Act Sister!
 Staff of Likhaan, a women's health organization and lead member of Kilos Kabaros with their mobile clinic in Manila, the Philippines. |
Kilos, Kabaro! means "Act Sister!" in Tagalog, and act they do. Kilos Kabaro is a diverse coalition of women's groups in the Philippines led by a dynamic women's health organization, Likhaan, a long-time counterpart of Inter Pares. Kilos Kabaro came together to strengthen its members' feminist analysis and augment their organizing to end poverty and all forms of violence against women. Member groups focused on issues such as women's health, human rights, lesbian rights, migration and legal representation. Together, they have a power and voice they could not achieve alone.
Kilos Kabaro was a significant coordinating network for the World March of Women in the Philippines, which took place in March 2000. This was a watershed year, as women from around the globe joined together to demand an end to discrimination and poverty. The March and associated activities in the Philippines were very successful, galvanizing Kilos Kabaro members to envision what was possible by acting together and connecting their local and national struggles with those taking place internationally. The 'march' didn't end with the March.
Kilos Kabaro continues to participate in organizing activities of the World March of Women, which recently held its 4th annual meeting in India in March 2003. Kilos Kabaro members shared information and strategies relating to local and national concerns, preoccupations common to women throughout the world. For example, as women express their alarm at the growth of militarism internationally and advocate for peace, Kilos Kabaro members have participated in challenging the return of US troops to the Philippines and the branding of some minority groups as terrorists and hence targets for state aggression. Whether in the World March of Women network or through national collaboration, Kilos Kabaro epitomizes "sisters acting together", inspiring each other in their work for peace, justice and freedom.
Last May in Bamako, Mali, Inter Pares' long-term counterpart, the Agency for Co-operation and Research for Development (ACORD), brought together forty representatives of community groups, universities, and NGOs from different West African countries to participate in an international conference on conflict prevention and peace building. This event revealed the commonalities and strengths of diverse struggles for peace in communities affected by war in remote and marginalized areas. In a region beset with civil and cross-border conflicts and undergoing rapid economic integration, prospects for a better future depend on interaction and co-operation among many sectors of society. ACORD plays a crucial role in ensuring that citizens have the opportunity to create social solidarity and to make their voices heard by their governments and international actors. As Mamadou Goïta, ACORD's West Africa director, says, "A key element of human dignity for any individual is gaining control over major decisions that affect his or her well-being."
The four-day gathering generated rich exchanges based on personal experiences with conflict - from issues related to access to land and natural resources, to internal rebellions, and the transnational impacts of war. Through debate and discussion, participants identified how to support those most at risk, as well as how to help create the conditions for sustained peace after the end of armed conflicts.
With over twenty years' experience in the region, ACORD has now opened a door for the creation of a strong civil society network for peace. In collaboration with each other, groups in the region are deepening understanding and analysis of conflict and are establishing an early warning system to prevent the deterioration of sensitive situations into more deadly crises.
ACORD is committed to playing a lead role in the development of this civil society network to prevent and manage conflicts, and to reconstruct healthy societies, where living in peace with others is a reality for all.
| Reviewed June 1, 2004 |  |
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