At the Special Forum, leaders and advocates from Southeast Asia (SEA) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions gathered to strengthen regional collaboration for peace and security. This event provided a vital platform for exchanging experiences, exploring shared priorities, and establishing meaningful partnerships that transcend borders. The Special Forum aimed to build a network of support, commitment, and action to advance the WPS agenda and create a safer, more inclusive world for all.

Speakers Included:

• Amina Rasul-Bernardo, President of PCID
• Nurul Izzah Anwar, representative of the Government of the Day of Malaysia
• Dr. Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, a member of ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR)
• H.E. Artauli RMP Tobing, Indonesian Representative of ASEAN – IPR Advisory Board
• H.E. Koung Sorita, Secretary of State, Cambodia Ministry of Women’s Affairs
• Mitra Modaress, Representative of The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID
• Dwi Rubiyanti Kholifah, Country Director for the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN)
• Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE, Founder and CEO, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
• Norul Mohamed Rashid, Policy Advisor from UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Special Thanks to Partners

For the Special Forum, PCID thanks our partners, namely:

• Brigham Young University (BYU) International Center for Law and Religion Studies
• International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID
• Sasakawa Peace Foundation
• The Asia Foundation
• Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP)
• University of the Philippines Law Center
• University of the Philippines Women Lawyers’ Circle
• University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance
• Mindanao State University
• United States Institute of Peace
• Embassy of Switzerland
• The Australian Government
• The United Nations Development Programme
• The United Kingdom Government

Core Organizing Partners

For the overall ICWPS, PCID collaborated with:

• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
• Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU)
• Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)
• Presidential Communications Office (PCO)
• UN Women
• ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR)

Together, we are building stronger regional networks for a more peaceful and inclusive future.

#ICWPS2024 #WomenPeaceSecurity #BridgingRegionsForWomenPeaceSecurity

A day before the Marawi Siege’s 6th anniversary, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), UP Law Center’s Institute for Administrative Justice and Islamic Studies Program, and the Mindanao State University (MSU), with technical assistance from Impact Publishing, held the #EyesOnMarawi Forum to discuss the lived realities of Marawi’s internally displaced persons (IDPs). On Monday, May 22, speakers Atty. Saliha Lalanto, Amb. Macabangkit Lanto, Dr. Steven Muncy, and Rep. Zia-Ur Rahman Adiong took part in the panel discourse moderated by Atty. Senando Angelo Santiago. 

The Marawi Siege alarmed the nation when it incited the flight of around 350,000 people and left more than 1,000 dead in its wake. According to MSU President Atty. Basari Mapupuno, the brutal destruction involved burned schools, mosques and churches, bombings, attacks on the city jail, and the slaughter of civilians. “These are scenes that many survivors or IDPs witnessed and carried with them in their long journey into [the] night,” he said.

Plight of the IDPs

For these damages, Rep. Adiong emphasized the need for a comprehensive rehabilitation of Marawi, covering 5 areas: “livelihood, education and health, women, peace and order, and infrastructure.” He also lamented the Philippine government’s prioritization of restoring public infrastructure while overlooking other areas. 

Dr. Muncy added to these insights, pointing out the lack of permanent housing for the displaced. While several IDPs have successfully applied for permits to rebuild their homes, Dr. Muncy reported “little construction has begun as many lack the required financial resources.” He recommended that the government provide the poorest of IDPs with both livelihood assistance and socialized housing.   

Struggle for Compensation and Social Healing

All eyes are now on the Marawi Compensation Board as victims of the Marawi Siege look to rebuild their lives. Atty. Saliha Lalanto remained optimistic about the Board’s potential as a mechanism for transitional justice. She tagged it as “an instrument that will drive the IDPs to not only reconstruct their homes but also normalize their lives, restoring them to the way they lived before the Siege.” 

Rep. Adiong, in a later response, added that compensation alone is insufficient compared to the enduring trauma experienced by the affected individuals. PCID President Amina Rasul-Bernardo emphasized that “[the] rehabilitation process is not solely about rebuilding infrastructure or providing basic services. It goes far beyond that. It encompasses the healing of wounds, both physical and psychological, the restoration of livelihoods, the reestablishment of social cohesion, and the empowerment of individuals and communities. It is about fostering hope and resilience, while honoring the cultural heritage and identity of the people of Marawi.”

