Office of the President of the Philippines

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

2013 Peace Month Celebration

Transitional Justice Forum and Small Group Discussions Series:

The Road to Justice, Healing and Reconciliation in the Post-conflict / Post Agreement Philippines

I. Background

It was during the administration of Pres. Gloria Arroyo when September was declared as

the National Peace Consciousness Month. Since then, various activities and events are held

every September to raise awareness on the comprehensive peace process and overall peace

efforts. At the forefront of this month-long celebration is the Office of the Presidential

Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) whose main mission is not just to make the

attainment of peace possible, but also for everyone to understand that such undertaking is

not the responsibility of the government alone, rather of all Filipinos – despite our ethnic,

religious and gender differences.

In support of this year’s overall theme, “Lahat ay Peace-sible,” a series of conferences both

at the national and local levels are being held, as an attempt to provide an avenue for

stakeholders to envision a “post-conflict, post-agreement” society and assess what these

stakeholders can contribute in ensuring that the realization of a just and lasting peace is

indeed possible.

The peace negotiations happening between the government and the political armed groups

can only address the vertical conflict between the state and non-state actors. The bigger

challenge is sustaining the gains achieved on the peace table.

Given this challenge, we need to begin to imagine and prepare for this post- agreement

scenario. It is for this purpose that forums and small group discussions shall be held on

Economic-Political Reintegration and Healing and Reconciliation/ Transitional Justice.

They shall intend to begin national conversations between and among government and

non-government peace partners on what needs to be done to ensure that peace is sustained

and the resurgence of armed conflicts is prevented.

National and local resource speakers shall be invited to provide the theoretical handle on

the conversation. The target audience shall include the national and local government

agencies, the business community, the academe, international and local non-government

organizations, and other stakeholders of the peace process.

II. Objectives

The activity is guided by the following objectives:

A. To discuss the gains of the peace tables; and,

B. To problematize and discuss what needs to be done by the different relevant sectors to

sustain the gains of the peace table.

III. Activity Description and Mechanics

Date Venue Activity Resource Speakers and

Topics

8 October

2013

(Tuesday)

Edsa Shangri-la

Plaza Hotel

1 Garden Way

Ortigas Center,

Mandaluyong

City

A. Sub-Cabinet Meeting with

Ms. Caitlin Reiger

Time: 2PM-5PM

B. Cabinet Secretaries

Meeting with Ms. Caitlin

Reiger

Time: 6PM-9PM

Government Agencies:

DOJ, DSWD, DILG DAR,

DENR, DEPED, CHED,

NEDA, NSC, PHRC, CHR,

NCIP, PNP, AFP, OPAPP

(tentative)

Expected Number: 40

participants each

Topic:

Role of Justice,

Healing and

Reconciliation in the

Post-conflict / Post

Agreement Scenario

Best Practices of

TJ

Challenges

9 October

2013

(Wednesday)

La Breza Hotel

Mother

Ignacia,

Quezon City

A. OPAPP Meeting with Ms.

Caitlin Reiger

Time: 9AM-1PM

Participants:

Secretary Management

Committee

GPH- CNN Panel

GPH - MILF Panel

(tentative)

Expected Number: 50

participants

B. Forum on Transitional

Justice

Time:

2:00PM-6:00PM (Forum)

6:00PM-8:00PM

(Cocktails)

Participants: Government

Agencies, International

and Local non-

1. Caitlin Reiger:

Role of Justice,

Healing and

Reconciliation in

the Post-conflict /

Post Agreement

Scenario

Best Practices

of TJ

Challenges

2. Atty. Laisa

Alamiah:

The Role and

Significance of

Traditional Justice

Mechanisms and

Practices in the

Design and

Implementation of

a Transitional

Justice

Program for the

Bangsamoro

government institutions,

Academe, and Media

Expected Number: 150

participants

3. Undersecretary

Maria Cleofe

Gettie C. Sandoval:

Gender dimension

to Justice

Effects of the

conflict on

women and girls

LNAP in the

ARMM and

how it should

inform a TJ

Program

Program for the Forum shall be as follows:

1:00 Registration

2:00 Opening Ceremonies

2:10 Welcome Remarks

2:30 Role of Justice, Healing and Reconciliation in the Post-conflict/ Post Agreement

Scenario

Ms. Caitlin Reiger, International Committee on Transitional Justice (ICTJ)

3:15 (BREAK)

3:30 The Role and Significance of Traditional Justice Mechanisms and Practices in the

Design and Implementation of a Transitional Justice Program for the Bangsamoro

Atty. Laisa Alamiah, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

4:15 TJ’s Role in sustaining the gains of the peace process/ Gender dimension to Justice

Undersecretary Maria Cleofe Gettie C. Sandoval, OPAPP

5:00 Open Forum / Q & A

5:45 Closing Remarks

6:00 C O C K T A I L S

IV. Expected Output / Deliverables

The activities are expected to result to:

A. Increased awareness and consciousness of the Comprehensive Peace Process (Peace

Tables, Gains, Challenges, Lessons Learned)

B. Clarification and outlining of the roles and commitments of relevant stakeholders

particularly the Government, Academe, Civil Society and Business Sector, in sustaining

just and lasting peace

C. Promotion of a Culture of Peace that is based on Respect for the Basic Human Rights

and Principles

D. Strengthened relationships and solidarity among relevant stakeholders