Starting Point
Fatima Pir Allian is a young leader and women’s rights activist from the Bangsamoro region. In 2005, after her stint as a college instructor at the Mass Communications Department of the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, the Philippines, she joined the development world as an NGO worker. She is currently the programme Manager for Nisa Ul Haqq fi Bangsamoro, translated in English as “Women for Justice in the Bangsamoro”, which partnered with the UN Women in 2016. This organisation empowers Bangsamoro women to interpret Islamic teachings on gender in a progressive manner, focusing on women’s rights and contributing to peace and development issues.
Peace Journey
Further, the Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro has been working with, consulting, and documenting narratives and recommendations of various women, men, and youth community leaders regarding peace process-related issues between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It was also part of the team that documented the historical injustices, legitimate grievances, and marginalisation of the Bangsamoro people, including land dispossession and human rights violations. The organisation responds to emergencies by providing gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance for victims of both human-induced and natural disasters. It caters to the needs of women, particularly those arising from gender-based injustice and violence.
Success Stories
As the organisation work with sensitive issues, it is crucial to come up with comforting initiatives for the community. One of the examples is through social gatherings. For example, to foster a safe environment conducive to discussions on the history of the Bangsamoro and on addressing shared trauma, stories of women who lived through the martial law periods of the 1960s and 1980s, the organisation invites Bangsamoro men and women to share a cup of ‘kahawai,’ the local term for coffee. These discussions highlight women’s contributions to the protection of their families and communities during a time when men were engaged in combat, as well as the emotional burdens they have carried.
Moreover, to eliminate violence and prevent future conflicts, the organisation advocates for communities to reflect on their histories and learn to process traumas stemming from post-conflict and post-terrorism experiences. This requires establishing mental health frameworks and resources, and finding ways for women to confront their pasts, as this is a crucial step toward communal healing.