BANGSAMORO women leaders urged DPCW to end Global War

By Marilie Bomediano
Gangnam-South Korea
September 21, 2016



More than 1,000 women from 100 countries came together on peace week with one message – end armed conflict happening in the world. Held in Gangnam, South Korea on September 18, the 2^nd Annual WARP Summit brought together world political, religious leaders and media to discuss matters relating to peace legislation. The Bangsamoro women leaders representing the Maguindanao attended the summit in response to the continued armed conflict in the region.


Our Bangsamoro women advocated under the wings of the International Women's Peace Group (IWPG, Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim) who urged for the implementation of an international law for peace and cessation of war at its 2016 IWPG Network Forum hosted in the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Grand Intercontinental Seoul on the 19th of September marking the 2nd Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit.



Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), its spiritual discernment and reconciliation is the Bangsamoro‘s aim, executed by the Maguindanao Women For Peace and Development Organisation Inc (MWPDO), who has previously resonated the peace advocacy in their regions, now have joined the discussions with  former presidents and first ladies and convened  at the 2016 IWPG Network Forum 

Philippine’s MWPDO President Bai Jennah Mangudadato Lumawan of  MWPDO attended, accompanied by Helen Laud  Piang (Board of Trustee MWPDO) and her daughter Pearl Joy Laud  Piang, (MWPDO member). The three delegates attended the WARP Summit voluntarily at their own return trip expense to pursue the peace advocacy of their regions.

Legislate Peace Campaign: For more information please click www.peacelaw.org

ASIA 2 Media Forum facilitator: Philippines’ media attendee, writer and director John Paul Seniel, an independent documentary film producer (Mindanao documentaries) and senior news editor GMA News Davao explains more about the 2nd WARP Summit:

The Philippine Bangsamoro women leaders has actively joined the summit’s world female leaders  in Gangnam to urge for the implementation of International Law, the DPCW  towards Global Peace and the Reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

"All regions in Maguindanao must become one and spread peace through signing campaigns to support the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War", President MWPDO Bai Jennah M. Lumawan

“to our HWPL Chairman  Man  Hee  Lee, to our beloved Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim, we are so thankful  for inviting us here again in South Korea for the second time . I am amazed of the presentations, and I am very happy and very thankful that  the people almost around the world joined this summit, Helen Laud  Piang sends their Mindanaoan heartfelt  greetings.

The first reason I joined this committee is because I wish peace and grace not only for my hometown but also in the Philippines and the entire world." Ms. Piang added.

The Cagayan Valley’s Board Member Olive Pascual   also attended  with Mayor Maria Theresa R. Timbol of Capalong,  Davao  del Norte and publicity ambassador  plaque awardee , co-attendee Virginia Manuel.

 “In behalf of the Philippines, I would like to appeal to every women of IWPG  to continue fighting for our advocacy.

I represent the National Federation of Women’s Club of the Philippines as one of the 12 delegates, B.M . Olive Pascual said.

“We are here because we all believe that women has a great role to play in bringing about peace in each and every citizen In the Cagayan Valley region, we conduct interfaith dialogues at least once a month . Also,  being  in the government service we make sure that the government and the religious sector really meets  in a dialogue so that we can come up with real good plans.

“The research techniques of  the locals is mainly using the internet as a tool, but we still need more HWPL, IWPG and IPYG brochures for further informations for the locals of the region including the youth, B.M. Pascual added.

□ 2016 IWPG Network Forum  themed The Role of 3.6 Billion Women in Realizing Peace and Cessation of War, the Forum was joined by approximately 900 female leaders from home and abroad and 100 female university students representing the leaders of the next generation. Among some 900 female leaders at the Forum were Teiraeng Maamau, First Lady of Kiribati; Awut Deng Acuil, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare of the Republic of South Sudan; and Anna Cervenakova, a human rights lawyer at the Czech Helsinki Committee.

□ The Forum was hosted to take a leap forward for peace by promoting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), announced on March 14 under the initiative of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of Light) and working for its adoption at the UN and its development as an enforceable international legal instrument.

□ In her remarks, Nam Hee Kim the Chairwoman of the IWPG said as she greeted the participants, "the UN and the entire international community must expand the role of women in building peace and security," and noted that the key factors that form the backbone of the SDGs, with 2030 as the target year, are embodied in the DPCW (the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War). She also remarked that the best measure for women to protect women themselves is to urge for the adoption of the DPCW and the implementation of international law for peace and cessation of war.

□ Speakers at the 2016 IWPG Network Forum were Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL; Edita Tahiri, Incumbent Minister for Dialogue of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo; Lee Yunsook, Former Minister of Political Affairs II (Women's Affairs) of the Republic of Korea; and Leokadiia Gerasymenko, President of Women's Union of Ukraine.

□ HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee  said  in his speech, "[Women gathered here] must be the key to peace and open the hearts of the 3.6 billion women worldwide," and added, "once you go home, please talk to your political leaders and urge them to support the implementation of international law for peace and cessation of war."

□ Edita Tahiri, Minister for Dialogue of the Government of Kosovo, remarked, "For those like us who never again want to see war and genocide against their people, peace has a very special meaning," as she invited the audience to take an active role in putting an end to the history of wars and open an era of peace.

□ Lee Yunsook, Former Minister of Women's Affairs of Korea, shared her family story of separation by war and urged for the adoption of the DPCW at the UN for its implementation as part of international law for everyone who is suffering because of war as she did.

□ Leokadiia Gerasymenko, President of Women's Union of Ukraine, reported on the current state of women and children afflicted by war in Ukraine and stressed that "the implementation of international law based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War is a must for the UN."

□ Following the Forum, 109 women from 16 countries were appointed to the IWPG Peace Committee. The Committee is to promote IWPG peace movements and galvanize support from female communities in respective regions for the DPCW and its adoption as an international legal instrument.

□ The IWPG is a non-profit peace NGO which has 200 branches worldwide collaborating with approximately 100 affiliate groups in its peace works.

The IWPG is a non-profit, non-governmental international organization for peace that has 200 branches around the globe and 100 affiliated groups. It is currently working with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and leading campaigns to support the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, initiated and proclaimed by HWPL on March 14, and is pushing for the Declaration's development into a legal binding international measure recognized by the UN. 

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Media forum’s interview/presscon footage in YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtT8AsYhIQo

The National Federation of Women's Club of the Philippines' IWPG attendees at the 2nd Annual Commemoration at WARP Summit 2016:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8Ocex-JL8

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