She Talks Peace

Atty. Gettie Sandoval's journey began by championing workers, farmers, and the urban poor, eventually becoming a leading peace advocate in the Philippines. With a wealth of experience in policy and advocacy, she dives into her 2018 study on the devastating impact of Duterte’s War on Drugs on women: the wives, mothers, sisters, and children left behind. In honor of Women's Month, Amina and Atty. Gettie reflect on these women’s resilience and explore the future of Filipino women in politics.

This year, the Philippines is hosting the first ministerial-level conference on the women peace and security agenda. It is called the International Conference of Women, Peace and Security or the ICWPS. This conference will be a platform to address the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which is a global commitment to ensuring that women and girls are more systematically and sustainably integrated into peace and security. In this special episode, host Amina Rasul-Bernardo shares snippets from a recently held press conference on this upcoming monumental event which will be attended by delegates from Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

In this episode, peace educator Grant Lu discusses the critical importance of formalizing the teaching of women, peace, and security (WPS) in the Bangsamoro region. With roots from the UN Resolution 1325 in 2000, the WPS agenda has been pivotal in shedding light on the role of women in maintaining peace globally. Grant, an essential part of the team in realizing the diploma program of Mindanao State University on women, peace, and security — the first in the Philippines — shares his experiences in making it happen, highlighting the value of collaboration in the process.

On September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Philippines released a decision separating the Province of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This is despite the historical role of Sulu in igniting the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination right from its beginning in the late 1960s to the present. To many, this is a paradox. In this episode, Amina Rasul-Bernardo talks with three young Tausugs from Sulu to analyze the impact of the decision.

Climate change is a global problem, but it affects us differently. To women, especially in developing societies, the impact of climate change disproportionately puts them at a vulnerable position. In this episode, climate change and women’s rights activist Fatima Pir Allian, fondly called “Shalom,” from the Bangsamoro presents ground stories about environmental concerns, women, and activism in general. She concludes by challenging us to be hopeful in seemingly hopeless times.

The advocacy of advancing women, peace and security (WPS) is far from over. Around the world, issues concerning WPS continue to complicate the mission of peacebuilders, advocates, policymakers, and governments, but this reality should not cause despair. In this episode, Dr. Nario-Galace presents both the dire realities of WPS and the positive outcomes from years of effort. At the end, she reminds us of the necessity to maintain courage in these challenging times.

Are you a brat? To most young women today, a resounding affirmative to this question sets their generation apart. In this episode, Pola del Monte, a multi-awarded media practitioner and influencer, deciphers the various ways in which communication has morphed in the 21st century. In the age of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X, Pola drops her advice and best practices in dealing with trolls, misinformation, and hate speech, and highlights the role of words for social change.Visit She Talks Peace' social media pages and show your support:Facebook: web.facebook.com/shetalkspeacepodcastTwitter: @shetalkspeace | twitter.com/shetalkspeaceInstagram: @shetalkspeace | instagram.com/shetalkspeace/Visit Amina Rasul's social media pages:Twitter: @aminarasul | twitter.com/aminarasulInstagram: @aminarasul | instagram.com/aminarasul/Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/amina-rasul-084a0824/

Education in post-conflict areas face a different set of challenges way more than what the government alone can respond to. To fill this gap, the need for volunteers arises. In this episode, Dr. Christine Yambao, both an academic and a volunteer herself, highlights the critical role of volunteerism in addressing Mindanao’s long-standing problems in education.

Renowned peace educator Dr. Mark Anthony Torres underscores the role of indigenous peoples in peacebuilding in conflict-prone Mindanao through the initiatives of Mindanao State University.