Davao City - - The Mindanao Commission on Women and the Mothers for Peace Movement announced today that they welcome the appointment of Dr. Grace Jimeno-Rebollos, to the GRP Peace Panel negotiating with the MILF.

The appointment was made a month after the two entities formally submitted a letter to Pres. Arroyo requesting her to appoint qualified women to be members of the panel.

“The appointment of a woman to the GRP peace panel is critical. Witthout women’s participation, sustainable peace is just not possible,” said MCW CEO and Chair Irene M. Santiago. Dr. Rebollos is president of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) and co-convenor of the Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ).

“Her joining the panel will surely be a significant step towards putting forth a women’s agenda in the peace negotiations,” Santiago added.

The letter was personally handed to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Annabelle T. Abaya during the Mindanao Women’s Congress “Kamindanawan 2010” on Feb. 4 to 5 in Davao City. The women urged the government to immediately act on a concern made by the UN Security Council over women’s continued underrepresentation in formal peace processes.

The UN Security Council stated this concern in UN Security Council 1325 on women, peace and security. The Resolution calls on all member states to increase the participation of women in decision-making and peace processes and to institute gender perspectives and training from peace negotiations to peacekeeping initiatives.

The Philippines has complied with the UN’s call with the adoption of “The Philippine National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security: Implementing the UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820.” The plan, adopted through Executive Order 865 issued on I March 2010, will be launched on March 25.

Related Updates:

Letter to the President: Appoint a Woman Representative to the Peace Panel, March 12, 2010

GRP, MILF must heed UN’s call for women representation in peace process, October 8, 2009

Resources:

UN: Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security (October 2000)