Comparative Learning Series: A Study Exchange on Women’s Role in the Peace Processes between the Philippines and Colombia, All Set

Sulong CARHRIHL and Conciliation Resources(CR) teamed up with Colombia-based organization CIASE to sponsor a Comparative Learning Series that features a Study Exchange between the Philippines and Colombia with the theme “Strengthening Women’s Role in Peace Process”.
The main objective of this exchange is to Strengthen Women’s role in Peace Processes through sharing and learning between Philippines and Colombia. In this context, ‘peace processes’ include the formal peace negotiations as well as the wealth of activities developed by multiple people and organizations before, during and after peace negotiations to contribute to their success. The focus research for this study exchange is a follow-up development of last year’s visit as local partners in both countries identified exchange of experiences between women as one of the areas with the strongest potential of value added and political impact.
As a methodology for the study exchange 10 participants from the Philippines and Colombia will conduct a seven day research and practice visit to the other country. These participants will be composed of women with background and expertise in the following field: 1.) Government (local/national); 2.) Social/Political Opposition; 3.) Security Sector (police/military); 4.) Business; 5.) Indigenous (from communities affected by communist insurgency); 6.) Muslim (Philippines) / Black (Colombia); 7.) Women’s Peace Organization; 8.) Academe; 9.) Media. Members of the convening organizations (Sulong CARHRIHL, Conciliation Resources and CIASE) will also be included as delegates.
Expected outputs from this exchange include reflection papers and or proposals from the participants, public fora/presentations, two country advocacy documents that shall be shared and discussed in a wider forum with decision-makers in respective countries, one joint advocacy document to be shared with an international audience of policy-makers and organizations.
The Colombian delegation visit was initially scheduled on June 28 to July 7, 2011 while the Philippine delegates were scheduled visit is on August 1 to 10, 2011. However, while the Philippine delegation will push through with the original schedule, the Colombians asked for a rescheduling of their visit due to visa concerns. Final scheduling is still underway as of press time.