We are women who experience war and know too well its bitter consequences. As bearers of life, coming from various islands of the country, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, we uphold and defend it from anything and anyone that infringes and diminishes its integrity. As grassroots community organizers, teachers, humanitarian relief workers, barangay officials, women’s rights advocates, development specialists, human rights defenders, mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, we have spent more than a decade responding to the victims and survivors of the unending conflict, helping them to rebuild lives and communities, only to see these shattered again.
We are women who experience war and know too well its bitter consequences. As bearers of life, coming from various islands of the country, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, we uphold and defend it from anything and anyone that infringes and diminishes its integrity. As grassroots community organizers, teachers, humanitarian relief workers, barangay officials, women’s rights advocates, development specialists, human rights defenders, mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, we have spent more than a decade responding to the victims and survivors of the unending conflict, helping them to rebuild lives and communities, only to see these shattered again.
We have gathered urgently at this meeting on “War Against Women, Women Against War” because of the critical situation that we see especially in Mindanao:
More than half a million women and men have already been displaced by the ongoing war, and more than half of these evacuees are children. The miserable condition of uprooted families is made even more deplorable as this is happening during the holy month of Ramadhan.
Relief and humanitarian assistance have been minimal, and in some cases have even been prevented from reaching communities already in crisis, forcing many of them into mendicancy.
Too many civilians have become “collateral damage”: children, women, elderly, but also many men who are not combatants are being killed indiscriminately by bullets and bombs.
A more dangerous situation is emerging with the arming of civilians and the stoking of ethnic and religious fears and biases.
Women are increasingly at risk, as victims in the crossfire, and from disease in evacuation centers. This war situation has made women even more vulnerable to kidnapping as in the current case of two women NGO workers in Basilan.
At this gathering, we told our stories and listened to each other, drawing strength and courage to take collective action. The picture of this war has become very clear to us. This is not a religious war. It is the contention over resources and political control that discriminates against the legitimate birthright of the Bangsamoro.
In the light of this current crisis we bring the following message particularly to the government :
Stop the war! Stop the military offensives, especially the aerial bombings. Restore the ceasefire mechanisms and give the civilians space to survive. How many more thousands of lives must be sacrificed in the punitive pursuit of two or three MILF commanders?
Ensure that humanitarian protection especially basic food assistance reaches all victims including those in the hinterlands. Uphold the safety and dignity of all persons even in armed conflict. This government has the primary obligation to undertake rehabilitation to bring the displaced families back to normalcy and security.
Ban the arming of civilians that will escalate the violence and may lead to communal strife. Or will this be used as an excuse to declare emergency powers?
Earnestly pursue a peace process that is inclusive, transparent and just, towards the achievement of self- determination of the Bangsamoro and all peoples of Mindanao. Insisting on Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) as a precondition further closes the doors to peace negotiations.
Instead of spending billions on this war that cannot be won, provide basic services and implement asset and social justice reforms that are due to all citizens.
As women who have been dreaming and working for peace, we hold our woman president and this government accountable! It is their obligation to end this war and put things right. We strongly urge the president to exert her leadership towards the attainment of a just and lasting peace over the land.
Participants of the War on Women, Women Against War
A Women’s Workshop on Peace and Conflict
September 16-17, 2008
Davao City
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