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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Philippines
In-country | International

In-country

Advocacy Group for Peace and Development in Mindanao
The Mindanao Commission on Women
August 31 – Sept 1
The meeting will focus on the work of the Commission to promote multiculturalism as a basis for peace in Mindanao rather than the source of conflict in Mindanao. Organized for the first time in 2000, this is the second such meeting to be held for peace and development in Mindanao. This meeting will take place on August 31-September 1 at the Loleng’s Mountain Resort. Since last year, the Mindanao Commission on Women has been conducting community level consultations on its draft paper on the principles of Multiculturalism even as it continues to advocate for the adoption of a national policy for peace and multiculturalism. It has also sponsored the much-acclaimed Mothers for Peace Campaign, a national campaign that brought national attention to the conflicts in Mindanao and their far-ranging adverse effects not only for the people of Mindanao but for the country as a whole. It also produces the annual State of the Women of Mindanao Report and this year’s SOWM Report focuses on the Muslim and indigenous women of Mindanao. For more information on this meeting, please view this website.

16 Day Prayer Campaign for the Elimination of all Forms of Violence Against Women
November 25 – December 10, 2003
The Women and Gender Commission of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (WGC-AMRSP) and the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies (IFRS) Student Body, participate in the global campaign against violence against women. They call individuals, communities, and friends to join a prayer for all women and men worldwide. The launching of the 16 Days Prayer Campaign started with a Paraliturgy on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 in New Manila. For the list of prayers and intentions for each day of the 16 Days click here.

Peace in MindaNOW Conference
May 13-15, 2003
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus and The Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference hold a meeting to share analysis of Mindanao’s conflict, to discuss how effectively promote and strengthen the fragile peace situation in Mindanao, and to identify minimum basis of unity for collaborative planning and action. The main objectives of the conference were to identify a common agenda for action with regard to transforming the conflict situation and building peace in Mindanao, and to identify, develop and start up mechanisms for coordinated action among the various peace organizations throughout Mindanao on the identified agenda. For more information visit the Mindanao Peoples Caucus.

Save the Peace in Pikit! Peace in Mindanao Now!
February 10, 2003
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), and its secretariat, the Initiatives for International Dialogue, presented a statement calling both the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to stop the new war in Pikit. As official armed forces and tanks arrived in Pikit, the residents of up to 11 Pikit barangays started an exodus to safer areas. Now in Pikit, there are an estimated 4,000 evacuee families or 20,000 individuals. The armed forces stated they were there to protect the civilians, but the civilians had fled to avoid the fighting they were sure from experience would begin. The Mindanao Peoples Caucus appeals to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to respect the 2001 ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and them. To read the full text of the statement click here. For more information visit the Initiatives for International Dialogue.

Mindanao Women’s Peace Caravan
December 2000 - April 2001
The Asian Women’s Human Rights Council launched the Mindanao Women’s Peace Caravan’s Campaign, with the purpose of involving women leaders and grassroots in Mindanao for dialogue, consultations, and peace agenda setting to promote the status of women in Mindanao among the LUMAD, Muslims and other sectors in the context of the conflict situation raging in some parts of Mindanao. For more information visit the Asian Women’s Human Rights Council.

End the War, Stop the Militarization of Mindanao
April, 2000
In a statement of April, 2000 women of and in Mindanao denounced President Estrada's war policy against the Muslim and communist rebels, which caused the killings of thousands of civilians in the crossfire in several towns in Northern Mindanao, particularly in the Lanao provinces. As a consequence of the conflict in Lanao ddel Sur, there were an estimated of 18,000 families internal refugees. The women of Mindanao called both, the military and the rebels, to end the war by implementing fully and responsibly the ceasefire, and to promote peace and reconciliation. In addition, they urged others sectors of the society in Mindanao to support their initiative to end the war and stop the militarization of Mindanao. To read the full text of the statement click here. For more information visit Just Peace.

National Protest
September 21, 1998
40,000 Filipinos participated in a nationwide march organized by GABRIELA, BAYAN, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and League of Filipino Students, to demonstrate the Filipino people’s commitment to struggling for self-determination and freedom from increasingly dictatorial maneuvers by President Ramos’ government. Following the march, there was a prayer rally at which an estimated 600,000 people from all sectors and walks of life were present. To read the newsletter click here. For more information visit GABRIELA.

International Women’s Day
March 8, 1997
Around 10,000 women workers, urban poor, youth, professionals and leaders commemorated the 88th International Women’s Day by marching in key cities nationwide revealing issues crucial to Filipino women. To read the newsletter click here. For more information visit GABRIELA.

International

The Evacuees in Central Mindanao Need your Help
As a consequence of the war between the Philippine armed forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), there are currently more than 200,000 evacuees in Central Mindanao in Southern Philippines. The most recent major armed skirmish was in February 2003, which centered in Pikit, Cotabato and neighboring provinces. In Pikit alone, more than 31,000, nearly half of its total population, fled as a result of the renewed fighting. These evacuees are in poor living conditions, sleeping on concrete floor in packed gyms, warehouses and school buildings or makeshift tents while food rations are limited to few kilos of rice and cans of sardines per family per week. As the struggle continues their future remains uncertain. To support evacuees in Central Mindanao please contact the Initiatives for International Dialogue.

Peace Vigil
May, 2002
Women in Black, with the support of the Asian Human Rights Council, The Buhay Foundation for Women and the Girl Child, and the LOLAS Kampanvera Comfort Women Survivors’ Group, hold a monthly peace vigil since May, 2002, against wars in Mindanao, and demanding peace for the country and the world as a whole. For more information visit Women in Black.

Filipinas Not For Sale! End the Export of Filipinas!
2000
More than half a million men and women leave the Philippines every year to work overseas. For women, this work consists primarily of ‘unskilled’ and poorly paid jobs like domestic work and prostitution. The ‘mail-order bride’ industry is also a significant factor in this export of women. Filipinos work in foreign countries for economic reasons, sending their earnings to support families back home. Financial remittances come at sometimes deadly costs, such as, cultural alienation, discrimination, physical abuse and death. This is a key economic strategy for the government. The President Ramos’ Philippines 2000 Development Plan encourage the export of women and men labor. GABRIELA calls individuals worldwide to demand an end to the export of labor as an economic strategy, the denial of access to United States military ships, and the end of the Philippines 2000 Development Plan. To read more about the campaign click here. For more information visit GABRIELA.