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Message The WIM-RAMP has been accompanied by UNDP with support from:The Power ofWomen Mediatorsin Sustaining Peace– UN Resolution1325

In 2014, a landmark agreement was signed between the Government of Philippinesand the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signifying the commitment of both parties toattain a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Bangsamoro region. TheComprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) recognized the justness andlegitimacy of the Bangsamoro cause and aspiration for meaningful self-governance.The agreement also put forward the protection and enhancement of theBangsamoro people’s right to human dignity; the reduction of social, economic andpolitical inequalities; the acknowledgment of the Bangsamoro people’s identity andlegitimate grievances as well as the rectification of historical injustices committedagainst the Bangsamoro; and the removal of cultural inequities among theinhabitants within the Bangsamoro region. Ten years after the signing of the CAB, critical transitions and transformationsunder the two tracks of the peace agreement – the Political Transition track andthe Normalization track – can be observed. Under the Political Transition track,the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(BARMM) has paved the way in laying the foundations of meaningful self-governance through the legislations passed by the Bangsamoro TransitionAuthority and the different programs and services delivered by the BARMMGovernment. Aligned with the Normalization track, the transition of formercombatants into peaceful and productive civilian lives and the transformation ofconflict-affected areas into progressive and cohesive communities have helpedfacilitate the strengthening of human security in the region. Underpinning these is the critical role played by women as agents of change forpeace and development in their respective communities. Over the course ofimplementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements, we witnessed morewomen becoming empowered to play crucial roles in peacebuilding andgovernment in the BARMM. Indeed, the history of the Bangsamoro peaceprocess is full of stories of women taking on crucial roles as advocates,facilitators, mediators and peacebuilders. Stories of hope, agency and resilienceamong Bangsamoro women in the face of multiple risks and vulnerabilitiesarising from armed conflict, poverty, natural hazards and more recently, theCOVID-19 pandemic, document their significant contributions in protecting andsustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process.“Women cannot just standbehind men. We stand side-by-side with them to achieve ouraspirations for long-lastingpeace in our communities.” Ms. Baina SamayatinExecutive Director, Moro WomenDevelopment and Cultural Center"The value that I see is that before, womenare not really recognized by men in thecommunity. Along the way, when they sawhow we have frequently engaged incommunity organizing and advocacy, WIM-RAMP slowly became known and women’scapacities to undertake mediation wasrecognized."Ms. Derhana Maguid AdilExecutive Director, Women Insider forMindanaoan Peace and DevelopmentSince the signing of the CAB, there has also been a notable rise in women'sinvolvement in governance and peace processes at the national and local levels.Women are actively engaged in implementing peace mediation and peaceadvocacies. Notably, the Philippines stands out as the first country to have afemale chief negotiator – Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer – who signed a final peaceaccord during the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Significant efforts are still required to empower women at the grassroots levelto take charge of their own well-being, support their communities, andengage in local conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and post-conflictrehabilitation initiatives. The participation of women, particularly thosedirectly affected by conflict, is crucial. Their diverse experiences of conflict andits consequences offer unique perspectives on political, economic, and socio-cultural issues, as well as strategies for promoting human rights and welfare,and devising solutions to end conflict and achieve lasting peace.SDG 16 in Action The Philippine Government is committed to deep economic and socialtransformation by ensuring inclusive growth through equal opportunities for allFilipinos as outlined in its Development Plan 2023-2028. The Government isexerting all efforts to achieve peace and ensure national security by ensuringthat conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas are protected and developed,quality of life is safeguarded from criminality, and communities are kept safefrom natural hazards and other security threats. Specifically, one of the keydeliverables of the Philippine Government is to ensure the completion of thecommitments of signed peace agreements and help former combatants, theirfamilies and conflict-affected communities to return to civilian life. Recognizingthe importance of peacebuilding, the government is also focused on healing,reconciliation and countering terrorism and extremism. The Philippines is the first country in Asia to develop a National Action Plan inresponse to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace andSecurity. In 2010, after collaborative initiatives between the government and civilsociety organizations, the Philippines launched its first National Action Plan onWomen, Peace and Security towards promoting women’s inclusion andparticipation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations,peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflictreconstruction. In December 2023, the Philippines launched the fourthgeneration of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security covering2023-2033.Additionally, under the Bangsamoro Women Commission's leadership and withsupport from UNDP and UNW, the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on Women,Peace, and Security (RAP-WPS) 2023-2028 was launched in October 2023. Thisplan underscores the crucial role of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding,and governance in the Bangsamoro region, aligning with UN SCR 1325. Moreimportantly, the Bangsamoro RAP-WPS 2023-2028 reiterates the Bangsamorogovernment's steadfast commitment to ensuring that there can be no genuine,just and sustainable peace and development without the meaningful inclusionand participation of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and governancein the region."Our participation in this group is importantbecause, through this, we were able to address theproblems encountered by IP women. We were alsoable to facilitate advocacies. We were able toeducate many IP women and youth on the issue ofWomen, Peace and Security, which includes efforts Ms. Aileen Kesa Marie Hualde Executive Director, Women Organizationof Rajah Mamalu Descendantsagainst gender-based violence, violenceagainst women and children, andchampioning women’s rights.""We also ensure that the local governmentunits will recognize the WIM-RAMP, and, upto the regional level, the Ministries withprograms related to the mandate of WIM-RAMP."Hadja Giobay Diocolano Executive Director, Kadtabanga Foundationfor Peace and Development Advocates Inc.

You can also add a blurb to let readers know what each article is about.Two sentences will do!www.reallygreatsite.comUNDP Philippines plays a vital role in fostering peace in Mindanao, particularly in theBangsamoro Autonomous Region. Launched with the support of UNDP and theBangsamoro Women commission in March 2021, the Women Insider Mediators Rapid Actionand Mobilization Platform (WIM-RAMP) is a group of community-based womenpeacebuilders and mediators from civil society organizations, government, Mororevolutionary fronts and Indigenous Peoples communities who are committed to changingattitudes, fostering dialogue and resolving conflicts peacefully. The impact of WIM-RAMP is tangible. It contributed to the formulation of the BangsamoroRegional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security 2023-2028, emphasizing women'spivotal role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. WIM-RAMP members have beenacknowledged for their contributions to maintaining peace and safety, notably during the2023 Barangay and SK elections. Additionally, training programs have equipped womenleaders from different groups with transformative leadership skills, enabling them toarticulate their Peace, Security, and Development Agenda.Moreover, WIM-RAMP's achievements extend to grassroots levels, with membersestablishing local organizations and facilitating conflict resolution initiatives within theircommunities. Their inclusivity and nuanced understanding of the regional context havebeen instrumental in bridging divides and fostering sustainable peace. By embracing allstakeholders, including those perceived as opposition, WIM-RAMP exemplifies effectiveconflict resolution and peacebuilding practices in the BARMM.From capacity-building initiatives to information and communication dissemination topeace mediation, to local government engagement and network-building, the WIM-RAMPhas been involved in an array of interventions aimed at helping cement women’s role inpeace and development in the Bangsamoro. Since its launch, the WIM-RAMP has expandedits initial core membership from 30 to more than 157 women peacebuilders and mediatorsfrom all BARMM provinces, including communities in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte andZamboanga Peninsula. Snapshot of UNDP’s work