National Government’s Obligation to Marawi 

Describing the siege as “[the Philippines’] worst devastation at the hands of other Filipinos,” Amb. Lanto further emphasized that militarization would not provide a solution and warned against transforming Marawi into a garrison city which would compromise the Islamic City’s sanctity. 

Recalling that much of the destruction was caused by Philippine military airstrikes, Rep. Adiong expressed profound sadness that the city was devastated by air bombs rather than ground combat. Although he believes that the “only way to liberate Marawi [was] to destroy Marawi,” Rep. Adiong asserted that rehabilitating Marawi is the responsibility of the Philippine state given the immense damage it has caused.

The ASEAN Society Philippines, supported by the Embassy of Canada, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and the University of the Philippines’ forum on “Radicalization in Southeast Asia” on Tuesday, held on 28 January 2020, from 12:30PM to 4:00PM. at the Case Room located at the ground floor of Henry Sy, Sr. Hall of the University of the Philippines-BGC, Taguig City. Main discussant was Dr. Kenneth Christie, the Program Head and Professor of Human Security and Peacebuilding graduate programs at the Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C..

Programme flow:
Welcome Remarks by Ambassador Delia D. Albert, Chairman, ASEAN Society Philippines
Introduction of Guest, Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco, National Contact Point, Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions – European Commission
RADICALIZATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA discussion by guest Speaker,Dr. Kenneth Christie
Reactor – Atty. Mikhail Maxino, Director, Salonga Center for Law and Development, Silliman University
Open Forum
Closing Remarks by Warren Mucci,Political and Public Affairs Counsellor, Embassy of Canada”

“The ASEAN Economic Community: Cooperation Amidst Diversity” Forum, with guest speaker, ADB President Takehiko Nakao held on 25 November 2019.

ADB President Nakao speaks at joint UP and ASEAN Society Philippines Forum. He spoke how Manila was chosen as ADB HQ, and shared his views on the importance of legal principles and reforms in nation building, the relevance of ASEAN to economic cooperation in Asia, and ADB’s deeper relationship with the Philippines. The Forum was held at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City “UP Law Center, UP College of Law.  Mr. Nakao shared his perspectives on the future of ASEAN  Economic Community amidst  rising populist trends and ensuing economic shifts, and the role of the Asian Development Bank in the region.

April 2018 Post-Conflict Expectations Survey_July 18_1212 PM V2

]]> 2128 https://www.pcid.com.ph/story/consultative-forum-on-the-role-of-the-religious-sector-in-building-community-resiliency-against-violent-extremism-lb-soriano-hall-seameo-innotech-quezon-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=consultative-forum-on-the-role-of-the-religious-sector-in-building-community-resiliency-against-violent-extremism-lb-soriano-hall-seameo-innotech-quezon-city Sun, 03 Dec 2017 05:08:21 +0000 http://www.pcid.com.ph/?post_type=story&p=1931

SYNTHESIS

The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) conducted a consultative forum entitled “The Role of the Religious in Building Community Resiliency Against Violent Extremism”, held from December 2 to 3, 2017 at the SEAMEO Innotech in Quezon City. It aimed to produce an output coming from the Muslim religious leaders on the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) in their communities, as well as capacitate them in community peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Forum discussions focus on defining violent extremism, updates on the rehabilitation of Marawi after the siege, recommended measures that the Muslim religious leaders provided in advancing the PVE initiative, and the crafting of a PVE action plan to address the emergence and recurrence of radicalization in their communities.

A set of breakout sessions were conducted to gather inputs, thoughts, and recommendations from the Muslim religious on the important initiatives to prevent and combat violent extremism in their communities. First, they have witnessed and confirmed that the government did not completely succeed in eradicating extremism in Marawi. According to them, a recurrence can happen if basic needs, human rights, and genuine autonomy is not completely granted to them. Second, they recommended measures that will deter radicalization in the long-term such as peace education, deradicalization initiatives, and capacity-building in information technology among others. Finally, they have devised a comprehensive action plan in dealing with such eventualities. They called on the government to cooperate with them in the following initiatives of the said action plan: strengthening linkages and networks; more dialogues and outreach; strengthen and capacitate Madarasah Education for Muslim teachers and the youth; re-integrating converts to Islam in traditional Muslim communities; developing articulation and maintenance of peace efforts and narratives; and continuous engagement with conventional and non-conventional media.

Venue is at GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium on July 28, 2016 1-4 pm.

See you there!