women, peace-building and the mindanao conflict

7/30/2019 Women, Peace-building and the Mindanao Conflict

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Women, Peace-building and

the Mindanao Conflict

Nassreena Sampaco-Baddiri

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or

the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. Thecountries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.


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Mindanao Conflict

Economic Costs of the Conflict: USD 3 Billion (WB, 2001)

Lives lost: 160,000

Internally Displaced People: 2.5 Million ++

Immense Human and Social Costs

Quality of life: the worst in the Philippines (UNDP, 2009)

Hunger (31%) is more extensive than the national average

(18%) (SWS, 2012)

Lowest in the Human Development Index (2003)


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Outline

I. Institutional Context of the Mindanao Conflict

i. Political

ii. Economic

iii. SocialII. Realities of Moro Women

i. Population and Poverty

ii. Armed Conflict and Displacement

iii. Health and EducationIII. Moro women and Peace-building in Mindanao

IV. Policy Recommendations


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Mindanao Conflict

Clash between two imagined nations ornationalisms, Filipino and Moro, each with theirown narratives of the conflict Santos, Soliman. 2005. Evolution of the

Armed Conflict on the Moro Front.

Philippine Human Development Report

six key elements:(1) Economic marginalization and destitution;

(2) Political domination and inferiorization

(3) Physical insecurity;

(4) Threatened Moro and Islamic identity;

(5) Perception that government is the principal party to blame; and

(6) Perception of hopelessness under the present set-up.


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Mindanao Conflict

War damages infrastructure, institutions and production,

destroys assets, breaks up communities and networks

and kills and injures people (Collier, 2007)

Decades-long conflict primary barrier to social

development in Mindanao

Conflict affected provincesmostly found in the

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are the

poorest in the Philippines


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Institutional Context: PoliticsThe evolution of political institutions in Mindanao

Datu/ SultanateSystem

Pre-Colonial

Governance

Spanish ColonialEra

AmericanColonialGovernment

ColonialGovernance

Post-independence

PhilippineRepublic

Post-colonial

1920s: Muslim leaders asserted their

right to a nation state


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Institutional Context: Politics Unilateral Implementation of the 1976

Tripoli Agreement

Lupon ng Tagapagpaganap ng Pook

(Regions 9 and 12)

Marcos:

1987 Jeddah Accord

Regional Consultative Commission

RA 6734 Organic Act of the ARMM

C. Aquino:ARMM

1996 Final Peace AgreementRamos:


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Institutional Context: EconomicsFlourishing political economy of Muslim Sultanates in

Mindanao prior to colonial rule subverted during the colonial

era

Exploitation of resources in the region became the

cornerstone of colonial projects

Muslim communities were deprived of vital resources such as

their ancestral land


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Institutional Context: Economics

Two factors that defined in the political economy of

Mindanao in the colonial and post-independence

period:Settlement into Mindanao (Both formal and informal)

Indigenous Ancestral Land

Agri-Industry Corporate Interests

Competition for resources


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Institutional Context: EconomicsDemographic patterns illustrate the rapid migration into

Mindanao and increased minoritization of the Bangsamoro.

Essentially, lands inhabited by settlers were part of the

indigenous ancestral domain that were communal in the pre-

colonial era

The establishment of corporate plantations resulted to

competition of resources between migrants and locals, whichfueled violence and engendered lawlessness in many parts of

Mindanao.


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Institutional Context: Society

1997: FilipinasFoundation

scientific survey ofMuslim-Christianrelations: thereexists a high

cross-sectionallevel of Christianbias against allMuslims in all

aspects ofinterpersonal

relations

In a 2004 SWSsurvey: 41% of

respondents hadan unfavorable

view of Muslims inthe Philippines.

81% view Islam asa religion that is

very different fromChristianity

In 2005:

Philippine HumanDevelopment, 55%

of respondentsbelieve that

Muslims are proneto run amok; 44%believe Muslimsprobably secretly

hated all non-Muslims; and only14% could cite a

personalexperience with a

Muslim.

In a 2010 SWSSurvey: Filipinoshave a very lowfamiliarity withIslam with 76%

saying they haveinsufficient, little

or no knowledgeof Islam.


