Theyarguedthat thiswouldhelptheorganizationbecomesustainable.Theyalsobattedfortrainingintermsofprojectproposalmaking,projectmanagementandresourcemobilization.

Central Mindanao

NoorusSalamfromCotabatoCity,Maguindanao,Cotabatoprovinces,GeneralSantosCity,SarangganiandSultanKudaratcomprisetheCentralMindanaocluster.

Issues

HumanTrafficking

HealthandLiteracy


UNSCR1325and1820

ActionPlan

1.Advocacycampaignagainsthumantrafficking.2.UtilizingtheMadrasahtodiscusscommonactioninordertoreducethevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunitiestohumantrafficking


2.PuttingupofNoorusSalamCounselingServicefor health.

3.ActivesupportforMKFI'sLIPADproject.4.Advocatefortheintroductionofhealthissuesinliteracyclasses.


1.ProductionofIECmaterialsonUNSCR1325and1820inthelocallanguages.

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Lanao

TheLanaogroupiscomposedofaleematandwomenleadersfromMarawiCity,LanaodelNorte,LanaodelSurandIliganCity.

Issues

HumanTrafficking

HealthandLiteracy


UNSCR1325and1820

ActionPlan

1.Advocacycampaignagainsthumantraffickingincludingprayerrallies,forums,exhibitsandtheformationofcitizen'swatchgroups.

2.UtilizingtheMadrasahtodiscusscommonactioninordertoreducethevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunitiestohumantrafficking


2.ForumfocusingonthevarioushealthissuesfromanIslamicperspective.

3.ActivesupportforMKFI'sLIPADproject.4.TrainingofNoorusSalammembersonpre-marriagecounselingandresponsibleparenthood.



2.Forumsintendedtocontextualizeinternationallaws on women within local realities.

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Luzon and Visayas

TheLuzon-VisayasgroupiscomposedofaleematandwomenleadersfromManila,CebuprovinceandBohol.

Issues

HumanTrafficking

HealthandLiteracy


UNSCR1325and1820

ActionPlan

1.Trainingfortrainorsonhumantraffickingissuestoimprovethealeemat'scapacitytoleadadvocacies.

2.UtilizingtheMadrasah,schoolsandothercommunityvenuestodiscusscommonactioninordertoreducethevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunitiestohumantrafficking

3.UseoflocalmediatobroadcaststoriesofhumantraffickingandadvocateformeasurestoeradicatethevulnerabilitiesofMuslimcommunities.

1.Informationcampaignonhealth(usingthefatwaissuedbytheulamaonreproductivehealth)andliteracyissuesatthebarangaylevel.

2.ForumfocusingonthevarioushealthissuesfromanIslamicperspective.

3.TrainingofNoorusSalammemberonpre-marriagecounselingandresponsibleparenthood.



2.Forumsintendedtocontextualizeinternationallaws on women within local realities.

Inaddition,thegroupproposedameetingamongNCRmemberseverylastFridayofthemonth.TheVisayasmembersalsoincludedaplantoexpandmembershipintheir region.

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Noorus Salam Elects Interim Officers

Duringtheirregionalworkshops,thealeematelected3representativesfromeachoftheregionsandsectorsofNoorusSalam.Sincetheorganizationisstillinitsinfancy,theyagreedtoelectaninterimsetofofficersandfollowthemodelofrepresentationusedbytheNationalUlamaConferenceofthePhilippines.

ZamBaSulTa(ZamboangaCity,Basilan,SuluandTawi-Tawi)

CentralMindanao(CotabatoCity,Maguindanao,Cotabatoprovinces,GeneralSantosCity,Saranggani,SultanKudarat)LanaoAreas(LanaodelSur,LanaodelNorte,Iligan,CagayandeOro)

VisayasLuzonBalik Islam

Maira AsilinCzarinaIzquierdo-IsahacCarolina TarangAlbayaBadrodinNoraidaChioArleneCatuyan

AmenaMacaberoHamiydaMonaraMaruhomWedadRamosOnawalM.HassanOmuhaniMabandesAmnaShakil

Themembersoftheboardoftrusteesthenproceededtoelecttheirsetofofficersfrom among them. The results are as follows:

Chairperson: USTADJA AMENAH MACABERO

UstadjaAmenah isAsst.Professorat theKingFaisalCenter forIslamic, Arabic and Asian StudiesMindanao State University inMarawiCity.SheobtainedherMasterofArtsinArabicLanguageandBachelorofScienceinArabicStudiesatAlAzharUniversityinCairo,EgyptandearnedaDiplomainArabicLinguisticsfromCairoUniversity.

Vice Chairperson: USTADZA ALBAYA BADRODDIN

UstadjaAlbaya isEducationSupervisorofPrivateMadarisof theDepartmentofEducationRegionXIIandalsocurrentlyCoordinatorofArabicLanguageandIslamicValuesEducation(ALIVE)DepEd-CotabatoCityDivision.SheearnedherMasterofArtsinEducationmajor in Teaching and MA in Public Administration and IslamicManagement. She’s also one of the curriculum writers for the

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Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Accrediting Association of MuslimSchoolsandColleges(AAMSC)andmodulewriterandlecturer inGenderinIslamicPerspective.

Secretary: AN NA MARCELITA SHAKIL

Anna represents the Balik-Islam group in Luzon. She’s theChairpersonofAhmed-AbdarrahmanFoundation,Inc.Sheearnedher Educational Doctrine degree from the Manuel L. QuezonUniversity and specialized in Special Education (SPED) from thePhilippine Normal University and MA in Islamic Studies at theUniversityofthePhilippines.

Treasurer: ALEEMAH MAIRA ASILIN finishedher BachelorofArtsdegreeinArabicLanguageandIslamicStudiesfromtheIslamicCallCollegeinTripoli,Libya.Shehasmorethan10yearsofteachingexperienceattheIslamicCallInstituteinZamboangaCityandnowpartofDEPED’sArabicLanguageandIslamicValuesEducation(ALIVE)program.

Public Information Officer: ALEEMA ONAWAL HASSAN

Aleema Onawal from the city of Cebu represents the Visayasregion of Noorus Salam. She’s president of Central VisayasAsatidzAsoociationInc.Shehasadegree inAccountingandaBachelor’sdegreeinIslamicStudies.

Oath Taking/Closing Dinner

The Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales officiatedtheinductionceremonyoftheofficersofNoorusSalam(LightofPeace),anationalorganizationofMuslimwomenreligiousscholarsandcivilsocietyleaderswithmorethan150membershailingfromacrossthecountryduringtheculminationdinnerofa4-dayconferenceheldfromFebruary7to10atGardenOrchidHotelinthiscity.

Rosales was impressed by the effort to create a national body of Muslimwomenwhichinvolvedthereligiousscholars.ShepraisedthePhilippineCenterforIslamand

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DemocracyandtheMagbassaKitaFoundationfora“jobwelldone”andhavingfounda“partner,”theNoorusSalam,inadvocatingandaddressingHumanRightsissuesinthecountryparticularlyinMindanao.

Rosalestoldthedelegates“YourindividualexperiencesasMuslimwomenfromdiversecommunitiesandculturesmayoffernarrativesofoppression,buttheyarealsopowerfulsourcesforenduringsolutionstoconflicts.”

TheHumanRightschairsaidthattheCommissionplanstoputuparegionalofficeinMaguindanaoprovincethatwillservethepeopleoftheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao.

Duringanopenforum,delegatesairedtheirexperiencesofHumanRightsviolationsuch as abduction, extra-judicial killing, inmates forced to work without pay, andincidents of discrimination.

RosalesadvisedthecomplainantstofiletheircasesinanyCHRRegionalOfficeneartothem.ShedivulgedthatthecommissionhasdevelopedamonitoringmechanismusingadatabaseandtheInternetforeasytrackingofthefiledcomplaints.

The Human Rights chair said that with quick filing of complaint, they are able torespondswiftly.“Ourlawyerswillassessifthereisviolationofhumanrightsandwewillfilecaseoncewefoundoutthereis,”sheexplained.

Thedelegatesfurtherairedthatpovertyandtherecurringarmedconflictdriveawaytheirwomenandchildrentoworkabroadwhosometimesfallinthehandsofhumantrafficker.

Albaya Badrodin, vice-chair of Noorus Salam, said their eyes are open on criticalissues affecting Muslim women and children in Mindanao such as on health, human trafficking,andhumanrightsviolation.

“Nowthatwelearnedmoreandhaveplannedthenextsteps,IurgealltheofficersandmembersofourorganizationtomovebecausewehaveourresponsibilitytotheMuslim Ummah, “she stressed.

AminaRasul,PCIDhead,saidthatwiththesupportofpartners,PCIDwouldhelpincapacitatingtheofficersofNoorusSalam.Sheencouragedthedelegatestocontinuesharingtheirtimeandefforttoimprovethesocio-economicconditionoftheMuslimcommunitiesparticularlyinSouthernPhilippines.

Former Senator Santanina Rasul congratulated the delegate and urged them tocontinueadvocatingpeaceandaddressingilliteracyinMuslimcommunities.

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World Interfaith Harmony Solidarity Forum Dinner

The opening dinner ceremony of the 2nd National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates on the 7th of February hosted the solidarity forum celebrating the UN-declared World Interfaith Harmony Week where different religious leaders from Zamboanga City, Christian constituents and Muslim women leaders and peace advocates gathered to proclaim the role of interfaith harmony in the pursuit of peace.

Religious leaders locked hands with each other during the solidarity forum dinner in celebration of the UN-declared World Interfaith Harmony Week attended by Rev. Ira Lee Rosalita, Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, Archbishop Romulo Valles of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, PCID Pres. Amina Rasul, From the RVM Congregation, Sister Maria Niña Balbas, President of Pilar College, MKFI Chair Santanina Rasul, Bartolome Madriaga of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Father Sebastian d’Ambra of the Silsilah Foundation.

