For advocating non-violence and indigenous peoples’ rights, Jo Genna "Jude" Martin Jover joins this year’s roster of winners in the category “Untold Stories: Women Transforming their Communities” of the N-Peace Awards.

 

Jude is indigenous to the Teduray tribe whose majority is located in Upi and South Upi municipalities in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines.

 

N-Peace is a multi-country network of peace advocates in Asia seeking to advance women, peace and security issues, according to its website. With over 2,000 practitioners connected through the network, it is currently active in Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines and Afghanistan, and has also held activities in Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka.

 

Jude joins five other winners from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan in her category. The two other categories are "Campaigning for Action: Women and Men Mobilizing for Peace" with two awardees coming from Nepal and Afghanistan, and "The Peace Generation: Young Women and Men Building Peace" with two awardees from Afghanistan. 

 

“Despite the intense stories of violence and oppression she hears from some communities, she remains unyielding to calls from groups to take a hard line within the peace process. Jude is confident and resolute that peace is achievable and that justice for indigenous peoples can be attained through dialogue and other nonviolent methods,” says N-Peace in its profile of Jude.

 

On Facebook, Jude thanked her friends and fellow peace advocates. The award “is an opportunity to let the world know that ordinary women can contribute to peace-building,” she said.

To all my friends, co-workers, fellow peace advocates, and relatives thank you very much for your support. To my...

Posted by Jo Genna M. Jover on Sunday, September 6, 2015