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MORO WOMEN DOMINATE GLOBAL WOMEN'S EVENT |
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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Thursday, 14 August 2003 |
Manila- Outstanding social worker Jamela Ahmad of Merci Malaysia, Social Welfare Undersecretary Omera Lucman, Governor Angging Dimaporo, ARMM Higher Education official Norma Sharief, and MSU academic Dr. Minang Dirampaten – were just some of the many participants in the recently concluded East Asia Global Women for Peace Conference held at the Manila Hotel on August 11-13.
Success stories of Muslim women and exposing the need to build bridges among East Asian countries’ women groups were just some of the highlights of the event, which convened almost a hundred women, all local government officials, NGO workers and academics from more the five countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and China. Peace was expressed through speeches, fashion (through a Ben Farrales show), paintings, songs, costumes and cultural exhibits.
Former President Corazon Aquino was awarded the Distinction for being a peace advocate, handed to her by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino is popularly known worldwide for leading the bloodless People Power or Edsa I Revolution in 1986. In her acceptance speech, she mentioned a relevant message, "No to Military Hostilities." She cited her policies (under her term) that sought to promote peace between the rebels and the government. She also cited her support for Arroyo's peace initiatives. Malaysia's Ahmad was awarded for her efforts in her NGO, Merci, which extended relief assistance to war-torn areas of Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and others.
Dr. Norma Sharief proposed for the convention to consider giving the Bangsamoro people the option of voting for independence in a UN-sponsored referendum. Event organizer Bing Pimentel said there was no need for such when her husband, Senator Aquilino Pimentel was a proponent of Federalism, which should be supported. A Tawi-Tawi delegate raised the plight of poor refugees from Sabah, who were unemployed and lacked basic services.
Advocacies of peace were raised by local government officials and NGO workers. Lanao del Norte governor Angging Dimaporo clarified that her province was not coddling the MILF and that Al-Ghozi was not in the province.
Workshop issues recognized the prevalent discrimination against Muslims in media imaging and employment, among others. The convention passed a declaration which included the upholding of international documents promoting peace and women's rights, involvement of women in peace processes, lobbying of the gender and development budget, peace education, opposing cultural constraints against women's empowerment, stopping the sex trafficking of women and children, prostitution and other issues. A Bangsamoro song calling for justice from a CD from Marawi was played during the convention's signing of the declaration.
Other Moro delegations came from CHED-ARMM, provinces of Lanao del Norte, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Mindanao State University (whose group was led by senior academics and peace activists Dr. Medaylin Acraman, Dipunudun Maruhom, Norkaya Mohammad and Dr. Minang Sharief).
Baibonn Sanguid, Sandra Isnaji and Samira Gutoc of the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) were invited as facilitators of the committee workshops on the topics - Livelihood, Education, Human Rights and Alternative Solutions to Peace.
The convention was sponsored by the Millenium Women Foundation chaired by Bing Pimentel. Other officers are Soraida Tamano, Norhata Alonto, Zenaida Pangandaman, Jamila Lucman and Rose Magsaysay.
End.
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