MKFI Chairperson Santanina Rasul with Archdiocese of Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles shared thoughts with each other.

Father Sebastian d’AmbraSilsilah Foundation

Sister Maria Niña Balbas President of Pilar College

Rev. Ira Lee Rosalita Alliance Evangelical Church

Bartolome MadriagaChurch of Jesus Christ ofLatter Day Saints

Sam Chittick from the AUSAID mingled with PCID’sAmina Rasul and Archbishop Valles during the opening dinner ceremonies.

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ZamboangaCityMayorCelsoLobregatbowedbeforeArchbishopRomuloValleswhileSen.Rasul,PCIDPres.AminaRasulandRev.IraLeeRosalitalookedon.

MKFIChairSantaninaRasul,NoorusSalamZamboangaChapterLeaderIreneTillahandPilarCollegePresidentSisterMariaNiñaBalbasshareda laughterduringtheWorldInterfaithHarmonySolidarityForumdinnerceremonies.

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Wall Of Peace

VariousreligiousleadersfromZamboangaCity,ChristianconstituentsandMuslimwomenleadersandpeaceadvocatesgatheredandshowedtheircommitmentofsupportfortheWorldInterfaithHarmonySolidarityWeek.

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The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Mindanao Conflict Workshop

DuringtheConcurrentworkshopsessionontheResponsibilitytoProtectandtheInternationalLawonHumanRights,AleemaSamsonmadeherpointwhilePCIDPresidentAminaRasul,AteneodeManilaProf.LourdesVeneracionandAPCRPCentreOutreachDirectorSarahTeittintentlylistened.

Noorus Salam participants of R2P and the Mindanao Conflict Workshop participants with resourcepersons,APCR2PCentreOutreachDirectorSarahTeittandAteneodeManilaProf.LourdesVeneracion.

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UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security Workshop

GNWPInternationalCoordinatorMavicCabrera-Balleza during the Women, Peace & SecurityWorkshop.

GroupworkshopandactionplanningsessiononUNSCR1325facilitatedbySulu-basedFatmawatiSalappudin.

Noorus Salam participants with YMPN and PCID Convenor Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, GNWP’s MavicBalleza, Lupa Sug Bangsamoro’s Fatmawati Salapuddin and Noorus Salam Vice-Chairperson AlbayaBadrodinduringtheconcurrentworkshopsessiononUNSecurityCouncilResolution1325and1820organizedbyGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders.

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Trafficking and the Vulnerability of Muslim Communities Workshop

GroupworkshopandactionplanningsessiononAnti-HumanTraffickinginMuslimcommunitiesconvenedbytheVisayanForumFoundationInc.

VisayanForumPresidentandExec.DirectorCeciliaOebandaapproachedZamboangaCityMayorCelsoLobregatashespokeonthelocaleffortstocombatHumanTrafficking

Atty.DarlenePajarito of ZamboangaCity Prosecutor’sOfficewho serves as Special Prosecutor forAnti-TraffickinginPersonscases,spokeaboutAnti-TraffickinginPersonsActof2003andAnti-ViolenceAgainstWomenduringtheConcurrentWorkshoponTraffickingandVulnerabilityofMuslimCommunitiesWorkshop

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Aleemat and Preventive Health Care Workshop

Topphoto:SHIELD’sDr.LeoAlcantaradiscussedmaternalhealthcare’sbest

practiceswhile(rightphoto)HEALTHPRO’sDr.RicGonzalestalkedaboutmyths

andbenefitsoffamilyplanning.

UstadjaAlbayaBadrodinpointedouttheimportanceofhealthawarenesssincommunities

Rosalyn“Pinky”SeraficaBehaviorChangeCommunicationAdvisorofSHIELDProjectprovidedtheoverviewofhealthworkshop.

NoorusSalamparticipantsduringtheaction-planningsessiononmaternal,newborn,childhealthandnutritionprogramfacilitatedbySHIELD&HealthPro.

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Awarding Ceremonies

CommissiononHumanRightsChairpersonLoretaAnnRosalesgracedthelastdayoftheconferenceanddeliveredthekeynoteaddressintheclosingdinnerceremonies.ShewaspresentedwiththecertificateofappreciationbyPCIDConvenorSamiraGutoc,PCIDPresidentAminaRasulandMKFIChairSantaninaRasul.

DistinguishedleadersandpartnerswhochampionwomenandhumanrightsshowedtheirsupporttoNoorusSalam.MindanaoDevelopmentAuthority(MinDA)ChairpersonLuwalhatiAntoninodeliveredthekeynotespeechonthefirstdayoftheconference.ShewasawardedwithaplaqueofappreciationbytheConferencehost,SamiraGutoc,PCID’sAminaRasulandSen.SantaninaRasul.

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(Topphoto)APCR2P’sOutreachDirectorSarahTeittspokeontheResponsibilitytoProtectwhile(below)SoutheastAsianSpeakers-LilyMunir,DirectoroftheCenterforPesantrenandDemocracyStudiesinIndonesiaandZarinaNallaoftheInternationalInstituteofAdvancedIslamicStudiesfromMalaysiasharedtheirexperiencesintheircountries.

VisayanForumPresidentandExecutiveDirectorCeciliaOebandawithPCID’sAminaRasulandMKFIChairSantaninaRasulawardedZamboangaCity’s3rdAssistantCityProsecutorAtty.DarleneReyesPajaritoasshespokeonTraffickingintheconcurrentworkshop.

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NoorusSalammembersexpressedtheirgratitudetoDepEd’sLiteracyCoordinatingCouncilmembersDr.NormaSalcedoonthe3rddayofthenationalconference.

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dr.YolandaQuijanowarmlyreceivedhercertificateofappreciationfromtheconferenceorganizersandparticipants.

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The conference was also attended by women leaders from all over the countryrepresentingwomenorganizations likeMs. IreneSantiago,Chair Emeritus of theMindanaoCommissiononWomen,Prof.AuroraJavatedeDios,Exec.DirectoroftheWomenandGenderInstituteofMiriamCollege,UNWomenPhilippineCoordinatorAidaJeanManiponandMa.CarmenLauzon-GatmaytanoftheAsianCircle1325—GNWP,amongothers.

Atty.LaisaAlamiaNisaUlHaqqFiBangsamoro

Ms.SandraLibunaoNoorusSalamConsultant

Ms.CeciliaFlores-OebandaVisayanForumFoundationInc.

Ms.FatmawatiSalapuddinBangsamoroWomenSolidarityForum

Ms.Carmen“Memen”LauzonInitiativesforInternationalDialogue

Prof.AuroraJavatedeDiosWomen&GenderInstitute

Miriam College

Prof.LourdesVeneracion-RallonzaAteneodeManilaUniversity

Prof.AidaJeanManiponUNWomenPhilippines

Ms.IreneSantiagoMindanao Commission on Women

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TherecentlyinductedmembersoftheBoardofTrusteesofNoorusSalamUstadjaAlbaya Badrodin (Cotabato), Anna Marcelita Shakil (Balik-Islam), Ustadja MairaAsilin (Zamboanga), Omuhani Mabandes (Manila), Carolina Tarang (Tawi-Tawi),HamiydaMonara(LanaodelSur),OnawalHassan(Cebu),WedadRamos(Marawi),NoraidaChio(Cotabato)andArleneSacandal(Maguindanao)withPCIDPresidentAmina Rasul, MKFI Chairperson Santanina Rasul and WAGI Executive DirectorAurora de Dios.

CommissiononHumanRightsChairpersonLoretaAnnRosalesofficiatedtheinductionceremonyofthefirstsetofofficersofNoorusSalamBoardofTrusteesonthelastdayofthe4-dayconference.

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NoorusSalammembersshowcasetheirregionalproductsrangingfromlocallymadefoodproductstoaccessoriesi.e.bagandclothingmadeupofglassorindigenousmaterials,coinpurseandpearlsfromtheislands.

Souvenirbagfortheparticipantsofthe2ndNationalConference

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The Noorus Salam group from Luzon provided entertainment through a dramaprogramledbyRadioTalentRashidahAbancofromManilawhileanaleematfromSiasi,Sulurenderedtheguestsandparticipantsadancenumber.

Noorus Salammembers on the opening dinner ceremonies of the 2ndNationalConference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates at Garden Orchid Hotel inZamboangaCity.

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The Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI), isanon-stock, non-profit, non-government organization dedicatedto the promotion of literacy, poverty alleviation, and peaceespecially in Mindanao. MKFI was registered with theSecurities and ExchangeCommission in 1991 and launchedthatsameyear.TheMagbassaKitaFoundationgotitsnamefrom the “Magbassa Kita” literacy project, which formerSenatorSantaninaT.Rasullaunchedin1966.“MagbassaKitais a Tausug phrase whichmeans “let us read”. Its mission

isanchored in thephilosophy that literacy,educationandeconomicempowermentare preconditions for the meaningful participation of individuals in society. Whilemaintaining literacy promotion as itsmajor area of concern over the years, MKFIexpandeditsactivitiesto includelivelihoodskillstraining,capabilitybuildingamongfarmers,andothereconomicempowerment initiatives.MKFIrealizedthatchangingthequalityoflifeinMindanaorequiresaddressingthearmedconflictandtheunstablepeaceandordersituation,thusin2001it launcheditspeaceadvocacyprogrambytrainingwomenfromtheareasofconflictaspeaceadvocatesandagentsofchange.

Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), a non-partisan,non-profitorganizationestablishedasaCouncilin2002,isdedicatedtothestudyofIslamicanddemocraticpolitical thought and the search for peace, democracy anddevelopment inMuslimcommunities. Its incorporationasaCenterinJune2010signifiesitsvisiontobecomethepremierthinktankonMuslimMindanaoissuesinthecountry.Today,PCIDisincreasinglyseenasanobjectivepartywithatrackrecord of bringing together all sectors in the democraticdialogueforpeaceanddevelopment.Theforgingofstronglinksbetweenandamongthestakeholdershasbeenoneof

thesuccessesofPCID.Allofitsactivitieshavebeenmarkedbystrongrepresentationofthekeyparties:civilsocietygroupslocalandinternational,government,theulamaandaleemat,women,themilitary,theinternationalcommunity,academe,media,thebusinesscommunity,andpoliticalleaders.

ANNEX II. PROFILE OF IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIONS

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ANNEX III. PROFILE OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

The Japan Foundation,establishedin1972asaspeciallegalentitytoundertakeinternationalculturalexchange, became an independent administrativeinstitution in 2003. The Japan Foundation aspiresto the role of catalyst for international exchangethroughouttheworld,transmittingwhatisvaluableand appealing in Japanese culture and deepeningmutual understanding with other peoples aroundtheglobe.TheJapanFoundation,Manilaisthe18th

overseasofficetobeestablishedandbecameoperationalinJune1996.AnintegralpartofitsundertakingisthefurtherencouragementofJapaneseLanguageEducationand the promotion of programs for the introduction and appreciation of Japaneseculture through cooperation with local groups; the JFM's regular activities includelectures,workshops,filmfestivals,exhibitionsandperformances.

The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) is a coalition of women’s groups and other civil societyorganizationsfromAfrica,AsiaandthePacific,WestAsia,EuropeandLatinAmericathataredirectly involved in advocacy and action for

thefullimplementationofUNSCR1325and1820includingthesupportingresolutions1888and1889atthelocal,national,regionalandinternationallevels.Thenetworkconsolidatesandstrengthenseffortsinbridgingthegapbetweenpolicydiscussionsat the international levelandaction forpolicy implementationon theground. It isaplatform that enablesmembers to share information, experiencesand strategiesinwaysthatenhanceboththeir individualandcollectiveoutreachand impact.Theinternational coordinating team of GNWP is based in New York, USA to facilitateadvocacywiththeUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,OfficeoftheUNSecretaryGeneral,UNagenciesandUNMemberStates.

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The Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect's mission is to advance the Responsibility toProtectprinciplewithintheAsia-PacificRegion and worldwide, and supportthe building of capacity to protect

populationsfromgenocide,warcrimes,ethniccleansingandcrimesagainsthumanity.Launched by Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Edward Luck andformerForeignMinisterofCanada,LloydAxworthyinBangkokon20February2008,TheAsia-PacificCentre for theResponsibility toProtect (APR2P) isanAssociateoftheGlobalCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect,basedinNewYork.HousedattheprestigiousUniversityofQueenslandinAustraliaandwithprogramssituatedacrosstheregion,theCentreisfundedbytheAustralianGovernment’soverseasaidprogram,AusAID,toconductresearch,policyworkandoutreachaimedatfurtheringacceptanceofR2PwithintheAsia-PacificRegion.

Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. (VFFI) is a non-profit, non-stock and tax-exempt non-government organization in the Philippinesestablished in 1991, licensed and accreditedby the Department of Social Welfare andDevelopment(DSWD)toprovide"residentialcareand community-based programs and servicesfor women and children in especially difficultcircumstances." VFFIworks for the protectionandjusticeofmarginalizedmigrants,specifically

thetraffickedwomenandchildrenandthedomesticworkersorkasambahays.VFFIisrecognizedforitspioneeringeffortsinadvocatingtherecognition,developmentandfulllegalprotectionofdomesticworkersinthePhilippines.ItisalsointheforefrontofprovidingservicestotraffickingvictimsbymanagingHalfwayHousesconstructedbythePhilippinePortsAuthorityinmajorPhilippineportsandtheManilaInternationalAirportAuthority.

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Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process ExecutiveOrderNo.3,Seriesof2001,providedfor an enhanced and strengthened OPAPPthatismandatedtooversee,coordinateandintegratetheimplementationof the comprehensive peace process.Under theAquinoadministration,OPAPPpursuesthefour-prongedNationalSecurity Policy: governance; delivery of basic services;economic reconstruction and sustainable development;and security sector reform. OPAPP's vision is geared

towards"ajustandlastingpeaceforthenationandforallFilipinos;"whileitsmissionis "to oversee, coordinate and integrate the implementation of the comprehensivepeaceprocess.

UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, was created by the United Nations General Assemblyin July 2010. The creation of UNWomenis an historic step in accelerating theOrganization’s goals on gender equality

andtheempowermentofwomen.ThemainrolesofUNWomenare:(1)tosupportinter-governmentalbodies,suchastheCommissionontheStatusofWomen,intheirformulationofpolicies,global standardsandnorms; (2) tohelpMemberStates toimplementthesestandards,standingreadytoprovidesuitabletechnicalandfinancialsupporttothosecountriesthatrequestit,andtoforgeeffectivepartnershipswithcivilsociety;(3)toholdtheUNsystemaccountableforitsowncommitmentsongenderequality,includingregularmonitoringofsystem-wideprogress.

United State Agency for International Development USAID Philippines. USAID is a government agencyprovidingU.S.economicandhumanitarianassistance inthePhilippines.

USAID directs 60% of its total assistance towardsMindanao focusing on the following areas: helpingcommunitiesrebuildapeacefuleconomy,promotinggoodgovernance,increasingeconomicopportunities,protectingtheenvironment,improvingthedeliveryoffamilyhealthservicesandincreasingaccesstoqualityeducation.

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ANNEx IV

Speakers’ Profile: 2ND National Conference Of Muslim Women Peace Advocates

SECRETARY LUWALHATI ANTONINO, as the new Chairperson of Mindanao Development Agency (MinDA), sheperformsabroadrangeofresponsibility,includingtakingdecisiverolesinaddressingcriticalissuesinvolvingMindanaoespeciallythose that requireat the least,national representationandatbest,Presidentialintervention.

In serving as head of the Authority, she leads a collectiveefforttoacceleratedevelopmentinsouthernPhilippines,andensuressustainedcoordinationofkeynationalagencies,LocalGovernment Units (LGUs), non-government organizations,

civil society groups and development partners, in the pursuit of efforts vital toMindanao’sprogress.

By serving as the Philippine Senior Official, she also plays a major role instrengthening the Philippine participation to the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,Malaysia, the Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regionalcooperation.

She has served thrice during the 9th to 11th Congress of the Philippines, asRepresentative of the First District of South Cotabato and General Santos Cityfrom1992through2001,whereshealsoheldconsecutivelythevice-chairmanshipandchairmanshipof theCommitteeonForeignAffairsandvice-chairmanshipofthepowerfulAppropriationsCommittee.ShealsoactivelytookpartinworkingforlegislativemeasuresonvariouskeyissueswhilebeingadynamicmemberofsuchkeyCommitteesasMuslimAffairs,GoodGovernment,Women,Agriculture,LaborandEmploymentandEAGA.

BeforecompletingherthreefulltermsasanaccomplishedMindanawonlegislatorinherown right, shehas leftnotable legislative footprintsashavingprincipallyauthored laws on empowering women with livelihood opportunities and lawsagainst sexual harassment.

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She also became President of the Mindanao Legislators Association (MLA),a 50-member Mindanao bloc in Congress and led the advocacy for Mindanao’srightfulshareinnationalbudgetallocationthroughtheMindanaoBudgetSummitsof2000and2001launchedthenbyMinDA’sforerunner,theMindanaoEconomicDevelopmentCouncil(MEDCo).

ShehasadegreeinB.S.ChemicalEngineeringattheUniversitySto.TomasandaMastersinBusinessAdministration(MBA)inEconomicsattheprestigiousNewYorkUniversity.Afterobtaininghermasters,shewashiredasaneconomicandstatisticalanalystattheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopmentinNewYork,andassignedtogatherandconsolidateeconomicindicatorsfromSouthAmerican countries.

ATTY. LAISA ALAMIA is the Program Manager of theNisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro, which means “Women for Justice in the Bangsamoro,” a network of Muslimwomen’srightsadvocatesworkingongenderissuesinthecontextofdiscourse in Islamic legal theory vis-à-vis women’s humanrightsandgenderandsupportsgrassrootsinitiativesthroughitsmemberorganizations.

Atty.Alamia is also theProgramCoordinator andSecretaryof the Board of the Bangsamoro Lawyers’ Network (BLN),

a nongovernment organization of Moro lawyers and advocates working with theBangsamorousingthelawtoadvancetheirrightsandaspirations.SheiscurrentlyajuniorpartneratALCAPLawOffices,ZamboangaCity.SheusedtohandlethepositionofClerkofCourtVoftheRegionalTrialCourt–Branch13,ZamboangaCityandwasaSeniorEconomicDevelopmentSpecialistattheNationalEconomicandDevelopmentAuthority(NEDA)RegionalOfficeIXinthesamecity.SheisalsoaregisterednurseandaproductoftheAteneodeZamboangaUniversity,graduating Cum Laude and Valedictorian.ShefinishedherLLBattheWesternMindanaoStateUniversity.

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DR. LEONARDO A. ALCANTARA is a Medical Doctor, with a MasterDegreeinPublicHealthwithepidemiologyasfieldofspecialization,andaBachelor’sDegreeinBiologicalSciencefromtheUniversityofthePhilippines,Manila.With26yearsofprofessionalexperience inpublichealthservices,hehasprovidedtechnicalassistanceonawiderangeofpublichealthprogramsinmaternalandchildhealth,preventionandcontrolofcommunicableandnon-communicablediseases,andenvironmentalhealth.

Dr.AlcantaraisthecurrentChiefOperatingOfficerandCapacityBuildingAdviseroftheSHIELDProjectbeingimplementedbyHelenKellerInternational.

