PERSEVERANCE AND PROGRESS
Women uniting to protect their communities from violence and to end conflict
Women have been particularly affected by the fighting in Mindanao, now one of the world's longest-running violent conflicts. Widows and survivors have provided for their families in a region mired in poverty and have faced acts of gender-based violence. But conflict can also bring out the resiliency of women. Some here have set up nongovernmental organizations to promote women's participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Formal associations of women advocates have also been established to address political subordination, gender-stereotyping, and violence against women. The Mindanao Commission on Women, an Asia Foundation partner since its establishment in 2001, advocates for a Mindanao peace and development agenda from a woman's perspective. Last year, supported by AusAID, the group provided gender training to members of the International Monitoring Team tasked by both negotiating panels to monitor the ceasefire compliance and agreements between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
— MARIBEL BUENAOBRA
Director of Programs, Manila
Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines
On November 21 in Manila, The Asia Foundation released the groundbreaking book, Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines. Authored by leading economic and development experts, the book illuminates the country's greatest successes and challenges in reforms, including introducing competition and liberalization in sea transport, civil aviation, and telecommunications; instituting the privatization of water service in Metro Manila; and more.