3rd National Conference Muslim Women 2012

Recognizing women’s unique roles especially during conflict and their capacities for peace building and conflict resolution, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) has endeavored to develop Muslim women – particularly the religious teachers – as leaders to advance peace in Mindanao.
Since 2001, PCID and the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) have been conducting workshops, focus group discussions and training sessions for Muslim women religious teachers. In collaboration with Muslim women civil society leaders, these initiatives were to dispel the detachment of the Aleemat from more secular concerns, and encourage them to join forces with other women, to become peace advocates as well as agents of change.

In 2009, the PCID and MKFI organized a series of training for the Aleemat and Muslim women leaders on conflict prevention, peacemaking, and civic education while building their network. With support from Japan Foundation and One Woman Initiative (OWI), PCID  and MKFI hosted the National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates for three consecutive years, (2010, 2011, and 2012) to culminate each year of training.

The first conference was held in January 2010 with the theme, Noorus Salam:
Women of Faith, Light of Peace.
Noorus Salam Board of Trustees, representing different provinces from all over the country showed their unity for the launching of the Women’s Peace Table led by the Mindanao Commission on Women Chair Irene Santiago supported by Sen. Santanina Rasul, OPAPP Asst. Secretary Jehanne Mutin-Mapupuno, MinDA’s Camila Inete and PCID President Amina Rasul during the opening dinner ceremonies of the 3rd National Conference Muslim Women Peace Advocates at Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City.

Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates The second, held in February 2011, carried the theme, Noorus Salam: From  Vision to Action, From Conflict to Peace. The third, and subject of this report, was held from March 31 to April 3, 2012 in Zamboanga City with the theme, Empowered Women of Faith, Rebuilding Peace.
A total of 133 aleemat and women peace advocates from Luzon, Visayas, and majority from Mindanao gathered for this 3rd national conference to discuss Economic and Political Empowerment as Dividends of Peace. The conference was held at the Lantaka Hotel in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Forty-two delegates were from the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato; 30 from Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte; and five from Visayas and Metro Manila. The Zambasulta delegation comprised of 20 participants from Zamboanga, 14 from Sulu and 11 each from the island provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan (the complete list of participants is provided in this publication).