ALEEMAH MAIRA ASILIN finished her Bachelor of Artsdegree in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies from theIslamicCallCollegeinTripoli,Libya.Shehasmorethan10yearsofteachingexperienceattheIslamicCallInstitute inZamboangaCity.Sheisalsodoingvolunteerworkteachingreligion for Mothers once a week.

As Noorus Salammember, her group conductedworkshoponPeaceEducationandhealthseminars in thecommunityinBrgy.TaluksangayinZamboangaCitywherewomenfrom

differentsectors:professionals,students,andmothersparticipatedwhichservedasa venue forparticipants to share their thoughtsandexperiencesaboutpeaceandconflictresolutionandreechoingofhealtheducationonMaternal,Newborn,ChildandHealthNutrition(MNCHN)Program.

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SISTER MA. NIÑA C. BALBAS,fromtheRVMCongregation,isthePresidentofPilarCollegeinZamboangaCityandalsoCollegeDeanoftheMedicalTechnologyProgram.ShewasDeanoftheUniversityofImmaculateConcepcion inDavaoCity. Shewas inducted tooffice asPAMET-DavaoChapterPresident in November 2010 and also voted as sectoralrepresentativeforMindanaoduringthe42ndPAMETAnnualConvention.

USTADZA ALBAYA BADRODDIN isEducationSupervisorofPrivateMadarisoftheDepartmentofEducationRegionXIIandalsocurrentlyCoordinatorofArabicLanguageandIslamicValuesEducation(ALIVE)DepEd-CotabatoCityDivision.Sheearned her Master of Arts in Education major in Teaching and MAinPublicAdministrationandIslamicManagement.She’salsoacandidateforPHDinEducationalAdministration.

Ustadja Albaya is one of the curriculum writers for theBangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Accrediting

AssociationofMuslimSchoolsandColleges(AAMSC)andmodulewriterandlecturerinGenderinIslamicPerspective.SheisalsoamemberofworkinggroupsfordevelopingtheQualifyingExaminationforArabicLanguageandIslamicValues(ALIVE)teachers,reviewerofEnrichedLessonPlanfortheSchoolofPeace,

Further,shewasTrainingManagerduringtheLanguageEnhancementandPedagogy(LEAP)Training forDepEdunder theBEAMProject. She also served asResourcePersonforGenderandPeaceBuildingin2007and2008inthedivisionlevelinCotabatoCity.In2004,shewenttoIndonesiaandSingaporeaspartofexposuretripandagainin2007,sheparticipatedintheExposureVisitofReligiousLeadersinAustralia.

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MAVIC CABRERA-BALLEzA is the international coordinator of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP),a program partner of the International Civil society ActionNetwork (ICAN). The GNWP) is a coalition of 50women’sgroups and other civil society organizations from Africa,AsiaandthePacific,WestAsia,Europe andLatinAmericathat are directly involved in advocacy and action for thefull implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 includingthe supporting resolutions 1888, 1889 and 1960 at thelocal, national, regional and international levels. Mavic is

responsiblefortheoverallcoordinationandimplementationofthenetwork’sprojectsandprogramsadvocatingfortheimplementationofUNSCR1325,1820andrelatedinternational laws.

ShehasfacilitatedworkshopsanddiscussionsonnationalactionplansonResolution1325and1820inanumberofcountriesincludingBurundi,Nepal,PhlippinesSierraLeoneandUgandaandthePhilippines.ShehasalsoproducedlocallanguageradioprogramsonUNSCR1325inLiberia,UgandaandthePhilippines.Sheco-coordinatedtwomajorresearcheson1325—thecivilsocietyin-countrymonitoringof1325;andcostingandfinancing1325implementation.MavicisalsopartofaninternationalteamthatisworkingonaCEDAWGeneralRecommendationonWomenandArmedConflict.

Mavic’smasteralthesis“CommunicationStrategiesandActionon1325”wasselectedasoneofthebestthesisattheUniversityofthePhilippines.

PriortotheGNWP,MavicwasthecoordinatoroftheInternationalWomen’sTribuneCentre’sWomen’sHumanRights,HumanSecurityandPeacebuildingProgram.ShealsoservesasCommunicationsSecretaryoftheExecutiveCommitteeoftheUNNGOCommitteeontheStatusWomen–NewYork;andco-chairofthePlanningCommitteeof theNGOConsultationon theCommitteeon theStatusWomen.She representsGNWPasNGOobserverintheGroupofFriendsof1325/Women,PeaceandSecurity,acoalitionofcountrymissionstotheUNadvocatingforthewomen,peaceandsecurityagenda;andintheUNInter-agencyTaskForceonWomen,PeaceandSecurity.

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MS. AMINA RASUL-BERNARDO is President of thePhilippine Center for Islam and Democracy (Council) andaManagingTrusteeof theMagbassaKita Foundation, Inc(MKFI). Recently, she has been appointed as Board Member oftheMindanaoDevelopmentAuthority.Shehaswrittenandedited several books on the Mindanao conflict, Islam anddemocracy.ShewritesacolumnforBusinessWorld.ShehaslecturedatHarvard,Yale,GeorgetownUniversity,Universityof Michigan, Notre Dame University, Australian National

University,NanyangTechnologicalUniversityandmanyothers. ShewasamemberofthePhilippineCabinetunderformerPresidentFidelV.Ramos,as Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs, appointed concurrently as the first Chairof theNational Youth Commission (NYC),which she organized. During her term,thenationalgovernmentfocusedonandcommittedresourcestotheNationalYouthEntrepreneurshipProgram(YEP).Underherleadership,theNYC’sMediumTermYouthDevelopmentPlanwascitedbyUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)asoneofthebestpracticesinthepreparationofayouthdevelopmentplan. MsRasulwasappointedbythelatePresidentCorazonC.AquinoasCommissioneroftheNationalCommissionontheRoleofFilipinoWomenrepresentingMuslims(1990to1998).ShewasamemberoftheBoardofDirectorsofthePhilippineNationalOilCorporation(PNOC), theDevelopmentBankof thePhilippines (DBP)andFoundingDirectoroftheLocalGovernmentGuaranteeCorporation(LGGC). ShewasaVisitingProfessoratthePontificalUniversityofSantoTomas,ManilawhereshedevelopedaninteractivemoduletoteachPeaceandConflictStudies.Sheearnedamaster'sdegreeinbusinessmanagementfromtheAsianInstituteofManagementandaMasterofPublicAdministrationfromtheKennedySchoolofGovernmentatHarvardUniversity.ShehasservedasaresourcepersonforCNN,Al-Jazeera,BBC,C-Span,AustralianNationalRadioaswellasPhilippinemedia.

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FR. SEBASTIANO D’AMBRA, Pontifical Institute forForeignMission(PIME),isthefounderoftheSilsilahDialogueMovementbasedinZamboangaCity.

Fr.SebastianoisanativeofSicily,Italy.Afewyearsafterhissacerdotalordination,hewasassignedtothePhilippinesin1977.HefoundedtheSilsilahDialogueMovementin1984.TheMovementmarked its 25th anniversary inMay, 2009.Over the26yearsof itsexistence,Silsilahhas focused itseffortsandresourcesonthepromotionofdialogue,tobringpeople toagreater awarenessof and faithfulness towhat

is taught in their respective religions.BecauseChristiansandMuslimsare the twodominant groups in this part of the country, Silsilah focuses on the promotion ofdialoguebetween these twogroups– in thehope that theunderstandingbornofdialoguewillbringoutthefruitofpeaceintheregion.

OnJuly22,2010,hewashonoredbytheAteneodeManilaUniversitywiththeBukas PaladAwardinrecognitionofhisfoundingoftheSilsilahDialogueMovement“whichhelped plant the seeds of interreligious dialogue in the Philippines, particularly, inMindanao, and nurturing and spreading them through leadership roles in theinterreligiousdialoguethrustsofPontificalInstituteforForeignMission(PIME)andtheCatholicBishopsConferenceofthePhilippines(CBCP).”

PROF. AURORA "OYIE" JAVATE DE DIOS is a women's rights activist leader and educator. She was Chairpersonof theNationalCommissionon theRoleofFilipinoWomen(NCRFW).Oneofhergreatestachievementsinthewomen'smovementishelpinginthelegislationoftwoimportantlaws:theRepublicActNo.9208Anti-TraffickinginPersonsActOf2003 and the RA 9262 Anti-Violence Against Women andChildren(VAWC)Actof2004.ItwasalsoinhertermwhentheFrameworkPlanofWomenwhichfocusedonthreecoreareas: human rights, economic empowerment and gender

responsive good governance, was established. The framework plan was widelyacceptedandusedbyboththegovernmentandNGOs.

Presently, she is theExecutiveDirectorofWomenandGender Institute (WAGI)ofMiriamCollege,theGenderAdviseroftheNationalCommissionontheRoleofFilipinoWomen (NCRFW), and the President of Board of Trustees of theCoalitionAgainstTraffickinginWomen-Asia-Pacific(CATWAP).

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MA. CARMEN LAUZON-GATMAYTAN or Memen is the ProgramManageroftheCapabilityBuildingProgramoftheInitiativesforInternationalDialogue(IID).SheisagraduateofBachelorofArtsMajorinEconomicsatSt.Joseph’sCollegeinQuezonCityandhastakenupMasteralStudiesinPublicAdministrationattheUniversityofthePhilippinesDiliman.

Shehelpedestablishanon-governmentorganization(NGO)inthe1980sthataddressedthesituationofinternalrefugeesorwhatisnowknownasIDPs(internallydisplacedpersons).ItwascalledtheEcumenicalCommissionforDisplacedFamilies

andCommunitiesinwhichshewasapioneerstaffandeventuallybecameoneofitsBoardofDirectors.ShewasoneofthefoundingmembersofthePhilippineAllianceofHumanRightsAdvocates.

