Marawi Women IDPs “Break the Bias” to Commemorate International Women’s Day

On March 8, 2022, sixty (60) women IDPs from the transitional shelters of Marawi City and close municipalities of Saguiran and Matunggao, including the youth, gathered to commemorate the International Women’s Day with the theme “Breaking the Bias”.

CONCERN Inc. organized an online-blended forum/discussion for the International Women’s Day celebration entitled “Different Faces of Women in Times of War”. This aims to exchange experiences on the different faces of women during and post-conflict situation, their socio-economic, psychological and emotional condition; to provide an understanding on the vulnerability of women in times of disaster; particular effects of war and conflict in their lives; and to be able to craft and present the Marawi IDP-Women’s Agenda.

Marawi City was destroyed because of the armed-conflict between the military and the ISIS-terrorist group almost five years ago, on May 23, 2017 that lasted for 5 months, until its liberation on October 17, 2017.

Most of the affected displaced individuals and communities were scattered within the city and nearby towns and municipalities. Majority stayed in evacuation centers while others became home-based evacuees and eventually have settled in the temporary shelters. Most families were confronted with issues to basic services, food security, and livelihood and have suffered from emotional burden and psychological trauma. The latter put the IDP women and children vulnerable to protection issues and particular need for intervention.

The human-induced disaster had a particular impact on women. They have assumed roles in protecting their right to a place that is secure and safe for their loved ones, but have been deprived of a critical voice in the community when it comes to consultation and decision making, which should be addressed.

In the morning of March 8, Ms. Nobaisah Sunggod of Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation Inc. shared her experience as a community volunteer in the post-conflict areas. She said that women are engage in activities and interventions that contribute to their well-being. She shared some experiences of Meranaw women in promoting women’s rights in the communities.

The IDP women of Reclaiming Marawi Movement also shared some of their experiences; answering the question – “Kumusta ka bilang Babae?” , “Anu-ano ang naging karanasan mo noong panahon ng gyera at ngayong nakatira ka sa temporary shelters?”

During the sharing, Dr. Dalomabi Lao Bula challenged the Meranaw women regarding their role and participation towards reclaiming their rights. In the existing campaign of Reclaiming Marawi Movement, she shared the breakthroughs of women of their calls for truth, justice and accountability and explicitly explained the significance of the forum as an avenue for them to continuously engage their concerns and issues and seek long-term resolutions for their continued cause.

Atty. Virgiana Lacsa Suarez of Kaisa Ka discussed “Women in Disaster and Armed Conflict”. In her discussion, she shared that women’s vulnerability to Disaster and Conflict stem from a number of factors – political, social, economic and cultural. She added that seventy percent (70%) of the 1.3 billion people living in conditions of poverty are women and that in urban areas, 40 percent (40%) of the poorest households are headed by women. Additionally, she emphasized the heightened burden and violence that women experience in conflict and post-conflict zones. Conflict is an added stress that aggravates women’s vulnerability; during conflict, women faced heightened domestic violence, sexual intimidation, human trafficking and rape. There are also human rights concerns that are prevalent that lacks of intervention during displacement, which includes inequitable access to assistance, education and training.

Atty. Suarez posed a challenge to the women IDPs to “be a part of the solution” and that in spite of women’s vulnerability; women play a crucial role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts that recognize their full, equal and meaningful participation as women.

In the afternoon, Ms. Emalyn Aliviano of Kilusan Cebu shared her discussion on the “Current Disaster Situation in the Country, particular on the concept of War and Militarism”. Ms. Aliviano explained the situation of women in the Philippines describing the character of the present administration as anti-women, misogynistic, with systematic violence against women. She presented some of the data on the current state of women in the society with the facts and figures on reported attacks, citing some women who have been critical and who have pushed legitimate caused for human rights and justice.

At the end of the forum, CONCERN Inc. facilitated the crafting of the IDP Women’s Agenda. The IDP Women’s agenda will state the immediate and particular concerns and needs of women in Marawi who are currently affected with the long displacement and are unable to return to their lands.

CONCERN Inc., with the support of We Effect, continuously supports the political empowerment of the IDPs of Marawi, in partnership with Reclaiming Marawi Movement through the “Capability Assistance for People’s Initiatives at Transformative Actions and Leadership in Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience to Disasters” or CAPITAL in CCARD Project.