Philippines: Int’l women's group to hold peace mission in Basilan
By Darwin Wally T. Wee

August 08, 2007 - (Sun.Star Zamboanga) A group of foreign women leaders, representing various women's rights and advocates associations in the Asia Pacific region, will visit Basilan on August 10 to 12, 2007.

Dubbed as the "International Women's Peace Mission to Basilan," the mission aims to check the well-being of women and children in Basilan who are affected by the ongoing military operations there.

The mission also aims to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the province, according to the mission's organizers the Southeast Asia Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (Sagppac) and the Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (Apsoc).

The mission is composed of a 12-member team coming from the countries of East Timor, Thailand, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
While in Basilan, the women will hold a dialogue with their local counterparts in the local government units and interview some military top officials, including those in Zamboanga.

They are also expected to conduct a forum with representatives of Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Inter-Religious Solidarity for Peace Movement (IRMSP), academe, and different government agencies on August 10 at the Magbassa Kita Foundation's building along R.T. Boulevard.

"The all-women peace mission is a concrete expression of their gender's assertion of their right to live with dignity in a peaceful environment, with their sense of security intact. Women have to show that they are against all forms of violence and war and that they have a very important role in resolving conflicts," they said.
The group said the peace mission in Basilan is in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1325 on women, peace and security.
The document states that the Security Council reaffirms "the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building. The resolution stresses the importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution."

The group said they are expected to release their statement containing their recommendation to "the relevant bodies, agencies and institutions appropriate courses of action that will alleviate the peace and security problem in the area and the plight of the victims of the conflict."

From:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2007/08/08/news/int.l.women.s.group.to.hold.peace.mission.in.basilan.html