Philippines trades guns for ball pens – a global issue

A former combatant preventing for folks’s rights in Mindanao, Philippines, talks about how she swapped her fight uniform for a gilbabu. [outer garment]and her life within the jungle to construct a extra peaceable rural neighborhood.

Suraida ‘Sur’ Ami joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Girls’s Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) at age 18 with the aim of bringing autonomy to the predominantly Muslim area of Mindanao.

After signing an settlement to finish the rise up and supply the Bangsamoro folks with higher autonomy and self-government, she participated in a reconciliation program supported by the United Nations Workplace on Medication and Crime (UNODC) to deliver former preventing Personnel are reintegrated into society and return to regular life.

“Rising up in Bangsamoro, I noticed how tough life was for my mother and father. They confronted completely different types of discrimination and witnessed the brutality of the nine-year martial regulation declared in 1972, which was deeply It deeply affected many communities in Mindanao, together with the Muslim inhabitants.

My mother and father had a tough life, residing in poverty and unable to comprehend their goals. This impacted my life and the lives of my different 9 siblings. I had hoped to grow to be a instructor, however because of lack of economic help I used to be unable to finish my research and so this was not attainable.

On the age of eighteen, I spotted that I needed to combat for the best of our folks to self-determination, not only for my technology however for future generations.

A pal of mine is a member of BIWAB, and once I heard its objectives, it made me take into consideration the ache my mother and father went via and what I might do to enhance the scenario in our neighborhood.

If you happen to ask me whether or not to decide on conflict or peace, after all I cannot select conflict over peace, however we should combat for peace.

I as soon as fought within the jungle as a warrior. Dwelling within the mountains, residing with wild animals, in a harsh atmosphere, with out the consolation of residence.

However girls are sturdy; they’re able to being warriors and elevating households on the identical time.

A ball pen isn’t a gun, and a jilbab isn’t a navy uniform.

In 2014, the Bangsamoro Peace Settlement (Complete Settlement on Bangsamoro, CAB) was signed, and little by little we’re turning ourselves into civilians. I’ve traded in my fight boots for lipstick, I’ve carried a ball pen to put in writing with as an alternative of a gun to shoot, I’ve worn a jilbab as an alternative of a navy uniform, and I’ve left the jungle and returned to my neighborhood.

I’ve grow to be a peace facilitator, working with native folks on points comparable to gender-based violence and the right way to stop violent extremism.

Islam teaches us to be type to at least one one other and to not hurt others. There’s a saying in Islam that if we save one life, it’s as if now we have saved humanity.

I worth and am happy with my position as an advocate for peace in our neighborhood.

As a part of a workshop dialogue I attended on fashionable types of communication, I realized the right way to elevate consciousness and stop violent extremism on social media.

I dwell a quiet life now, however my message to my little woman has at all times been that she ought to at all times combat for her rights.

If you work for a noble trigger, it would not matter what you acquire or lose, as a result of what actually issues is the trigger itself.