Religion, Culture, and Conflict: Faith-Inspired Women Peacebuilders Working to End the War on Drugs in the Philippines

Abstract

Media reports of over 12,000 lives lost since July 1, 2016, and the other alleged human rights violations noted in the Philippines’ war on drugs, attracted the attention of people globally. The increasing number of victims has prompted human rights advocates, peacebuilders, and religious organizations including the Roman Catholic Church to urge the Philippine government to seek a sustainable solution to end the war on drugs and promote nonviolent, peacebuilding alternatives.

This thesis will describe one such alternative, brought into being by the roles of faith-inspired women in peacebuilding, and examine the crucial involvement of faith-inspired women peacebuilders in effective and robust peacebuilding in the country.

The purpose of this research is to discern emerging issues along with the actual and possible roles of faith-inspired women peacebuilders in the Philippines. With proper consultation, implementation, and support from faith-based organizations including women peacebuilders, nonviolent alternatives and approaches can and are being employed. This thesis aims to prove that faith-inspired women’s participation in developing nonviolent strategies to address drug abuse plays a significant role in fostering cultures of peace in the Philippines. Further, better understanding of the roles of faith-inspired women peacebuilders in the war on drugs could have a positive effect on empowering women and create collaboration with their counterparts abroad, gaining more support from international peacebuilding communities.