In times of conflict or wars, it is often the voice of men that are listened to by the people: informing who and where the enemies are, what to do and where to go to keep us safe, and what plans the government should do to defeat the adversaries. Have you ever wondered how the situation would change if a woman’s voice is heard?
The lack of women’s voice in peace-building initiatives, largely attributed to the existence of "macho society" in many countries around the globe, is a dilemma that is targeted to be addressed by the Philippine government as it hosts the first ministerial-level International Conference on Women, Peace and Security (ICWPS) on October 28 to 30. The meeting carries the theme: “Forging Collaboration and Convergence for Advancing Women, Peace, and Security.”
“Kapag may kaguluhan, lagi mong naririnig sa balita ‘yung boses ng mga kalalakihan – sa military, pulis, kahit sa mga government leaders. Nasaan ang boses ng babae doon? (When there’s a conflict, we usually hear the voice of the men – in the military, police or even from the government leaders. Where’s the voice of the women?” a ranking official from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) told the Manila Bulletin earlier this week, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Europe.
What to expect
The ICWPS aims to highlight the Philippines’ pioneering efforts in terms of giving voices to women in peace-building initiatives such as the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS).
The Philippines was the first Asian country to adopt a NAPWPS in 2010, and is one of the only five countries among the 108 United Nations (UN) member-states to craft and implement the plan’s fourth iteration.
The plan emphasizes a conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting, whole-of-society and empowering approach that is geared toward peace enforcement, peacemaking, and peace-building concepts. This includes a wide range of initiatives that will be implemented to address the root causes of armed conflict and prevent its resurgence.
Currently, the fourth-generation action plan signifies a progressive evolution in the Philippines’ approach to addressing challenges faced by women in conflict situations and highlights their contributions to peace-building efforts.
The event will also showcase the meaningful and substantive representation, participation, and leadership of women in peace-building by bringing together women peacemakers and WPS stakeholders from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as other regions.
The conference is expected to be attended by around 400 participants composed of ministers, international delegates, members of the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security, and participants from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the academic community, representatives from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, other local government units (LGUs), and the private sector.
Further, one of the expected major outcomes of the conference is the adoption of the “Manila Declaration for the promotion of gender equality and women's participation in peacekeeping, which is currently being negotiated in New York, USA.
The country’s hosting of ICWPS will be led by the OPAPRU, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
Other core group members involved in the planning of the three-day conference include the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), UN Women, and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR).
Women’s role in peace-building
In a statement Saturday, Oct. 5, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. noted that the conference also seeks to highlight the significant role of women and their meaningful contribution to achieving a just and lasting peace for humanity, especially in areas that are dealing with armed conflict such as the BARMM.
“Let us remember that the comprehensive Philippine peace process aligns with the aspiration of the UN Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security, particularly [UN] Resolutions 1325 and 1820, which paved the way in crafting the WPS,” the peace adviser remarked.
According to Galvez, the thematic session on the role of women in peace processes will look into the impact of the implementation of NAPWPS vis-a-vis the localization of peace processes.
“This action plan emphasizes a complex, sensitive, and peace-promoting rule of society and an empowering approach that is geared toward peace enforcement. Peacemaking is, and most importantly, the peace-building concepts,” he noted.
He also gave as an example the case of Ms. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, a peace advocate who became the first woman who signed a major peace deal that was recognized across the globe.
In 2014, Ferrer signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) as the Philippine government chief negotiator in the GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiation.
The signing of the CAB, the final peace agreement between the GPH and MILF, paved the way for the creation of the BARMM.