The Web site of Pacific Magazine and Islands Business
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Back to Current Issue November 2003 |
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How Agnes Titus helped show the way. By Rowena Singh Upon first meeting Agnes Titus, her humility and gentleness makes it difficult to believe she is a figure of strength and peace in Bougainville. But as soon as she starts to speak, her inner strength and compassion for humanity as well as a compulsion for justice are articulated precisely with crystal clear visions of peace and equality. Titus, with the help of other women's groups, founded Leitana Nehan Womenıs Development Agency (LNWDA), which has been in the forefront encouraging the putting down of weapons and the restoration of peace in Bougainville. As a result of its work, the agency has been awarded the United Nations Millennium Peace Prize for Women for its contribution towards peace building process in the war-torn island. Other winners of the first United Nations Millennium Peace Prize for women came from Kosovo, Pakistan, Colombia and Rwanda. The Leitana Nehan agency, the only one of its kind in Bougainville, has started documenting cases of violations against women during the conflict period.
At the time the civil war broke out Titus was a welfare officer at a copper mine which later was put out of action by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, a guerilla force fighting for Bougainville's independence from Papua New Guinea. It was also the beginning of the nine years of what the Bougainvilleans called 'the conflict'. Titus was forced to return home to Binon, Nissan Island, when the mineclosed. But she was unable to stand back and simply watch the brutalities of the war and the deterioration of human rights. In 1994, as spokesperson for her island group, she attended a meeting of women convened by the Bougainville administration. Women from most parts of Bougainville came together. In that meeting she was elected chairperson of the Bougainville Provincial Womenıs Council (BPWC). As chairperson, Titus spoke out on behalf of the women on the suffering they were going through and called for peace. Through Bougainville Provincial Womenıs Council, Titus worked with the national government to organise the Arawa Peace conference, which brought together people from all over Bougainville to try and establish peace. "I had to really come out and express the suffering of women. At that time we were so divided. People who were under BIG BRA-controlled area did not understand what we in government-controlled areas were going through, so at the Arawa Peace Conference, we came together to realise that the suffering was common. This brought about a real understanding of one another." In 1995, women from Buka Island elected Titus to be their representative in the Bougainville transitional government - a role she performed for three years from 1995 till the end of 1998. Being the only woman in the transitional government, Titus saw herself as the voice of Bougainville women who wanted to restore peace and normalcy in the war torn island. "My work and the work of all the women in Bougainville have helped to achieve the peace we were calling out for. Our men and our leaders were starting to realise that war only brings about destruction. But with peace you can do a lot more. Women in Bougainville are really proud that their contribution has resulted in the level of peace and progress we are seeing today." |
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EXCLUSIVES: Marshalls Billfish Club All Micronesia Fishing Tournament Marks 11th Anniversary |
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Pacific Magazine and Islands Business
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Pacnews Daily News
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Pacific Leaders
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Contact:
Pacific Magazine: Editor
Islands Business: Managing Editor |
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Back Issues October 2003September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 |
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