BeforejoiningIID,sheworkedattheGastonZ.OrtigasPeaceInstitutethatprovidedsecretariat support to the Coalition for Peace and the National Peace Conference.ShemovedtoMindanaoin1997.ShecurrentlyservesasaCouncilmemberoftheMindanaoPeople’sCaucus,agrassroots-people’sorganizationthatIIDorganizedafterthe“totalwar”ofPresidentEstradain2000.In2007,IIDformedaregionalwomen’snetworkcomposedofwomeninitsfocusareascalledAsianCircle1325andbecameamemberoftheGlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuildersin2009.

DR. RICARDO B. GONzALES servesas resourcepersonfortheContinuingTechnicalUpdatesonFamilyPlanningbyHealthProandUSAID.HealsoworkedasmedicaladviserofthefamilyplanningSocialAcceptanceProject(SAP)oftheAcademyofEducationalDevelopment(AED)in2004.

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DR. DIAMAR P. KADONwas the ProjectDirector of theLiteracy for Peace and Development (LIPAD) Project ofthe Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. from November toFebruary 2011. He completed his doctorate at the NotreDameUniversity inCotabatoCity.His longservicewiththeDepartment of Education included experience in the postsas Elementary Grade School Teacher, General EducationSupervisor,AssistantCitySuperintendentofSchools,andCitySuperintendentofSchools.

Dr.KadonalsoservedastheAssistantRegionalDirectorforDepEd in Regions X and XII, and also, subsequently, as the Regional Director forDepEdinRegionsX,XII,andXII.HewasalsoaconsultanttotheDepEdNationalonthe Madrasah Education.

MS. SANDRA LIBUNAO, MScHRD/M, is an independentconsultant working in the areas of human resource development, evaluation, resource mobilization andmulti-sector partnerships. She has provided services toPhilippinebasedorganizationssuchasthePhilippineCenterfor Population and Development, the Peace and EquityFoundation,theDepartmentofHealth,amongothers.ShehasworkedwithOxfamNovib intheNetherlandsandwiththeGlobalAlliancetoEliminateLymphaticFilariasisbasedintheUS,amongothers.SheiscurrentlyworkingonherPhDonorganizationdevelopment.

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HON. CELSO L. LOBREGAT isMayorofZamboangaCity.HewaselectedCongressmanofZamboangaCityfrom1998-2004andelectedMayorofZamboangasince2004. He isnowinhislasttermascityMayor.

He attended High School at de La Salle High School andwent to Ateneo de Manila for college with Bachelor's degree in Economics with honors, awarded "Athlete ofthe Year" at Ateneo in 1970 and earned his Masters inBusiness Management at the Asian Institute of Management graduatingin1972.

USTADJA AMENA H. MACABERO is the elected ChairpersonofNoorusSalam.SheisAssistantProfessorattheKingFaisalCenterforIslamic,ArabicandAsianStudiesMindanaoStateUniversityinMarawiCity.SheobtainedherMasterofArtsinArabicLanguageandBachelorofScienceinArabicStudiesatAlAzharUniversityinCairo,Egypt.SheearnedaDiplomainArabicLinguisticsfromCairoUniversity.

MR. BARTOLOME MADRIAGAisthePresidentoftheStakeChurchof JesusChristofLatter-DaySaints inZamboangaCity. He is an Information Technology (IT) ProfessionalfocusingonInformationSystemAnalysis.

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MS. AIDA JEAN N. MANIPON is currently NationalCoordinator of UN Women, the United Nations Entity forGenderEqualityandtheEmpowermentofWomen.ShewasalsoDeputyDirectorofInitiativesforInternationalDialogue(IID)andProfessoratMiriamCollege.SheearnedherMasterofPhilosophyinCulturalStudiesatLingnanUniversity,HongKongandBAinJournalismfromUPDiliman.

She has been involved with regional non-governmentalorganizations for many years, particularly around diverse

issues of international relations, human rights, religion and society,andthesearchforpeace.ShejoinedtheARENASecretariatasCoordinatorandExecutiveDirectorfromJuly1997toJuly2005.PriortoARENA,herworkwithecumenicalorganizationsincludedthestudyandinterpretationofAsianissues,policyanalysisandadvocacy,andconductingpopulareducationonavarietyofthemes.

Prof.Jeannie'sinterestinpeople'sstrugglesandsocialmovementsdatesbacktothedayswhenshewasastudentofjournalismattheUniversityofthePhilippinesduringtheMarcosregime.Asanactivist inthe '80s,shewas involved intheformationofkey 'sectoral'and 'multi-sectoralalliances'whichhelpedbringpopular issuestothestreets.Asan'ecumenicalworker'inthelate'80'sand'90sshefocusedonengagingthechristianchurchesinthearticulationofasocialcritiqueandmobilizingecumenicalsupportforpeople'sstruggles.

MS. LILY ZAKIYAH MUNIR is the founder and director of Center for Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) andDemocracy Studies or CEPDES, an NGO dedicated topromotingdemocracyandhumanrightseducationamongstMuslim grassroots communities in Indonesia.

SheisanationalboardmemberofMuslimatNahdlatulUlama(MNU),thewomen'swingofNU,amass-basedorganizationwithmembership of about 40million Indonesians. She isalsoa researcher focusingonthe issuesof Islam,politics,and gender.

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HeracademicbackgroundincludestrainingasmedicalanthropologistattheUniversityofAmsterdam,managementatNorthernIllinoisUniversity inDeKalb,III., researchfellowonIslamandHumanRightsatEmoryUniversityFacultyofLawinAtlantaandvisitingfellowat theInstituteofSoutheastAsianStudies inSingapore.ShewasaUNDP consultant onGenderMainstreamingProgramwith theMinistry ofWomen'sEmpowermentinIndonesia.

Through Muslimat NU and CEPDES, she has been involved in civic and politicaleducationforMuslimwomeninIndonesiaintheelectionsof1999and2004.ShealsoservedrecentlyastheonlywomanandonlyMuslimontheMonitoringCommissionforthe Afghan Elections.

MS. zARINA NALLA is a Co-Founder and former ChiefOperatingOfficeroftheInternationalInstituteofAdvancedIslamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia. She played a key rolein assisting Professor Mohammad Hashim Kamali in itsestablishment beginning in 2007 and is currently a PolicyandProjectDevelopmentConsultantwith the institute. In2008, she is Founding Managing Editor of the Journal ofCivilizationStudiesand in2009-2010,ManagingEditorofIslamandCivilisationalRenewalattheInternationalInstituteofAdvancedIslamicStudies(IAIS)Malaysia.

Zarina earned her B.A. - First Class Honours (1994) in Islamic Studies & PoliticalScienceat theInternational IslamicUniversityMalaysia(IIUM)andanM.A.(1996)in Economics & International Relations from the School of Oriental and AfricanStudies (SOAS), University of London. She further completed an M.B.A. (2002)from theUniversityofBirmingham. Singaporeanbybirth, shebenefited from twodiverseeducationenvironments: theMethodistGirlsSchoolandMadrasahAlJuniedAlIslamiyah,SIngapore.

In1997,ZarinajoinedtheInstituteofStrategicandInternationalStudiesMalaysia(ISIS)asaResearcherattachedtothenCEO&ChairmanofISIS,TanSriDrNoordinSopiee.Duringthistimeshegainedvaluableexperience ingeopoliticalandmacroeconomicanalysis,policyformulationandspeechwriting.Shenextgainedcorporateexposure

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byjoiningtheconsultingfirmKPMGSingapore.Zarinawasalsoacontributingwritertotheinternationaltradeindustryjournal,theHalal Journal, as well as an editorial consultantforISISFocus–quarterlyjournalofISISMalaysia.

She is currently very active in regional and international networking with IslamicNGOs,governmentleaders,thinktanksandacademicinstitutes,raisingIAIS’profile&impactwhileplanningforitsdevelopment.ShehelpedorganizeandleadIAIS’studyontheConversionissueinMalaysia–thedebutprojectoftheIslamandPolicyUnit(IPU),resultinginIAIS’firstpolicypapersubmittedtotheMalaysianGovernment.ShecontinuestobedeeplyengagedinpolicyresearchonHududlawsinMalaysia,issuesofgenderequity,andIslamicalternativestothefinancialcrisis.

MA. CECILIA FLORES-OEBANDA hails from NegrosOccidentalandspentmostofher lifeasafreedomfighterandworkedwiththeurbanpoor,peasants,sugarplantationworkers, women, youth and children. Because of herstruggles,shebecameapoliticalprisonerforfouryearsundertheMarcosdictatorship.Shewasreleasedfromdetentionasaresultofthe1986EDSAPeoplePowerRevolutionthatputanendtothedictatorship.

Cecil contributes to the larger struggle for the promotionofhuman rightsbyaddressing the rightsof abignumber

ofmarginalizedchildrenandyoungwomen.Sheisanadvocateofsocialdialogueasmeanstoventilateandresolveissuesandtobuildpartnershipswithstakeholders.AneffectiveapproachemployedbyCeciltofightfortherightsofchilddomesticworkers,child laborers, and victims of trafficking is tomobilize partners fromboth the civilsocietyandthegovernment.Throughcreativeengagements,Cecilhelpsgovernmentandpartner institutionsdeterminetheircorecompetenciesandtheirmosteffectiverolesindealingwiththeproblem.

Cecil received the2005Anti-SlaveryAwardgivenby theAnti-Slavery International.ShewasrecognizedbytheUKGovernmentasoneoftheModern-DayAbolitionistsinthecelebrationoftheBicentenaryoftheAbolitionoftheSlaveTradeActin2007.