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Institutional Context: Society

Bifurcated narrative: Muslim minority and Christian

majority

Ferocious opposition to the MOA-AD in 2008 is a recent

example of the huge rift between the minority Muslims in

the Philippines and the majority Christians in the country

(Baddiri, 2009)

Informal ties based on trust (or the lack of it) define the

relationship of the majority and the minority


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Institutional Analysis of the ARMM

MarcosAdministration

RegionalCommissions 9

and 12

1976 TripoliAgreement

LTP AutonomousRegions 9 and

12

Cory AquinoAdministration

1987 JeddahAccord

1987Constitution

RegionalConsultativeCommission

1989 Organic Act

RA 6734

RamosAdministration

1996 FinalPeace

Agreement

Chair NurMisuari asRegional

Governor ofARMM

Arroyo

AdministrationRA 9054

Plebiscite

MOA-AD


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Realities of Moro Women

Population and Poverty

Armed Conflict andDisplacement

Health and Education


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MDG Rate of Progress: Poverty and Hunger in the ARMM

Baseline(1990)

CurrentLevel(2005/06)

Target by2015

Ave. rateofProgress

Requiredrate

Ratio ofRequiredRate toAve. rate

ProbabilityofAttainingTarget

Prop of pop.

Below

subsistence

30.50

(1991)

23.60

(2003)

15.23

(2015)

-.058 1.21 -0.70 High

Prop of pop.

Below

poverty

thres

56.00

(1991)

52.80

(2003)

28.00

(2015)

-0.27 7.75 -2.07 Low

Prop of

Families

belowpoverty

threshold

50.70

(1991)

45.40

(2003)

25.35

(2015)

-0.44 3.78 -1.67 Low

Source: United Nations Development Programme, Philippines 2010


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Poverty Incidence 2006 showed poverty in

the Autonomous Regionin Muslim Mindanao(ARMM) reached 55.3

percent (NSCB)

The incidence ofpoverty in the ARMM is

more than two times thenational average of26.9 percent.


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Basilan: rapid increase in populationgrowth rates between from 2000 and 2007.

Sulu has an annual population growth rate

of 4.45 percentTawi-Tawi registered a 4.7 percentaverage annual population growth rate in aspan of seven years

Higher population growth rate,

high incidence of hunger, greaterstress on Women

(Nisa Ul-Haq Fi Bangsamoro)

Moro women:Population and Poverty


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Human Development Index

National Rank Province HDI

Philippines 0.72

Metro Manila 0.78

13 Misamis Oriental 0.65

17 South Cotabato 0.64

18 Davao del Sur 0.63

27 Camiguin 0.58

35 Zamboanga del Sur 0.56

36 Lanao del Norte 0.56

68 Lanao del Sur 0.48

74 Basilan 0.41

75 Tawi-tawi 0.36

76 Maguindanao 0.36

77 Sulu 0.30


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Life ExpectancyHDI-1

Rank 2003Province

Female Male Female Male

Metro Manila 72.9 67.0 75.3 76.2

17 South Cotabato 70.5 66.0 55.5 48.818 Davao del Sur 72.7 69.5 51.6 47.1

20 Cebu 74.1 71.2 47.1 45.8

68 Lanao del Sur 59.6 56.1 47.1 44.5

74 Basilan 64.3 56.9 29.9 33.3

75 Tawi-Tawi 53.6 48.7 37.8 43.9

76 Maguindanao 52.8 51.2 28.6 29.2

77 Sulu 55.6 49.9 20.5 21.6

Philippines 72.4 67.2 53.52 50.59

Life expectancy at

birth (years) 2003

% HS Graduate (18 and

above) 2003

Source: Human Development Network, 2005


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Moro Women:

Reproductive HealthDue to cultural, religious and logistical reasons, women inthe ARMM generally have less access to modern familyplanning methods.

Women experience frequent pregnancies and closelyspaced births.

There is poor access to health facilities and health

workers need support to detect and manage high-riskpregnancies.

(Nisa Ul-Haq Fi Bangsamoro)


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Internally Displaced Persons

Estimated 2.5 million displaced by conflict in Mindanao


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Lived Realities of Moro women:

Armed conflict, and volatile peace and order situation

Internal displacementas a result of ArmedClashes

Most IDPs in the ARMMare Muslim women andchildren

The women in thefamily bears the burden

(Nisa Ul haqq Fi Bangsamoro)


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Internal Displacement

and Gender

The absence of reproductive health services for women and

men increases the number of pregnant women and newborn

babies in evacuation centers. This has contributed to high

maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates.

Due to imbalanced gender power relations, women,

particularly, young girls, are forced to marry early to avoid

pre-marital sex. In some cases, these women are not only

forced to marry but also forced out of necessity to be part of a

polygamous marriage to elderly husbands.


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Moro Women Overseas Workers

Migration has a female face

Women form the majority of OFWs from Mindanao. Of

the 135,000 Mindanaoans who joined the international

labor market in 2002, majority or 88,000 were womenThe Middle East and Asia were top destinations of

OFWs from Mindanao

Increasing reliance on the export of young female

migrant labor into high-risk occupations abroad(Nisa Ul-Haq Fi Bangsamoro)


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Women and Peace-Building in

Mindanao


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Peace and Development

Advocates

The PDAP: coalition of six Philippine NGO networks thathave over 200 community-based NGOs and POs.Provides both training and financial assistance tocooperative members in the form of a micro-lending

program.

