VZCZCXRO6319
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2303/01 1900748
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 090748Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7318
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//FPA//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KWMN EAID RP
SUBJECT: MINDANAO WOMEN CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE 
 
REF: 06 MANILA 4558 
 
¶1. (U) Summary. Civil society groups are actively contributing to 
the peace process in Mindanao, including some impressive women's 
organizations.  The Mission continues its outreach to and support of 
many such groups as part of our overall strategy of advancing the 
peace process in Mindanao. End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Bangsamoro Women's Foundation for Peace and Development 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  During a June 20-22 visit to Cotabato City with DCM 
(septel), POL intern met with leaders of two key women's groups who 
are actively promoting the peace process while supporting women's 
empowerment in the region.  The Bangsamoro Women's Foundation for 
Peace and Development was established shortly after the 1996 peace 
agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro National 
Liberation Front (MNLF).  The Foundation, with about 17,000 members 
throughout the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), works to 
improve women's participation in politics and to better the lives of 
women in Mindanao through livelihood enhancement programs and 
employment assistance.  In addition, its staff conducts trainings on 
combating domestic violence and promoting gender sensitivity. 
 
¶3.  (U)  The Foundation played a key role in identifying 
beneficiaries for USAID's "LEAP" Program to reintegrate former MNLF 
combatants over the past decade, as well as in contributing to the 
Asia Foundation's Barangay/Municipal Planning and Budgeting Program 
and a UNFPA-assisted maternal and child primary and reproductive 
health care program. 
 
¶4. (U) Currently, the Foundation is implementing a State 
Department-funded project under EAP's Women's Issues Fund.  The 
US$64,000 project began in September 2006 and has organized women's 
associations and cooperatives in ten of the more isolated 
communities of the ARMM.  The Foundation provides training and 
technical assistance to these associations on economic livelihood, 
financial management, and marketing skills.  The project has a 
second component devoted to women's empowerment and increased 
political participation; the staff has conducted training for women 
on leadership arbitration and mediation, gender development, women's 
rights, and team building. 
 
¶5. (U) The leaders of the Foundation reiterated that their larger 
mission is to improve the prospects for peace and development in 
Mindanao via increased women's participation in the political 
process and to increase the economic independence of Muslim women in 
the ARMM.  While strongly supportive of a peace agreement between 
the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 
(MILF) as the only way in which lasting peace and stability will 
truly take root, they expressed little optimism that the two sides 
can forge an accord very soon.  They nonetheless voiced their 
gratitude to the USG for our funding of their programs and for our 
contributions to peace in Mindanao. 
 
------------------------------------- 
The Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum encourages greater 
political awareness and participation of Bangsamoro women throughout 
the ARMM, in recognition of the traditional under-representation of 
women in ARMM politics.  One of its core goals is to facilitate a 
more active role for women in the ongoing peace talks between the 
Philippine Government and the MILF; the Forum is an "official 
observer" to these negotiations.  The Forum has set up public fora 
in major cities and towns within the ARMM not only to educate women 
about the status of the ongoing talks but more importantly to hear 
the opinions of Mindanao residents and give them a venue to raise 
specific concerns. 
 
¶7. (U) Forum officials also work to educate women on human rights 
laws and to help them with legal issues, including a Human Rights 
Education and Paralegal Training seminar in Jolo.  Under the 
umbrella of the Local Governance Support Program in the ARMM (LGSPA) 
-- funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) -- 
the Forum is now taking part in post-May 14 election assessments in 
the ARMM. 
 
¶8. (U) Forum leaders expressed strong support for peace talks, which 
they noted were an essential component in achieving durable peace 
and development in Mindanao. However, they also noted doubts of a 
final accord in the very near future.  They have encouraged both 
sides to take into full consideration the views of Mindanao's women 
during the negotiations and in the post-accord era.  They welcomed 
international assistance in bringing greater peace and prosperity to 
the people of Mindanao. 
 
MANILA 00002303  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
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Comment 
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¶9. (SBU) Women throughout Mindanao have traditionally been 
politically and economically disenfranchised, with a few notable 
exceptions such as former Senator Santanina Tillah Rasul.  Civil 
society such as these women's groups is now actively contributing to 
the peace process in Mindanao.  The Mission continues its outreach 
to and support of many such groups as part of our overall strategy 
of advancing the peace process in Mindanao. 
 
KENNEY