Appeal to Honor the Peace Agreement in the Philippines
An Appeal to the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate to Honor the Peace Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Philippines serves as a shining example in women’s participation in peace processes. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and its Annex on revenue generation and wealth-sharing, which provides for the use of public funds for gender-specific development programmes and activities is attributed to women’s leadership in the peace negotiations and strong advocacy of women’s groups and other civil society actors.
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Philippine Congress has undergone deliberation on the Bangsamoro Basic Law which would turn the Comprehensive Peace Agreement into a law. The said law is expected to be adopted in the coming months. However, the killing of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Forces and 19 civilians in a mis-encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamapasano town, Maguindanao, Southern Philippines on January 25, 2015 has put the peace process in jeopardy. Some actors are taking advantage of the Mamapasano tragedy to undermine the trust between the government and the MILF. There are even some groups already calling for a halt to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
We, the undersigned organizations condemn this recent violence in Mamapasano town, Maguindanao province, Philippines. We call for a timely, transparent and thorough investigation and prosecution. At the same time, while the investigation and quest for justice is ongoing, we urge the Philippine Congress to complete their deliberation and adopt the Bangsamoro Basic law. We express our solidarity and support to the Women Engaged in Action on the UN Securty Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and other Filipino organizations as they call for observance of the confidence-building measures that the Government of the Philippines and the MILF agreed to undertake including the turning in of the first of MILF weapons to signal the start of the decommissioning process under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro’s Annex on Normalization; and the holding of a joint security assessment for enhanced cooperation between the government and the MILF.
The international community continues to look up to the Philippines as a leader in the pursuit of peace and justice and in women’s participation in political and peace processes at all levels. It also stands ready to provide support in order to translate the words of the peace agreement into realistic actions. The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the fulfillment of the promise of long lasting peace.
In order to endorse this agreement and for further information, please contact bettyrose.gnwp@gmail.
Organizations
1. 1325 Action Group – Nepal
2. 1325 Policy Group (1325 PG) – Sweden
3. African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change/COFERD – Democratic Republic of Congo
4. Association Dea Dia – Serbia
5. Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO) – Democratic Republic of Congo
6. Centre d’études sur la Justice et la Résolution 1325 (CJR 1325) – Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Centro de Education e Investigación para la Paz (CEIPAZ) – Spain
8. Cerue Konah Garlo (of Civil Society Media Leadership Program) – Liberia
9. Coalition for Action on 1325 – Uganda
10. Colectivo de Pensamiento y Acción Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad – Colombia
11. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) – South Sudan
12. Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) – Colombia
13. EVE Organisation for Women Development – South Sudan
14. Fountaine- ISOKO for Good Governance and the Integrated Development – Burundi
15. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders – USA/International
16. Lisa International Limited – Kenya
17. Media Advocacy Group – Nepal
18. National Organization of Women – Sierra Leone
19. Rwanda Women’s Network
20. Saathi – Nepal
21. Sancharika Samuha – Nepal
22. Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo (SAFECO) – Democratic Republic of Congo
23. Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes de Violences Sexuelles (SFVS) – Democratic Republic of Congo
24. Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA) – Uganda
25. Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Resolution and Transformation Center – Palestine
26. Women Peacemakers Program – Netherlands/International
27. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – Democratic Republic of Congo
28. Women’s Solidarity Fund – Armenia and UK