Creation of a National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security

March 1, 2010

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 865

CREATION OF A NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY (NSCWPS) TO IMPLEMENT UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS 1325 AND 1820 AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

WHEREAS, the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the role of women in nation-building, provides for the fundamental equality before the law of women and men, and mandates the government to pursue a policy of peace;

WHEREAS, the Magna Carta of Women calls for intensification efforts to respect, protect, and fulfill all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, including the right to protection and security in situation of armed conflict and the right to participate in policy making and decision making in the peace process; ESHcTD

WHEREAS, as a member state of the United Nations, the Philippines is mandated to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (October 2000) on Women, Peace and Security, calling for gender balance at all levels of decision making in peace processes, the protection of and respect for human rights of women and girls, and the integration of gender perspective in post-conflict and in peace keeping; and, UNSCR 1820 (June 2008) calling for the protection of women from sexual violence in situations of armed conflict;

WHEREAS, The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is mandated under Executive Order No. 3 (2001) to ensure that the comprehensive peace process is successfully pursued; and, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is mandated through Republic Act (RA) No. 9710 the Magna Carta of Women to ensure the advancement of women's empowerment and gender equality;

WHEREAS, the goals of gender, peace, human rights and development are better served with the active participation of civil society;

WHEREAS, the OPAPP and PCW in partnership with civil society organizations has formulated a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in consultation with national and regional agencies, local government units and citizen's organizations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and direct the following:

SECTION 1. Creation. — A body to be known as the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security (NSCWPS), is hereby created to spearhead the implementation of the national action plan on women, peace and security.

SECTION 2. Composition. — The members of the National Steering Committee shall be the following agencies:

Chairman	:	Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Vice-Chairman	:	Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women, as Vice-Chairman
Members	:	Secretary of National Defense;
		Secretary of Social Welfare and Development;
		Secretary of Justice;
		Secretary of Interior and Local Government;
		Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
		Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; and,
		Head of the Office on Muslim Affairs.

 

SECTION 3. Additional Members and Assistance. — The Committee shall call upon any government agency to assist the Committee in the performance of its mandate. cHaCAS

SECTION 4. Partnership with Civil Society. — The Committee shall partner with civil-society organizations particularly with women and peace groups in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the National Action Plan (NAP).

SECTION 5. Mandate. — The Committee shall exercise the following mandate:

a. Update and/or revise the NAP as necessary;

b. Provide overall policy direction, as well as manage, coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and report on the implementation of the NAP;

c. Tap domestic and international donor agencies and non-government organizations for technical assistance and financial support to facilitate the implementation of the NAP; and,

d. Perform such other functions and powers as may be deemed necessary, incidental or proper to its mandate.

SECTION 6. Secretariat. — The OPAPP shall provide technical and administrative support to the Committee.

SECTION 7. Funding. — To implement the provisions of this order, the Committee shall be provided with an initial allocation of FIVE MILLION PESOS (Php5,000,000.00) to be drawn from the President's Contingency Fund. Regular funds for the succeeding years shall be sourced from the OPAPP budget.

Moreover, additional funds necessary for the implementation of the provisions herein may be taken by government agencies from their Gender and Development (GAD) budget, as provided for by the provisions of the GAA.

SECTION 8. Repealing/Amendatory Clause. — All orders, rules, regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten. prLL