ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 2, 2014) – Dozens of peace advocates have attended a workshop in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines which was funded by the United Nations Development Programme.
The workshop dubbed “Women Taking Action to Rebuild Divided Communities” was facilitated by the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. and participated by women peace advocates from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, including Zamboanga City.
It was a follow through activity of the November 18 roundtable discussion attended by the same delegates.
The participants deepened their discussion on the aftermath of the fighting between Moro National Liberation Front rebels and security forces in September. The fighting, triggered by rebel attacks in different villages, left more than 400 people dead and wounded and displaced over 120,000 villagers here.
The Zamboanga crisis outlined their plan of action integrating gender perspectives in post-crisis reconstruction that amplify women’s voices and harnessed their leadership and skills in healing, early recovery and in reaching out across the divides.
They crafted their plan of action applying the Women, Peace and Security Frame which has four pillars namely: Protection and Prevention; Empowerment and Participation; Promotion and Mainstreaming; and Monitoring.
Among the plans that surfaced included: advocacy on human rights and peace-building; information drive on gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infection; health education and medical missions; peace advocacy among youth thru arts; and gender needs assess among the displaced women.
They also considered feeding program among the children and elderly, monitoring the livelihood activities of the IDPs, and peer education inside evacuation camps.
During the previous meeting, participants pointed out the importance of human rights monitoring and restoration and rehabilitation of domiciles. They also stressed that rehabilitation must be participatory, gender responsive and culturally-sensitive and peace building must be initiated including engagement of the youth.
The participants also saw the need in strengthening local coordination of nongovernmental organizations and concerned government agencies and the development of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management models.
They further urged the media to be “non-divisive” in reportage and determine the affectivity of so-called Bantay Bayanihan when conflict occurs.
Prominent Mindanao artists Ramir Tawasil, Kublai Millan and Toym Imao were present in the event and shared their inputs on rebuilding and healing communities through arts.
They also informed the plenary on the plan to build “Peace Monument” in Zamboanga to help heal the wounds of the crisis. The participants appreciated the idea and signed a statement of support to the initiative.
PCID President Amina Rasul urged all concerned stakeholders to help in the restoration of relationship among the locals brought by the skirmish and continue providing attention to the plight of women and children who were worst hit by the three weeks of street battles.
She said efforts are needed to bring back harmony and unity among the people of Zamboanga and stressed its importance in the economic recovery of the city.
Rasul said the PCID calls on the resumption of the tripartite review of the 1996 peace agreement between the Philippines and the MNLF and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. (Gandhi Kinjiyo)
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