On Sunday, January 25, 2015, a bloody mis-encounter between the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine Police and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cost the lives of 67 people on both sides including civilians, endangering the current peace negotiations as well as deliberations in Congress on the Bangsamoro Basic Law draft.
Members of the WPP community in Asia grieve with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives in the violent incident, and we join our partners from the Philippines in their call to stop the ongoing war in Mindanao that is causing a humanitarian crisis as well as their call for the Philippine Congress to continue deliberations on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. The adoption of the Bangsamoro Basic Law will enable the implementation of the normalization mechanisms which include the decommissioning of weapons and disbandment of private armed groups. With the Bangsamoro peace process being in a crucial phase, we appeal to all stakeholders involved in the process to not let the efforts for a peaceful solution be weakened by this eruption of violence and urge for continuing deliberations of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. As one of our WPP Asia members, Jo Genna Jover from the Kutawato Council for Justice and Peace expressed: “We are tired of living in fear here in Maguindanao. I call on our legislators, the government and MILF to pursue peace for all. No more violence!”
We therefore express our strong support for the continuation of the negotiations to adopt a Bangsamoro Basic Law that will give greater autonomy to the Bangsamoro people, to prevent more bloodshed and to build a peaceful, progressive and nonviolent society, with men and women working as partners together, for all!
For more information, please also read the article of Jasmin Nario-Galace "Women Count for Peace", published March 9, 2015.
Read also the statement of the Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement (MPPM): "MPPM Statement on Mamasapano Incident: Call for Sobriety and Reason"
12 Dec '17 Today, we are pleased to share with you the Conference Report “Financial Inclusion for Freedom and Security” by the Women Peacemakers Program, Duke Law International Human Rights Clinic, Human Security Collective, Transnational Institute, the Charity & Security Network, in cooperation with the Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law.
7 Dec '17 Today, on the 13th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, we bring you the sad news that from 15 December onwards, the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) will have to close its doors. We would like to ask for your time to read what has driven us to make this decision.
7 Nov '17 On Thursday, 26 October 2017, a side event entitled, “Pulling the Rug from Under Our Feet: What is the UNSCR 1325 Without Civil Society Freedoms?” was hosted on the margins of the 17th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. The event was hosted by the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) and the Dutch Mission, in collaboration with Duke Law’s International Human Rights Clinic, Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development, Arab Women Organisation of Jordan, NOVACT, Free Sight Association, Iraqi Al-Amal Association, Women Empowerment Organisation, NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. This article briefly looks at the main issues discussed during the event.
