Women Peacemakers kicks off Philippine visit with CPC Women launch

Related post

May 24, 2011 – The Women Peacemakers, namely, Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Deputy Director Dr. Dee Aker, Women Peacemakers Program Officer Ms. Jennifer Freeman, and 2005 Woman Peacemaker Ms. Thavory Hout from Cambodia are currently on a visit to the Philippines from May 19 – 27, 2011 to meet with the IMT-CPC-MPC Women, the International Monitoring Team and other partners in peace and civilian protection work, in order to share and learn strategies and on the ground experiences on how women in the conflict affected areas can effectively assert and operationalize the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSC 1325).

They are joined by 2010 Woman Peacemaker Ms. Merlie “Milet” Mendoza, CPC-MPC Coordinator Ms. Analiza Ugay (also of Balay Rehabilitation Center), and fellow Woman Peacemaker Atty. Mary Ann Arnado of MPC.

In solidarity with the recently launched “All Women Contingent in the Civilian Protection Component of the International Monitoring Team,” these women peacemakers from Cambodia and the United States started off their Philippine visit with a solidarity launch of the IMT-CPC-MPC Women Cotingent in Manila last May 20, 2011. The launching was held at Miriam College in Quezon City and was attended by members of the diplomatic community, members of the International Monitoring Team 6 led by Head of Mission Major General Mahdi Bin Yusof, GPH peace panel representatives led by panel member Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Armed Forces of the Philippines led by Peace Process Office Chief Col. Dickson Hermoso, some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and international NGOs. The Women Peacemakers warmly welcomed the opportunity to personally engage with the IMT and the women involved in the CPC—to learn from their experiences and help build their competencies.

Among the speakers, Dr. Dee Aker highlighted how women’s participation in peace processes and humanitarian work “deliver a fuller security picture” and helps provide a “new framework for dispute resolution,” coming from their common strength and ability of hearing and addressing the grievances of all stakeholders involved. Prof. Ferrer reinforced her statement by sharing her own observation on how there are now major changes among key players in the peace process – pointing out that conflict is no longer viewed as merely military in nature, but with social, political and gender components.

Froilyn Mendoza, a Teduray CPC Women Contingent member from South Upi, shared her own experiences and those of her fellow CPC Women from other protection sites in Central Mindanao. Heartwarming stories of women in different cultural contexts who overcame initial resistance from their own families and communities, to later gain overwhelming respect, admiration and support from the same people who used to doubt their capacity.

The three military men — IMT Head of Mission Maj. Gen. Yusof, Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, Chair of the GPH CCCH, and Col. Hermoso of the AFP — also expressed their support to the Women Peacemakers and CPC-MPC Women as well as shared their efforts on monitoring and civilian protection that is in line with the human security framework that was mentioned by Dr. Aker and Prof. Ferrer.

A day after the launch, the Women Peacemakers and the CPC Women flew straight to Davao—the first stop in the Mindanao leg of their visit. They are scheduled to visit the Mothers for Peace of the Talaandig tribe in Songco, Lantapan, Malaybalay Bukidnon to learn about Traditional Conflict Resolution; the Bantay Ceasefire and CPC Women in Aleosan protection site, North Cotabato; go on a community Visit in Pagatin, Datu Saudi Ampatuan; have a forum with Moro Women; have some courtesy calls with military camps and a meeting with the International Monitoring Team in their field office.

MPC Opened its CPC Outpost in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte

The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) has opened its second Civilian Protection Component (CPC) all-women contingent outpost in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on November 15, 2010. The field office will cover the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

The opening of the CPC-MPC in Kauswagan was attended by the top officials from the Office of the Presidential Advisers on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Government Peace Panel, International Monitoring Team (IMT), GRP and MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), provincial and local government units, civil society organizations, police and military, and the media.

Atty. Maryann Arnado, Secretary General of MPC, said during the opening that “the all-women contingent of MPC to the CPC is considered a breakthrough in our advocacy effort to institutionalize United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and a golden opportunity to promote the meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes, particularly in the areas of civilian protection, human rights and relief and rehabilitation efforts.”

MPC is a member of the CPC of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT). The CPC has the following responsibilities of the CPC: to monitor violations of human rights against the civilians in the conflict-affected areas; to monitor the security and safety fo the civilian communities, and to monitor the needs of the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) and to facilitate “relief and rehabilitation support” in the conflict areas of Mindanao.  The CPC teams will also strengthen the linkages and sharing of information between the IMT and the peace panels.

During the opening, Kausawagan Mayor Rommel Arnado expressed his gratitude to MPC and IMT for having chosen their municipality to set up one of the CPC teams led by MPC. He also expressed that CPC-MPC and CPC-IMT can expect support from his administration since the people in the municipality and provinces also longed for a peaceful life.

The CPC-MPC field office was provided by the municipality of Kauswagan.

In October 5, 2010, the MPC launched CPC-MPC all-women contingent in Aleosan and also opened the first CPC-MPC field office at the municipality building of Aleosan provided by the mayor.

The towns of Kauswagan and Aleosan were chosen for the setting up of the CPC-MPC field offices because these were severely affected during the resurgence of clashes between the government and MILF forces after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) was aborted.

The CPC of the IMT was agreed to be formed by the government and MILF in order to establish a functional system and effective mechanism for monitoring, verifying and reporting of the compliance and non-compliance to their commitments to the international and national humanitarian and human rights laws to take constant care to protect the civilian population and civilian properties against dangers arising in conflict areas.

CPC-MPC Conducts its First Orientation Seminar

February 14, 2011 – The Civilian Protection Component – Mindanao Peoples Caucus (CPC-MPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) conducted its first Orientation Seminar on February 10 – 13, 2011, at Mergrande Ocean Resort, Dumoy, Davao City. The three-day activity was participated by 30 women contingent coming from different tribes and places in Mindanao.

The seminar aimed for participants to have a common understanding on the Operational Guidelines, Humanitarian Protection framework, Tasks, Function and Role of Civilian Protection Component in relation for the overall peace process; to have working knowledge of basic ceasefire mechanism and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325 and 1820; to have deeper understanding and awareness on gender sensitivity, feminist theory and concepts; and to develop teamwork and cooperation among its member.

The event enabled the participants to establish camaraderie and teamwork among themselves through sharing of experiences and team building activities. It also became an opportunity for them to define their roles as women contingent to the IMT.

Among the speakers who share their knowledge and expertise are Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, Secretary General of the MPC, Analiza Ugay of Balay Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Rasid Ladiasan, head secretariat of MILF CCCH, writer and feminist Sheilfa Alojamiento, Janice Pinky Aragon of the Integrated Gender and Development Office of the City Government of Davao, and Danilo Caspe, Program Director of MPC.

The seminar ended with a planning activity which will serve as guide for the CPC-MPC women contingent for the next twelve months.

Related Posts

Continue reading “CPC-MPC Conducts its First Orientation Seminar”