Thefollowingyear,CecilwasconferredwiththeSkollAwardforSocialEntrepreneurshipatOxfordUniversity in theUKbytheSkollFoundation.ShewasnamedbytheUSDepartmentofStateasoneofitsHeroesActingtoEndModern-DaySlaveryinits2008

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TraffickinginPersonsReportandwaspresentedthefirstIqbalMasihAwardfortheEliminationofChildLaborbytheUSDepartmentofLabor.

Recently,shewaschosenbychildrenacrosstheglobetojointheprestigiousrosterofcandidatesforthe2011World'sChildren'sPrizefortheRightsoftheChild.MillionsofchildrenallovertheworldwillparticipateinaGlobalVotetodeterminetheirprizelaureate. The patrons of theWorld's Children's Prize include H.M. Queen Silvia ofSwedenandNelsonMandela.Cecil,agloballyrecognizedhumanrightsadvocateandmulti-awardedfreedomfighter,servesasaninternationalexpertonhumantrafficking,childlaboranddomesticwork.

ATTY. DARLENE REYES PAJARITO is ZamboangaCity’s 3rdAssistantCity Prosecutor. She serves asSpecialProsecutorforAnti-TraffickinginPersonscasesandconductsall preliminary investigation of cases involving humantraffickingandprosecutesallhumantraffickingcasesfiledbeforeanyoftheRegionalTrialCourtsinZamboangaCity.Shealsoconductslecturesinseminarsortrainingswhenevernecessarytoprovideassistancetolawenforcementagencies,socialworkers,specializedagents,governmententitiesandotherdutyholdersaboutAnti-Trafficking inPersonsActof

2003,Anti-ViolenceAgainstWomenandTheirChildrenActof2004,HumanSecurityActof2007andothercriminalandspeciallaws.

AsConvenorandHeadoftheSeabasedAnti-traffickingTaskForceZamboanga,sheconducted independent or collaborative fact-finding investigation with actual siteinspectionofthecrimescenerelativetohumanrightsviolationsandappearedbeforePeople’sLawEnforcementBoardforclientsinHumanRightscases.

ShefinishedherMastersinBusinessAdministrationfromtheAteneodeZamboangaUniversityandobtainedherBachelorofLawsatWesternMindanaoStateUniversityin2002.SheisalsocurrentlyfacultyoftheXavierUniversityCollegeofLawZamboanga.

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DR. YOLANDA S. QUIJANOisUndersecretaryforProgramsandProjectsoftheDepartmentofEducation.Dr.Quijanois"married"toherprofessionasaneducatorfor43yearsnow.Rightafterreceivingherdegreeinelementaryeducationatthe LeyteNormal School in 1967, she immediately beganher career as an elementary school teacher. She taughtfor 15 years, dedicating a portion of her life as a specialeducationteacherforthedeafintheDivisionofLeyte.Withadoctoratedegree ineducation,MasterofArts inSpecialEducationandgraduatecertificateinSpecialEducationallat

thePhilippineNormalUniversity,herrisingfromtherankscameasamatterofcourse.

Her appointment as Undersecretary for Programs and Projects culminates her lifeworks as a specialist in primary and special education. A career officer, she andtheonly female in thenewgroupofundersecretariesbuther longexperienceandhistoricalknowledgeofexistingprogramsandprojectsearnedforhertheposition.

Dr.QuijanoheadedtheBureauofElementaryEducationfromOctober2007toJuly2010.ShewasalsothedeputyprojectmanageroftheThirdElementaryEducationProject(TEEP)from2001toJanuary2006.Throughherstewardship,theprojectwasasuccess,resultingtoimprovedlearningachievements,completionratesandbetteraccesstoqualityelementaryeducationindifferentprovinces.

She received various recognition from the DepEd community, including DECSOutstandingEmployeeof1989andaplaqueofrecognitionin1997forhavingtoppedtheSecondSchool'sSuperintendentLicensure

Examination. She also received scholarship awards with which she pursuedInternationalCourseinSpecialEducationofDeafChildrenwithMultipleHandicapsintheNetherlands,andthePublicManagementDevelopmentPrograminConnecticut,USA,amongothers.

WithheradvocacyinSpecialEducation,Dr.Quijanoconceptualizedandimplementedthe SPED-BEE Inclusive Education and the establishment of the SPED Centers asResourceCentersinInclusion.

ShehasalsopublishedseveralbooksandarticlesonSPEDandprimaryeducationandwassought-afterresourcespeaker in internationalandlocalconferencesonspecialeducation.Sheisamemberofvariousorganizationsthatactivelypushfortherighttoeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesandmentalretardation.Dr.Quijanocurrentlyteachespart-timeatthePhilippineNormalUniversityandtheUniversityoftheVisayasinCebuCity.

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PROF. LOURDES VENERACION-RALLONZAisapoliticalscientist whose research interests and personal advocacyare in the areas of women in politics, women’s humanrights in armed conflict situations, transnational women’smovements,internationalnormsagainstwartimerapeandsexualviolence,andwomen’spoliticsatthemargins.

Her recent works on women and politics, wartime rape,and women in international relations have appeared inpublications by Oxford University Press (“A Spectacle ofMasculine and Feminine Images of Political Leadership:

AFeministReflectionon theCurrentCrisisofLeadership in thePhilippines” inThe GenderFaceofAsianPolitics,2009),NordicInstituteofAsianStudies(“Womenandthe Democracy Project: A Feminist Take on Women’s Political Participation in thePhilippines” inWomen’sPoliticalParticipationandRepresentation inAsia:Obstaclesand Challenges,2008),MiriamCollege-WomenandGenderInstitute(“TheMasculinistStateandtheMasculineProjectofWar:(Re)VisioningtheInternationalCriminalCourtasRedressforWarTimeRapes”inQuiltedSightings:AWomenandGenderStudiesReader3,2006),andSagePublicationsIndia(“Womenandthe‘PostSovereign’State:AFeministAnalyticoftheStateintheAgeofGlobalization”inGender,TechnologyandDevelopment,2004);twobookchaptersontransnationalfeministsnetworkswillbepublishedbytheTohokuUniversityPressandRoutledgeby2011.

Prof. Vene is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science of theAteneodeManilaUniversity teaching subjects onPolitics andGovernance,Genderand Women’s Human Rights, The Politics of Everyday Life, Women’s MovementsandWomen’sHumanRights,IssuesandProblemsinInternationalLaw(focusingoninternationalhumanitarianlawandinternationalhumanrightslaw),andReconstructingWorld Politics through International Norms,Women and Politics. She also lecturesduringthesummerclasssessionoftheUniversityofPeaceStudentsonUnderstandingHumanitarianIntervention,Peacekeeping,andtheResponsibilitytoProtectaswellasonPost-ConflictRecoveryandReconstruction,PeaceBuilding,andJusticeClaims.

Prof.Veneracion-RallonzaobtainedherPhDinPoliticalSciencefromtheUniversityofthePhilippinesDilimanwhereshealsofinishedherABinPoliticalScienceandMAinInternationalStudies.SheisamemberofthePhilippinePoliticalScienceAssociation(PPSA)andrecently,apartoftheWomenEmpoweredtoActonUNSC1325(WEAct1325).Shealsoco-coordinatesthePhilippineprogramoftheAsia-PacificCentreontheResponsibilitytoProtectalongwithDr.NoelMorada,theCentre’sExecutiveDirector.

DR. SANTANINA TILLAH RASUListheChairpersonoftheMagbassaKitaFoundation,109



Inc(MKFI).SheobtainedherBachelorsdegreeinPoliticalScience(Cumlaude)fromtheUniversityofthePhilippinesandherMasteraldegreeinNationalSecurityAdministrationfrom the National Defense College of the Philippines. In1991,shewasawardedthe"MostDistinguishedAlumnioftheYearAward"bytheUPAlumniAssociation.

ShewaselectedSenatoroftheRepublicofthePhilippinesin1987andre-electedin1992,thefirstMuslimwomansoelected,andthefirstMuslimre-electedtotheSenate.Sheiscreditedwithanumberof landmark legislationsamong

whichwere laws that sought to provide security of tenure in government service;leveltheplayingfieldforthoseseekinggovernmentservice;removingallvestigesofdiscriminationagainstwomenandopeningthePhilippineMilitaryAcademytowomen.SheauthoredeightlawsasChairpersonoftheSenateCommitteeonCivilServiceandGovernmentRecognitionandtheCommitteeonWomenandFamilyRelations.ShespecificallyauthoredRANO.7192alsopopularlyknownasthe“WomeninDevelopmentandNationBuildingAct.”

CHAIR LORETTA ANN ROSALES currently heads theCommission on Human Rights (CHR) as replacement toLeilaDeLima.PopularlyknownasEtta Rosales, she is a lawyer,activistandpolitician.Forthreeterms,shehasbeenthepartylistrepresentativeoftheAkbayan!Citizen’sActionParty(AKBAYAN)tothePhilippineHouseofRepresentativesfrom1998-2007.

SheisanAKBAYANChairEmeritusandVice-PresidentoftheFreedom fromDebtCoalition (FDC). FDC is a nationwidecoalition conducting advocacy work which focuses onfiscal,monetaryanddebtissuesrelatedtotheMultilateral

DevelopmentBanksandonsocialserviceprovisionlikepowerandwater.

Anacclaimedhumanrightsactivist,ChairEttaRosaleswasa representativeof themarginalandunder-representedsectorsofPhilippinesociety.DuringtherepressiveregimeofformerPhilippinePresidentFerdinandMarcos,herundergroundactivitiesledLorettaRosalestobearrestedonseveraloccasions.

AsExecutiveDirectoroftheInstituteforPoliticalandElectoralReformin1994,Chair

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Rosalesactivelylobbiedfortheenactmentofthe1995party-listlawasprovidedforinthePhilippines1987Constitution.Since1998,shehasbeenamemberoftheHouseofRepresentativeswhereshehaschairedtheCommitteeonHumanRightsandco-chairedtheCommitteeonSuffrageandElectoralReforms.