As cooperative members, women (and men) venture intovegetable and fruit selling in market stalls, cattle fattening,farming, trading, welding, and steel fabrication.

There are 200 peace and development advocates (PDAs)who are former MNLF combatants opting to engage incommunity development work instead of war.


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Emergency Livelihood

The Emergency Livelihood Assistance Project (ELAP) was

jointly designed and implemented by the Southern

Philippines Council of Peace and Development (SPCPD)

and USAID.

Former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front

(MNLF) and their families provided assistance in the form

of inputs required for the production of a crop or product

(corn, cassava, bananas, tilapia fish, seaweed, and mud

crabs) as well as training and technical assistance. The

targeted beneficiaries of this livelihood program were

2,200 ex-combatants and their families.


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Mothers for Peace

Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW): national peace

advocacy campaignMothers for Peace

M4P A response to the 2003 bombing of Buliok MILF Campthat ended the ceasefire and cut off the peace talks

Aimed to convince the government and the MILF to

immediately resume peace negotiations. The strategy

included speaking to cabinet-level officials, lobbying theleadership of the AFP and the MILF, and getting the voice of

the womenparticularly mothersout to the Philippine

population as a whole.


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Islam and RH

Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation Inc. (AMDF)- a

Muslim womens organization based in Marawi City

advocating for Peace, Reproductive Health, Good

governance and Community Empowerment.

AMDF Core values center on the belief that the

Bangsamoro liberation movements quest for the right to

self determination through a negotiated political settlement

with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines will

never be fully realized until every single Moro woman in

every single Moro household is able to practice her right

to self-determination.


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IDPs & the Dignity Kit

AMDF initiated the provision of a hygiene kit for IDPs:

included undergarments, a local piece of clothing that

covers the body (malong) and essential toiletries.

Deviated from the international standard of emergencyassistance by converting some of the items in the standard

list into the Dignity kit.

Boosted the morale and sense of well-being of the IDPs

whether male or female. This initiative has now beenincorporated in the standard emergency package of

humanitarian organizations both local and international and

since became known as the dignity kit


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Islam and Gender Justice

Nisa Ul-Haqq Fi Bangsamoro, an organization of Moro womencivil society leaders from the various tribes of the AutonomousRegion of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) advocating for Morowomens empowerment through legal literacy, legislative reformas well as security sector reform.

Some members are lawyers who provide legal assistance torape victims and men and women whose rights are violated bythe state.

Advocacy to amend the Code of Muslim Personal Laws or PD1978


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Bantay Ceasefire

Bantay Ceasefire or ceasefire

watch, a one of a kind initiative of

grassroots organizations of tri-

people

Led to other initiatives such as:

Communities declaring their areas

as Peace Zones where fire arms

are not allowed in the communities

The IDPs conductingBakwitPower or IDP power where they

visit and dialogue with Manila-

based government agencies


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GPH-MILF Peace Panels

Appointment of Women Leaders into both panels: A milestone in the

Peace Process

Womens participation in the peace process: greatly contributes to in-

depth understanding of the Mindanao conflict


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GPH-MILF Peace Panels

Inclusive peace panels are able to incorporate the special

needs of women in conflict areas such as gender-based

violence


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Framework Agreement on the

Bangsamoro

Status quo is unacceptable and

that the Bangsamoro shall

replace the Autonomous Region

in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Creation of a Ministerial form of

government

Asymmetric relations between

Central Govt and theBangsamoro


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Framework Agreement on the

Bangsamoro

Enshrined Basic Rights:

Right of women to

meaningful political

participation and protection

from all forms of violence

Right to equal opportunity

and non-discrimination in

social and economic activity

and public service,regardless of class, creed,

disability, gender or ethnicity


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Policy Recommendations

Eliminate all forms of

discrimination against

women and promote

gender equality

Secure the participation of

women in all forms of

decision-making from

planning to program

implementation


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Capacitate the security

sector in addressing

gender-based violence:

creation of womens desks,

crises centers at the local

levels

Ensure implementation and

localization of UNSCR

1325 and the Magna Carta

for Women


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Strengthen human rights

protection by consolidating

a regional human rights

body in Muslim Mindanao

Reform the Code of MuslimPersonal Laws (PD 1083)

in order to address

impediments in Muslim

womens ability to

participate in political, social

and economic life


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Thank You

women, peace-building and the mindanao conflict

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