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Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Group pushes women in GRP-MILF talks
WOMEN want the final peace agreement between the government and the MILF to include women as decision-makers and beneficiaries of peace and development.
This was contained in a position paper submitted by Mindanao Commission on Women to Jesus Dureza, chair of the government peace panel, at the close of a conference entitled "Women Working a Mindanao Agenda" held January 21-22 in Davao City.
Ambassador Salem Adam of Libya, a key facilitator in the current peace talks, witnessed the presentation. The copy for MILF chair Hashim Salamat was transmitted through Jun Montawil, head of the MILF secretariat.
The recommendations of the Mindanao women leaders include the setting up of a peace and special fund for women and children.
Noting the failure of the GRP-MILF agreement to implement development programs for lack of funds, the women leaders stated that the GRP-MILF peace agreement should specify an amount to be earmarked by government to show its commitment to peace and rehabilitation.
Other recommendations include the following:
1) Broad consultations, to be completed within one year of the signing of the agreement, should be conducted in order to discuss the appropriate "structure of governance" that will replace the existing Autonomous Regions of Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
The women leaders noted that the dual system in the ARMM areas of coverage is ineffective and a source of conflict. Armm has not authority over the local government units, which are administered directly by the DILG.
The position paper recommended that the MILF, MNLF, LGUs, indigenous peoples organizations, internally displaced persons, civil society organizations, religious leaders, the private sector and other major stakeholders be part of these consultations.
Noting that the MILF and the MNLF have the same constituency, the position paper recommended that the two groups come to an agreement on power sharing. The recommended structure for governance should be presented to the affected population through a plebiscite in November 2004 and will take effect in 2007, giving time for massive information dissemination and preparing the people for this "new" structure of governance;
2) Socio-economic development of conflict-affected areas should be handled by a government entity to be known as the Bangsamoro Development Commission.
It means converting the existing Bangsamoro Development Agency, which is now considered an NGO, into a government entity that will manage the peace and special fund for women and children.
Noting the significant role on women in socio-economic development, the position paper stipulated that women should compose at least 30 per cent of the Bangsamoro Development Commission;
3) The Bangsamoro Development Commission shall develop a strategic development plan for making Bangsamoro areas at least at par with other areas in Mindanao.
Currently, the poorest provinces in the Philippines are in the Armm areas. The peace fund shall be used to implement the strategic plan. Women, not just male ex-combatants, should also be major beneficiaries of the socio-economic development activities since they played active roles in the war effort;
4) In choosing the leaders of the new structure, mechanisms that are culturally appropriate, including the participation of women, should be followed.
5) Create a high-level Peace Commission with appropriate authority and resources to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement. The President as a member of the Peace Commission shall appoint a Special Representative for Women and Children, patterned after the UN.
Membership should at least be 60 percent Mindanawans. And at least 30 percent of the Commission should be women;
6) Study the expansion of the coverage of codified Muslim laws to include not only personal and family laws but also property, commercial and criminal laws. The review should also include the impact of these laws on women's needs and interests.
(January 28, 2003 issue)
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