The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy convened the Regional Conference of Women Peace Advocates at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City on 24-27 January 2010. The WISHES Board Chairman and WEFOUND Managing Director, Dr. Norlain Dindang, attended the conference. The delegates are distinguished Aleemaat and prominent women who are considered “Noor-us Salam: Women of Faith, Light of Peace” The conference aimed at strengthening the collaboration among and between the Aleemaat and the women in civil society.

Distinguished international speakers addressed the conference including Tsutomo Suzuki, Director of Japan Foundation, Consul Yoshiyuki Isoda of the Consular Office of Japan in Davao City, Ms Masnah Masop, Chief Executive Officer of Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapore (PPIS), Prof Dr Amany Lubis of the Muslimat Nahdatul Ulama in Indonesia, Prof Dr Rashida Shuib of the Women’s Development Research Centre in Malaysia, Prof Lily Zakiyah Munir, Director of the Center for Pesantren and Democracy Studies in Indonesia, and Ms Afeefa Syed, US Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C.

The major issues and concerns tackled during the conference include “Gearing up for Service, Leadership and Advocacy”, “Addressing the Needs and Interests of Muslim Women towards Building Strong Families”, “Capacitating Women for National Development”, “Muslim Women, Islam and Human Rights Education”. Workshops were also conducted on peace education and advocacy, electoral reforms, health program, economic development, as well as education and Islamic values.

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