SOME 30 members of "Mothers for Peace" core group and women leaders in General Santos City convened in a two-day activity entitled "Orientation and Workshop on Pro-Women Laws and Bills."

The group discussed issues affecting women and drew out resolutions to address such concerns.

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Among the issues figured out during the gathering held on July 11 to 12 at the hall of Liga ng mga Barangay in General Santos City are battered wives and children, gender issues, and juvenile delinquent.

Lawyer Victoria Lacap said common problems affecting women result from violation of Republic Act (RA) 9262. She added that reported cases of VAWC (violence against women and children) are in alarming level and there are victims who do not report to concerned agencies.

Miriam Grafilo, one of the founding members of M4P Gensan, said that amid the economic crisis affecting the country today, women must be productive as well.

City Councilor Lourdes Casabuena, founding chair of Mothers for Peace General Santos City (M4P Gensan), said the absence of effective mechanism for women, especially mothers, to know their basic rights to protect them and their children contributed to the continuing dismal situation of the family.

She said mothers' role should not be merely doing household chores but they should also be involved in advocating peace in the community.

Casabuena said that mothers are also instrumental in keeping the family united and she pointed out that "peaceful homes create peaceful community."

The city councilor said it is important for mothers to meet at least once a month to talk on issues concerning health, socio-economic and even the peace process.

Bibei Gonzales, who described mothers as "unsung heroes of human development," said that learning pro-women laws, gender and development, and violence against women and children, is very important.

She said that such inputs will make mothers become homemakers, decision makers, community workers, peace-builders and peace-makers.