PRESS RELEASE 7 December 2011

Forum stress educators role in peacebuilding

Davao City - At least 60 school heads, teachers and supervisors from the Department of Education (DepEd) Region- XI and colleges and universities in Davao City will convene in a forum entitled The Role of Academe in Mindanao Peace Processes and in the Promotion of the UNSCR 1325 and 1820 as a post-activity for the recently wrapped Mindanao Week of Peace. The forum aims to raise awareness among educators on the historical context of the Mindanao armed conflict, the current formal peace processes between the GPH-MILF and GPH-NDF and the role of women in peacebuilding as provided for in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1325 and 1820. Co-organized by the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM) Inc., Forum Civil Peace Service and the Department of EducationRegion XI, this further hopes to give educators, both in basic and tertiary education, a space to deepen their knowledge and understanding on current peace talks and share insights on their role in peacebuilding in Mindanao. Starjoan D. Villanueva, executive director of AFRIM, cited AFRIMs survey in 2007 where schools and teachers are seen as the most influential in shaping the mindsets of the youth, thus, they are crucial frontliners in the task of understanding Mindanao issues and in developing critical thinking among students. She posed the challenge now for teachers to be more sensitive of critical social issues and communicate accurate information amidst cultural biases or misinformation. She further stressed on peace education as the most significant way, though it involves tedious process of molding future generations that will promote a culture of peace. In the Philippines, peace education has been introduced both at the formal and non-formal education since 1990s in selected schools. In September 2006, the DepEd was mandated to mainstream peace education in primary and secondary education through Executive Order (EO) 570 otherwise known as Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education. This was later reaffirmed by DepEd Memorandum No. 469, series of 2008 which paved way for the

integration of peace concepts in classroom lessons and in school activities, as well as the creation of special bodies within the DepEd that will oversee and facilitate the implementation of EO 570. In Davao City, the Regional Special Committee on Peace Education of the DepEd-Region XI, chaired by Assistant Regional Director Dr. Fe delos Reyes was organized in 2007. Two years later, the DepEd- Davao City Division Peace Education Task Force, headed by Dr. Elsie E. Gagabe, was formed and has been actively working with civil society groups in various initiatives. Also, the forum will tackle on the significant role of women in peacebuilding processes as highlighted with the release of the UNSCR 1325 and 1820 in 2000 and 2008 respectively. These documents reaffirm the significant role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, among others. Further, it also advocates for the increase of womens participation and incorporation of gender in all UN peace and security efforts. The forum will be held at the Bishops-Ulama Conference Hall, Mc Arthur Highway, Matina, Davao City on 10 December 2011 at 8am to 4:30 in the afternoon. #