A publication of the NDFP Human Rights Monitoring Committee
August 2009
The second item in the substantive agenda of the peace negotiations is social and economic reforms. It came second in the agenda only because there was the need to first “humanize” the armed conflict by binding the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to observe human rights and international humanitarian law in the conduct of the armed conflict.
But the second item in the agenda is the main component or, as we often say, the meat of the peace negotiations. It is meant to address the root causes of the armed conflict so that both parties can come to a mutually agreed framework for institutionalizing social and economic reforms. By addressing the root causes, we lay the ground for resolving the armed conflict, ending the poverty of our people, and eventually achieving a just and lasting peace in our country.
From the article “The NDFP Perspective on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER)”, written by Randall B. Echanis, Member, NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee on Social and Economic Reforms
Download the Education Series No.2, The NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) Perspective on Social and Economic Reforms