As an activist, she founded the leftist and now party list “Alliance of ConcernedTeachers”(ACT)onJune26,1982.Itisanorganizationofteachers,academicnon-teachingpersonnelandnon-academic,non-teachingpersonnel.Consideredtobethelargestnon-traditionalteachers'organizationinthecountry,itaimsfortheeconomicandpoliticalwell-beingofteachersandallothereducationworkersandforthegenuinesocial transformation.

REVEREND IRA LEE ROSALITA representstheAllianceEvangelicalChurchinZamboangaCity.HehasworkedatChristianandMissionaryAllianceChurchesofthePhilippines,Inc.HeobtainedhiscollegeeducationfromtheUniversityofMindanaoDigosCollegeinDavaodelSur.HeisanativeofSouthDigos,DavaoDelSur,Philippines.

FATMAWATI SALAPUDDIN is Director of Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum and member of the Sulu-basedLupaSugBangsamoroWomen’sAssociation.

MS. IRENE SANTIAGO,SeniorAdvisertothePresidential

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AdviseronthePeaceProcessinthePhilippines,andChairandChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheMindanaoCommissiononWomen,hashaddecadesofworkinpeaceandgender.Shehasbeenat the forefrontofefforts to improvethestatusofwomen in the Philippine, Asia/Pacific and internationallevels formore than three decades. Her pioneeringworkon gender issues has had awide impact not only in thePhilippinesbutalso internationally.Shewas theexecutivedirectoroftheNGOForumonWomenheldinChinain1995.

ShefacilitatedtheformationofnumerousMuslimwomen’sSANgrassroots organizations and continues to organize “peace circles” under theMothersforPeaceMovement(Philippines).From2001-2004,shewasamemberofthePhilippineGovernmentpanelnegotiatingpeacewiththeMoroIslamicLiberationFront(MILF).SheislargelycreditedwithraisinggenderissuesinpeacemakingandpeacebuildinginMindanao.

In2005,shewasnamedoneofthenomineesforthe1000WomenfortheNobelPeacePrize.Recently, shewas the recipientof theCheveningFellowshipawardedby theBritishGovernmenttoattendacourseonconflicttransformationattheUniversityofYork.Ms.SantiagoisalsoamemberoftheacademiccommitteeoftheRotaryCenterforPeaceandConflictStudiesatChulalongkornUniversityinBangkok,Thailand.

Ms. Santiago holds a master's degree in journalism from the Columbia UniversityGraduateSchoolofJournalismwhereshewasaFulbright/Smith-Mundtscholar.SheisanalumnaofthePhilippineWomen'sCollegeofDavaowhereshegraduatedwithanA.B. degree, major in English, summa cum laude.

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ROSALYNN “PINKY” SERAFICA serves as BehaviorChange Communication (BCC) Advisor for the USAID-funded Sustainable Health Improvements throughEmpowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) inthe Philippines. Ms. Serafica has extensive experiencein the management, programming, design, monitoringand evaluation of institutional communication projects,marketingandcampaigns.ShehasworkedonavarietyofBCC activities from drafting to implementation, includingthose focused on reproductive health/family planning,populationmanagement,HIV/AIDS,tuberculosisprevention

andcontrolandmaternal,newbornandchildhealth.

ForACDI/VOCA’sSHIELDProject,sheprovidestechnicalmanagementandsupervisionofallBCCactivitiesonmaternal,newbornandchildhealth,tuberculosispreventionand control, family planning, malaria prevention and control, sexually transmittedinfectionsandHIV/AIDS.Shesupervisesthetechnicalassistanceoncommunication,socialmobilizationandadvocacyprovidedtotheregionalandprovincialhealthofficesoftheAutonomousRegioninMuslimMindanao(ARMM).

Previous to ACDI/VOCA, she worked with the Manoff Group, Inc. for the USAID-fundedLEADforHealthProject,andUSAID/Manila’sOfficeofPopulation,HealthandNutrition.Ms.Seraficahasalsoworkedasadirector,writerandproducerfornumerousradioandtelevisionprogramsandproductions.SheauthoredthebooksTheRoleofNGOsinAgrarianReformCommunities,BurmaforBeginnersandBiyahengDagat:theCERDstory.SheearnedherB.S.inLiberalArts-CommercefromDeLaSalleUniversityinthePhilippines.

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DR. ABOULKHAIR S. TARASON is presently the Vice-ChairpersonofNationalUlamaConferenceofthePhilippines(NUCP).HeisalsotheChairmanofBasilanUlamaSupremeCouncil, andDean& Professor of Basilan Islamic CollegeandMahadMubarakatAl-ArabieAl-Islamie.

FormerlecturerandIslamicpropagator–IslamicEducationFoundation,undersupervisionofMinistryofIslamicAffairs,Endowment,DahwaandGuidance,MakkahandJeddah,K.S.A.from1995to2003.HehasaPhDinIslamicShariahLaw and Islamic Theology from Ummul-Qura University,

Makkah-Almukarramah,KingdomofSaudiArabia.

SARAH TEITTistheOutreachDirectorattheAsiaPacificCentre for theResponsibility to Protect (APCR2P) Centre,where she is responsible for designing and implementingstrategies to foster dialogue among various governmentandcivilsocietystakeholdersintheregion,facilitatingthebuildingofnationalR2Pprogrammes,andencouragingtheadoption of measures to implement the Responsibility toProtectintheAsiaPacific.

Sarah also serves as the Centre's China Program Leader,and isworking towardcompletingaPhDat theUniversity

ofQueenslandonChina'srole inpreventingandrespondingtogenocideandmassatrocities.ShehasanMAinPeaceandConflictResolution(UniversityofQueensland,2006)andaBAinInternationalRelationswithaconcentrationinEastAsianStudies(Roanoke College, 2002). Her research interests include China's foreign policy inrelationtoconflictandhumanitariancrisesintheAsia-PacificregionandAfrica,UNpeacekeeping,andtheprotectionofwomenandchildreninarmedconflict,particularlyinrelationtogender-basedcrimesandviolations.

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The Most Reverend ROMULO GEOLINA VALLES, D.D. isthecurrentArchbishopoftheMetropolitanArchdioceseofZamboangaintheCityofZamboanga.

HewasAsst.ParishPriestattheChristtheKingCathedralParishinTagum,DavaodeNorteandParishPriestatSanNicolasdeTolentinoParish,Mati,DavaoOrientalfrom1976-1978. From 1982-1984, he was Vicar General, DioceseofTagumCity.In1983,hetaughtScriptureattheQueenof Apostles College Seminary in Davao. He also taughtFundamental Liturgy and Sacramental Theology in 1990

andwasalsoaCoordinatoroftheSpiritualFormationYearattheSt.FrancisXavierRegionalMajor

Seminary,DavaoCity.HewasthenappointedVice-Rectorin1992andlaterpromotedtotheRectorpositionthefollowingyearinthesameSeminary.InAugust1999,aged46,hewaselevatedtoabishop,andappointedtoKidapawan.After9years,hewaselevatedtoArchbishopofZamboangainNovember2006.ArchbishopValleswasborninMaribojoc,Bohol,July10,1951.

ArchbishopVallesearnedhisdegreeinA.B.PhilosophyandTheologyattheSt.FrancisXavierRegionalMajorSeminaryDavaoCity. Hegothisfinishedhispostgraduatecourse,LicentiateinSacredLiturgyatPontificioAteneoSant'AnselmoinRome,Italyin1990andMAinReligiousEducationfromtheIgnatianInstituteforReligiousEducation,AteneodeDavaoUniversityin1997.

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ANNEx V

LIST OF PARTICIPATING ALEEMAT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF WOMEN CIVIL SOCIETY

ORGANIZATIONS BY AREA:

zAMBASULTA

Basilan1. AsmahAbdullahSapantun2. IsniraAdullahMannan3. MariamSahdanAbdullah4. ZuraidaTukul5. KhadijaKurais6. SamdaiyaAwananSawalal7. JubairaSaid8. Nur-inBud9. SahraAhmad10. MaymunaJamaluddin11. AsmahAbdullahSapantun12. AboulkhairTarason

Sulu1. SittiAmlaEsmael2. HilmaMukalid3. ShaufarAbah4. RindayAdjaluddin5. AdallaJoeAdil6. CzarinaIzquierdoIsahac7. MayuriHanani8. SorayaImlan9. IndangMiliDammang10. FatimaYusah

Tawi Tawi1. CarolinaTarang2. HashimaTaalal3. NinangUkad4. AunaAlawi5. AisaUdulBud6. NidzraMohammadNuryaquin7. MelodinaHairol8. ArsitaTadjurie9. FarhanaCampanero10. FatimaAllian11. AbnelAras-Madaris12. MarsiyanaSuhuri13. VirgilioMori-14. KausarAming15. AbnelAras-Madaris

Zamboanga1. IreneTillah2. MairaAsilin3. NafisaAinadi4. HerminaKurais5. UmmoCalthumAlibasa6. HairanaAlibasa7. AmaliaHadjirul8. SittiJabiraTaradji9. HalimaMauddin10. MiriamTugong11. FatimaH.Ladjabasal12. Nur-inHassiman13. Nur-inHasiman

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14. IndanH.Madlahuddin15. RusaidaAbdulrauf16. AminaJulkarnain17. NurInJahakkal18. MaymunaJawahari19. NoraPuquiz20. RusaidaAbdulrauf21. AminaJulkarnain22. NenitaAllian23. SandraSumail24. BagianAleyssaAbdulkarim25. KamarodinAbdulkarim26. NaimaAbdurahman27. NorminaHassan

