Manila: A political science educator has been recognised by a UN supervised Asian award-giving body for her role in shepherding the Philippine government’s peace agreement with Moro rebels.

According to the N-Peace Awards, Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who became the Philippine government’s lead peace negotiator in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in December 2012 was the “world’s first woman to sign a major peace pact” as chief negotiator.

Coronel-Ferrer was awarded by the Asian-based body for spearheading the completion and signing of the historic Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and the MILF.

Negotiators from the MILF and the government signed the CAB in March 2014, ending several decades of conflict in southern Philippines and ushering a new juncture in both side’s the quest for peace and development. The Malaysian government, other countries and nongovernment bodies played a crucial role in the process.

“From academia to government, Miriam has been an inspiring figure in her campaign for peace. [A] University of the Philippines political science professor, Miriam was one of 27 Filipinos nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005…,” the N-Peace Network said.

Launched in 2011 by the United Nations Development Programme, the, N-Peace Network recognises and profile women and men leaders and peace builders creating change at the grassroots to national levels in Asia.

“As an academic, Miriam coordinated and introduced the Programme on Peace, Democratisation and Human Rights at the University of the Philippines. An expert and acclaimed speaker in local and international conferences on peace, human rights and conflict concerns, she continues to amass large audiences whilst pushing the agenda of peace forward,” N-Peace said.

Aside from Coronel-Ferrer, other awardees include Afghanistan’s Hajji Khalil, a former Taliban fighter who now heads a provincial Peace Council was the other awardee.

Khalil was cited for involving more than 1,500 fellow-Talibans in the activities of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme, ably mediating numerous tribal conflicts, and supporting the empowerment of Afghan women

N-Peace supports women’s leadership for conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building and promotes the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and related resolutions at regional, national and community levels.