Women and Armed Conflict

By Karen TañadaApril 16, 2005

Marcelo Fernan Press Center,Cebu City

Effects of the Armed conflict on Women

1. WOMEN AS DIRECT VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICT

Victims of armed conflict experience the conflict through arrests, disappearances, salvaging/ frustrated

salvages, evacuations, death in evacuations, foodblockades, divestment of property, destruction of

property, harassments, casualties due to crossfire.(Quintos-Deles, 1993, using monitoring data of theTask Force Detainess of the Philippines (TFDP))

Main effects on women atlocal level

economic dislocation; intense sense of insecurity; sexual harassment or assault; unraveling of traditional social structures and

relations; and undermining if not dispersal of women’s

organizations

Women are affected differently than men

Women and men in Dalengaoen, Pikit, North Cotabato argued as the men were in favor of arming themselves

while the women said that the resort to arms would attract more violence. Widows of men killed in the

AFP-MILF conflicts also faced the additional burden of having to seek work to supplement their income, aside from caring for their children and their farms.

Upon returning to their communities from evacuation, women also have to cope with the absence of water and health facilities and loss of productive assets. “Social Assessment of Conflict-Affected Areas in

Mindanao“ (World Bank, 2003)

2. WOMEN AS SUPPORT SYSTEM

Military related prostitution Forced or cheap labor for camps Military/revolutionary wives

Innabuyog, a regional alliance of indigenous women in the Cordillera has documented 98 cases of abandoned women and 119 cases

of abandoned children of soldiers stationed in the Cordillera in a span of ten years.

(Yocogan-Diano, 2004)

3. WOMEN AS COMBATANTS

- Women in PMA, women in the field?- Women in the MNLF and MILF- Women in NPA

4. WOMEN AS INDIRECT VICTIMS

Size of military budget in relation to that for health, social services

Creation of a culture of violence Dominance of military men in government and

politics

During the Ramos administration, 52 military officers were appointed to strategic agencies, and 34 during the first 22 months of Macapagal-Arroyo’s first term. They occupied cabinet, executive office, and ambassadorial posts. Many held key positions in the transportation and communications department and related agencies, in public corporations, and special economic zones.

From 1987 to 2001, fifty-two former military officers ran for various elective posts; twenty won their posts

(Gloria, 2003)

Women’s peace building at community levels

finding ways to alleviate economic hardships, resisting and neutralizing the effects of

militarization; mediating between the community and armed

groups, and organizing.

Women at Regional and National Levels

PAZ (Peace Advocates Zamboanga) Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good

Government (CCAGG) Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet Negros Cordillera Peoples’ Forum Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus

Women-led National Initiatives

National Peace Conference Coalition for Peace Peace Education Network Sulong CARHRIHL

Metro-Manila based National NGOs/Programs in Peace Work

Balay Rehabilitation Center University of the Philippines of Third World Studies UP Center for Integrative Development Studies

Peace (UP-CIDS) on Democratization and Human Rights Program,

Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women (TWMAE-W)

Balik Kalipay Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute

Human Rights Organizations

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines PhilRights Amnesty International-Pilipinas Karapatan ECDFC Advocacy for the International Criminal Court

Assessing Women’s Role in:

Inter-religious dialogue Peace zones and other community initiatives Citizen’s 3rd party advocacy and monitoring emerging Bangsamoro civil society

Some Examples of Women’s Exemplary Practices

Bangsamoro Women Peace and Development Efforts (FBW)

Mindanao Commission on Women Peace Advocacy (Mothers for Peace)

Balik Kalipay and Child to Child Campaigns Al Mujadillah – gender engaging Islam East Asia Puerto Rico Women’s Network against

Militarism Comfort women’s struggle for memory and justice Lumad Women Peace Summit (October 2004)