28. UmmoKhalsumAbdurahman29. JilmaAlih30. AidaAmil31. DarwisaAmin32. NuriniAmping33. NurjidaAnsar34. NurfaAssi35. NursiaBacuak36. SherlynBawaduli37. MardiaBurong38. AmaliaHadjirul39. MaimonaJamaari40. NurhinaKurais

CENTRAL MINDANAOCotabato

1. AlbayaGarayBadrodin2. NoraidaChio3. AnisaTaha4. MariamDaud5. NoraisaMamokhan6. WardaTahir7. NabilaAli8. PahmiaDidatuMusa9. JehanUsmanTaha10. ArbainaBakar11. ShalimarCandao12. BainganCandao13. RhugayaDaud14. PindaulanBalambag15. SaidaSaidali16. JeannetteBelloBeling17. RosaliaBuludanSanggama18. EdithaBelloDofredo19. ArleneSacandalCatuyan20. GinambayEbrahim21. NimfaManon-og22. DaisyBaceroHapay23. EstherBoseMagdayo,24. FatimaAbubakar

Maguindanao1. SahidaSairila2. MaimonaDidatu-Bayan3. FatimaD.Utto4. MominaKanda5. GuiamelaTarusan6. OmisalamHaron7. ShairaDimaporo8. SamraAmos

General Santos1. WahidaM.Abtahi2. RohaimaT.Latip3. RubyA.Kanda4. JocelynLambac-Kanda

Davao City1. RosalinaMapiguid2. NoharaPinute3. HarounRanain

Sultan KudaratHasanaBalabagan

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LANAO AREAS1. AmenahMacabero2. HamiydahMonaraMaruhom3. KhadijahMutilan4. WedadRamos5. CasnidaDadayanLomondot6. AmenaShariefMoalam7. JonairahMamiscalMacairing8. ZohrahAbdulcarimAbdulaziz9. OmairahIbrahimDiangka10. SaphiaOmarMitmug11. FaridahDatuAmanoddin12. NorainD.Khatib13. SairahAhmadBasher14. KhadijahBagussamSalic15. MuslimahDimaporo16. FatimahMaundaAragasi17. HedjriahAliCana18. SharifahMakiAbdulla19. MoneraMangondato20. AidaMacadaag21. ArribaDumarpa22. JonairahMamiscalMacairing23. DiamondLampa

Manila1. MariamRamirezMolina2. FatimahDestorDalisay3. RashidaBauliteAbanco4. AnnaMarcelitaShakil5. AdelaFatimahNacario6. OmuhaniHassanMabandes7. PilarBautista8. AbdullahBorres

Visayas1. OnawalHassan2. AminaDisangcopan3. NorjanahSultan4. LaarniJikirilAbbas

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ANNEx VI

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Day 1 (February 07, 2011)

12.00-5.00 ArrivalofParticipants/RegistrationandCheck-in

World Interfaith Harmony Solidarity Dinner Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndfloor)6.30PM RegistrationOpens7.00 WelcomeRemarks Dr.SantaninaRasul Chairperson MagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc.7.10 Message Hon.CelsoLobregat Mayor CityofZamboanga7.20 OpeningStatement Ms.AminaRasul President PhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracy7.30PM PrayersandMessages

Dr.AboulkhairTarason NationalUlamaConferenceofthePhilippines

ArchbishopRomuloValles ArchdioceseofZamboanga

PastorZusedelF.Caballes Jesus is Lord Church

PresidentBartolomeMadriaga ZamboangaPhilippinesStake

S.MariaNiñaC.Balbas PilarCollege-RVMCongregation

Rev.SicChuanChan HockTuanTemple8.00PM Dinner

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6.00AM Breakfast8.00AM RegistrationOpens Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor)8.30AM Invocation/Du'a8.40AM ReportoftheProjectDirector "NoorusSalam:Whathaveweaccomplished?" Ms.AminaRasul ProjectDirector EmpoweringWomenPeaceAdvocatesProject

9.00AM Message Ms.Ma.CarmenLauzon-Gatmaytan AsianCircle1325 GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders

9.10AM Message Ms.IreneSantiago ChairpersonandCEO Mindanao Commission on Women

9.20AM KeynoteSpeech SecretaryLuwalhatiAntonino Chairperson MindanaoDevelopmentAuthority9:40AM UpdatesfromNoorusSalamNetwork Lanao Areas: UstadzaAmenahMacabero UstadzaHamiydahMonara Central Mindanao: UstadzaAlbayaBadrodin Anisah Taha Zambasulta: UstadzaMairaAsilin CarolynTarang10.40AM OpenForum11.50AM AwardingofTokensofAppreciation12.00NN Lunch/Prayers

GuestSpeaker:Prof. Aida Jean Manipon NationalCoordinator UNWomenPhilippines

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1.30PM PanelDiscussion "DevelopingaNetworkofMuslimWomenPeaceAdvocates: PerspectivesfromSoutheastAsia"

Speakers:

Prof.LilyZakiyahMunir Director CenterforPesantrenandDemocracyStudies,Indonesia

Ms.ZarinaNava CoFounder InternationalInstituteofAdvancedIslamicStudies(IAIS) Malaysia2.30PM OpenForum3.30PM OrganizationalDevelopmentforNoorusSalam Ms.SandraLibunao ODConsultant6.00PM Break/Prayers


6.00AM Breakfast8.00AM RegistrationOpens8.30AM ConcurrentWorkshopSessions(CWS) CWS I: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 & 1820 on Women, Peace and Security Convenor:GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders Venue:Waling-walingRoom(GroundFloor) Facilitators: Ms.MavicCabrera-Balleza International Coordinator GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders

Ms.FatmawatiSalapuddin LupahSugBangsamoroWomen

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CWS II: The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Convenor:AsiaPacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect Venue:TheBaronRoom(GroundFloor) Facilitators: Ms.SarahTeitt OutreachDirector Asia-PacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect Prof.LourdesVeneracion-Rallonza AteneodeManilaUniversity CWS III: Addressing Human Trafficking in Mindanao Convenor:VisayanForumFoundation,Inc. Venue:GroundZeroRoom Facilitator: Ms.Ma.CeciliaFlores-Oebanda President&ExecutiveDirector VisayanForumFoundation,Inc

CWS IV-A: The Aleemat and Preventive Health Care Convenor:UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor) Facilitator: Dr. Leo Alcantara SHIELDCapacityBuildingandTrainingSpecialist Ms.Rosalynn“Pinky”Serafica SHIELDBehaviorChangeCommunicationAdvisor12.00NN Lunch/Prayers 1.30PM ResumptionofConcurrentWorkshopsNos.I,IIandIII CWS IV-B: Literacy for Peace and Development Convenor:MagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor) Facilitator:Dr.DiamarKadon4.00PM PlenaryPresentationofWorkshopOutputs Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor)

Ms.MavicCabrera-Balleza International Coordinator GlobalNetworkofWomenPeacebuilders

Ms.SarahTeitt OutreachDirector Asia-PacificCentrefortheResponsibilitytoProtect

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Ms.Ma.CeciliaFlores-Oebanda President&ExecutiveDirector VisayanForumFoundation,Inc

Dr. Leo Alcantara SHIELDNationalCoordinator

Dr.DiamarKadon LIPADProjectDirector5.30PM Break

7.00PM Dinner Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor)

GuestSpeakers: Dr. Yolanda S. Quijano Undersecretary,DepartmentofEducation

Dr. Norma Salcedo Head,LiteracyCoordinatingCouncil


6.00AM Breakfast8.00AM RegistrationOpens Venue:OrchidBallroom(2ndFloor)8.30AM Invocation/Du'a8.40AM TheImportanceofNetworkinginOrganizations Prof.AuroradeDios ExecutiveDirector WomenandGenderInstitute9.10AM OpenForum9.40AM NoorusSalamPlanningWorkshop

Workshop1:ZAMBASULTA(Orchidballroom) Workshop2:LANAO/MARAWI(Waling-waling) Workshop3:SOCSARGEN/COTABATO/MAGUINDANAO(TheBaron) Workshop4:LUZON&VISAYAS(GroundZero)

HeadFacilitator: Ms.SandraLibunao(Luzon&Visayas)

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Facilitators: FatimaAllian(ZamBaSulTa) NoraidaChio(CentralMindanao) DipunudunMaruhom(Lanao)12.00NN Lunch1.30PM ResumptionofNoorusSalamPlanningWorkshop -ElectionofNoorusSalamNationalOfficers4.00PM PlenaryPresentationofWorkshopOutputs ProclamationofElectedOfficers Venue:OrchidBallroom4.30PM MeetingofElectedNoorusSalamOfficers6.00PM Break/Prayers

7.00PM Closing Dinner Ceremonies Venue:OrchidBallroom7.15PM OpeningRemarks Dr.SantaninaRasul Chairperson MagbassaKitaFoundation,Inc.

7.30PM KeynoteSpeech

Honorable Loretta Ann Rosales Chairperson PhilippineCommissiononHumanRights7.50PM InductionofNoorusSalamOfficers8.10PM InauguralAddress Chairperson-elect NoorusSalam8.25 ClosingRemarks Ms.AminaRasul President PhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracy8.40 Dinner

Master of Ceremonies

Ms. Samira Gutoc-TomawisConvenor

PhilippineCenterforIslamandDemocracy

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Manila OfficeNational College of Public Administration Annex Bldg.University of the Philippines, R.P. de Guzman St.,Diliman, Quezon City, PhilippinesTelephone: +63 2 426 5886 • +63 2 466 2338Email: mkfi@[email protected] / [email protected]: www.pcid.org.ph

ZaMbOanga OfficeWomen Support Center BuildingSen. R. T. Lim Blvd., Zamboanga CityTelephone: (062) 990 1552


Noorus Salam: - Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy

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Transcript of Noorus Salam: - Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy