Vol1 PDF
Vol1 PDF
VOLUME 1
2005
UP CIDS
LEARNING EXPERIENCES STUDY ON CIVIl-SOCIETY PEACE BUIlDING IN THE PHIlIPPINES VOLUME 1: FRAMEWORK AND SYNTHEsIs Of LEssONs LEARNED IN CIvIL-SOcIETY PEAcE BUILDING
Published by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Copyright 2005 the United Nations Development Programme Manila Ofce. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission from the UNDP and UP CIDS. Inquiries should be addressed to: UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Tel/Fax: (632) 9293540 Email: [email protected] United Nations Development Programme 30/F Yuchengco Tower RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave. cor. Sen Gil J. Puyat Ave., Makati City 1226 Philippines Tel: (632) 9010100 Fax (632) 9010200 The National Library of the Philippines CIP Data Recommended entry: Learning experiences study on civil-society peace building in the Philippines.- - Diliman, Quezon City : UP-CIDS, c2005. 5v. ; cm. CONTENTS: v.1. Framework and synthesis of lessons learned in civil-society peace building / Miriam Coronel Ferrer v.2. National peace coalitions / Josephine C. Dionisio v.3. Psychosocial trauma rehabilitation work / Marco Puzon, Elizabeth Protacio-De Castro v. 4. Peace education initiatives in Metro Manila / Loreta Castro, Jasmin Nario-Galace and Kristine Lesaca v.5. Peace building experiences of church-based organizations in the Philippines / Jovic Lobrigo and Sonia Imperial. Published in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 1. Peace-buildingPhilippines. 2. Peace-buildingCase studies. 3. Civil societyPhilippines. I. UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS).
JZ5538 303.69 2005 P061000334 ISBN 978-971-742-095-0 (vol. 1) ISBN 978-971-742-096-7 (vol. 2) ISBN 978-971-742-097-4 (vol. 3) ISBN 978-971-742-098-1 (vol. 4) ISBN 978-971-742-099-8 (vol. 5)
cover design Ernesto Enrique book design and layout East Axis Creative
The opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and do not necessarily reect the views of the UNDP .
contents
vii ix xi xiii xv 1 5 7 9 27
list of tables list of acronyms about the project foreword acknowledgment introduction framework for assessing civil-society peace building
Main Context of Philippine Peace Movement Nature of Civil-Society Peace Building Methodology for the Documentation of Civil-Society Experiences in Peace Building (19862004)
35 37 55 77 83 87 91 103
tables
38 42 51 56 58 62 64 67 69 71 72 77 80
Table 1. Civil-Society Organizations Covered in the Case Studies Table 2. Peace-Building Activities Table 3. Range of Activities of a Comprehensive Psychosocial Trauma Rehabilitation Work Table 4. Facilitating and Hindering Factors in Civil-Society Peace Building Table 5. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Presence of Initiating, Sustaining, and Capable Core Table 6. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Availability of Resources Table 7. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Appropriate and Multipronged Strategies, Methods and Approaches Table 8. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Supportive Environment Table 9. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Building on Successes Table 10. Elements of Hindering Factor: Lack of/Weaknesses in Human and Material Resources Table 11. Elements of Hindering Factor: Lack of Support/Cooperation from Other Sectors Table 12. Elements of Conict/Collective Violence Transformation Table 13. Impact of Civil-Society Peace Building
vii
acronyms
AFP AICM AMRSP BEC BRSAC CARHRIHL CBCP CEAP CfP CHR CODE-NGO CRC CSOs DepEd DILG DND DOJ DSWD FAMATODI FGDs GRP GZOPI HABANAN HAGURA HOPE HR IHL INGOs IPs JPAG KIs LES LGUs MAG MERN MILF MOA Armed Forces of the Philippines Appreciative Inquiry and Community Mobilization Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines Basic Ecclesiastical Communities Bicol Regional Social Action Commission Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines Coalition for Peace Commission on Human Rights Coalition of Development NGOs Childrens Resource Center Civil-Society Organizations Department of Education Department of Interior and Local Government Department of National Defense Department of Justice Department of Social Welfare and Development Fakasadian Mangaguyang Taobuid Mangyan Association Focused Group Discussions Government of the Republic of the Philippines Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute Buhid Mangyan association Association of Hanunuo, Gubatnon and Ratagnon Mangyan tribe Hearts of Peace Human Rights International Humanitarian Law International Non-Government Organizations Indigenous Peoples Justice and Peace Action Group Key Informants Learning Experiences Study Local Government Units Medical Action Group Mindanao Emergency Response Network Moro Islamic Liberation Front Memorandum of Agreement
ix
| A C R O N Y M S
Loreta Castro is executive director of Miriam Colleges Center for Peace Education and coordinator of the Peace Education Network. She is a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Global Campaign for Peace Education, and of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International.
Miriam Coronel Ferrer is associate professor in the Department of Political Science, and convener of the Program on Peace, Democratization and Human Rights of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. She is also a co-convener of the
xi
Josephine Dionisio is assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and is currently deputy
director of the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center. She worked in various NGOs prior to joining the academe.
Sonia Imperial is the in-house consultant for research of the Social Action Center of the Diocese
of Legazpi, Albay. She served as the research associate and co-coordinator for this project.
Kristine Lesaca is an associate of the Center for Peace Education and a member of the grade
school faculty of Miriam College.
Jovic Lobrigo is the Executive Secretary of the Social Action Center, Diocese of Legazpi, Albay,
and is in-charge of its research unit.
Marco Puzon was a researcher at the Program on Psychosocial Trauma and Human Rights of
the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. He is currently coordinator of the Philippine Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.
xii | A B O U T T H E P R O J E C T
foreword
Peace building calls for setting up stabilized relations between individuals on opposing
sides of a conflict. It is a process that takes time given that it has to open channels of communications and requires convincing parties to work together without discrimination or intolerance. Learning Experiences Study on Civil-Society Peace Building in the Philippines is the result of the industry and commitment of several individuals and organizations and the valuable support and cooperation provided by the UNDP . It is a synthesis of learning experiences of NGOs and institutions as they observed and advanced peace-building strategies through psychosocial rehabilitation work, peace education and peace coalition. The modules are especially helpful in seeing us through this course by explaining vital peace-building concepts, activities, factors that aid peace building as well as those that are obstacles to it. Lessons learned in three areasPolicy and Overall Environment, the Nature of Peace, and Civil-Society Peace Buildingare examined. It sees the role of humanitarian involvement in ending conict and the indispensable function played by NGOs in transforming turmoil into occasions for enduring reconciliation. A known pacist, Howard Thurman once wrote that, To be alive is to participate responsibly in the experience of life. Many of us who have worked so hard to live our lives, have tended to nd contentment in the safety and comfort of our little cocoons. Yet, we discover that it is in reaching out and connecting to others that we foster peace, and nd the courage to dare a deed that challenges and to kindle a hope that inspires. This is exactly what Learning Experiences Study has achieved. As misunderstandings, wars and hostilities abound, it has become each citizens duty to build peace, end violence and transform conict. It has been our blessing to learn that we cannot do any of these without rst beginning the process of healing and kindling a hope that inspires not just those who directly participate in peace building efforts but humanity, as a whole. Benedict de Spinoza said that, Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence and justice. I congratulate all participants and contributors to these volumes most especially Miriam Coronel Ferrer, convener of the UP CIDS Peace, Conflict Resolution and Democratization Program, for seeing in
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xiv | F O R E W O R D
acknowledgment
It was my pleasure and honor to lead this three-year collaborative project. I am grateful for the
full trust and cooperation extended by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project team and the participants in the three validation workshops that were part of the framework and synthesis process. Ms. Alma Evangelista of the Peace and Development Portfolio of the UNDP was the moving force behind these series of studies on Philippine peace building that was conceived way back in the early 2000s. In October 2003, I picked up one strand of the conceptualization begun by Alma and Maria Lorenza Binky Palm-Dalupan by developing the framework paper for this component of civil-society peace building. Alma and I then narrowed down our scope to a set of case studies that was ultimately determined by spread, priority and availability of case study writers. Hard work and collegiality marked our working hours as a team. Friendship and more crisscrossing of ties in various other peace building projects grew as well, in our one-on-one meetings. I thank, in alphabetical order, Agnes Camacho, Loreta Castro, Sonia Imperial, Josephine Dionisio, Zosimo Lee, Jovic Lobrigo, Jasmin Nario-Galace, Beth Protacio-De Castro, and Marco Puzon. Other people worked with them and they will be duly mentioned in the acknowledgments in their respective volumes. I have appended in this volume the list of participants in the two validation workshops by way of thanking them for sharing their time and expertise with us, and to also serve as a resource for readers who may want to contact other peace builders. Regrettably, I do not have a list of participants in the rst consultation held in January 2004 where the framework was presented. I do not wish to enumerate lest I miss out on even one participant. They will remain anonymous to the public but they know to whom this gratitude is expressed. For the production of this ve-volume study, I thank Jocelyn Gou de Jesus, Carina Anasarias, Isabel Templo, and Mae Manalang-Sta. Ana for their assistance in the technical editing and proofreading of the texts; East Axis Creative for its peoples painstaking work as layout artists; Ernesto Enrique of the UP College of Fine Arts for the introspective cover designs betting a lessons learned project; and Grace Gara Tena for the coordination and administrative support.
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xvi | A C K N O W L E D G M E N T
introduction
What are the peace-building activities of Philippine civil society? What factors support or hinder
civil-society peace building in the Philippines? What has been the impact of these initiatives? Finally, what lessons can we draw from these experiences? These are the questions that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-funded Learning Experiences Study (LES) on Civil-Society Peace Building in the Philippines set out to answer. This synthesis will now attempt to provide the answers, drawing from the ndings of the four case studies that were part of the LES. The four case studies looked at Philippine experiences in peace education, peace coalitions, psychosocial rehabilitation work (PRW) and church-based peace building. The rst two studies focused on Metro Manila-based initiatives. The PRW study covered Metro Manila-based NGOs and community/NGO experiences in Mindoro Occidental and Basilan, Cotabato and Maguindanao in Mindanao. The study on churches focused on the Bicol experience. The titles and authors of the studies on the four thematic areas are:
Peace Education Initiatives of Selected Academic Institutions in Metro Manila by Loreta N. Castro, Jasmin N. Galace, and Kristine Lesaca of the Center for Peace Education, Miriam College;
Peace-building Experiences of Church-based Organizations in Bicol by the Social Action Center of Legazpi, Albay, led by Sonia Imperial and Jovic Lobrigo; Documentation of Peace-building Efforts by Civil Society Organizations in the Philippines to Address the Psychosocial Consequences of Armed Conict/Violence by the Program on Psychosocial Trauma and Human Rights, University of the Philippine Center for Integrative and Development Studies, led by Marco Puzon, Elizabeth Protacio-de Castro and Agnes Camacho; and
The Philippine Peace Coalitions Peace building from 1986-2004 by Zosimo Lee, which served as background paper for this theme, and the Enhanced Documentation of Philippine Peace Coalitions by Josephine Dionisio.
A framework paper drafted by this author provided the working definition of terms like peace, peace building, civil society, Philippine peace organizations, third party, conict transformation, and so on. It also provided the general areas for evaluation of the impact of civil-so-
2| I N T R O D U C T I O N
INTRODUCTION
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framework
conicts in the Philippines. It became a paramount concern following the fall of the authoritarian regime in 1986 and the subsequent restoration of the basic features of a democratic system of government. The democratic transition brought about by people power revolution created conditions for building national consensus on the need for social and political reforms that would break down the repressive apparatus of the martial law regime and address gaping social inequities. Recognizing that the rise and growth of the communist and Moro insurgencies are rooted in social injustices and gross violations of human rights, the Aquino administration opened the process of dialogue with the insurgent groups. Finding a just and peaceful settlement to the insurgencies thus became rmly part of the post-Marcos democratic agenda and the whole process of democratizing Philippine politics and society. But while there was general consensus on the need for social and political change, how these could be done and the nature and extent of the reforms became contentious among the various key actors inside and outside of government. Moreover, there was resistance on the part of those whose fortunes were negatively affected by the change in government, or who felt left out in the new political equation. The end result was the slowing down of reforms amid contention and threats to the new political order. The peace process was similarly compromised for similar and other reasons. Sections of the new government did not support the process or disagreed with the terms and conditions. The Armed Force of the Philippines, for its part, advocated the renewed use of force. Dissension within rebel organizations over the best approach to the new situation and government policy changes did not contribute to sustaining the momentum for dialogue and peaceful settlement. The peace process is thus one of the unnished items on the agenda of Philippine democratization. Democratization can be construed as the process of institutionalizing both substantive and procedural aspects of democracy, including the appropriate institutions and supportive norms. Democracy, meanwhile, is used to encompass economic, social, and cultural dimensions as elaborated in international human rights laws. Only with the consolidation of democracy
the conditions feeding armed conflict be eradicated. The peace process meanwhile can provide the mechanism for the cessation of hostilities, the just resolution of the conicts, and the healing and reconstruction of Philippine society. While an increasing number of groups have rallied behind the banner of peace, subsequent administrations have picked up the thread of the stalled peace talks, and
totality of structures and processes, actors, roles and relationships, strategies, programs and activities involved, created and pursued in a nonviolent manner by various sectors of Philippine society in response to armed conflicts, political violence and social unrest. (Palm-Dalupan 2000) The multisided efforts to find long-lasting solutions to the internal war waged by the state against its armed challengers. (Coronel Ferrer 1997a) A national historical project in which the churches are but one of the many social forces that have offered their agendas at resolving our conflict situations; a multilateral effort of the various sectors in Philippine society. (Bautista 1991)
rebel groups continued to sit around the negotiating table, the fact is armed conict in different parts of the country persists. Communities continue to get caught in the crossre. Sporadic eruptions of political violence have stalled development efforts, created more suffering and trauma, and derailed the overall process of social and political reform. Such a situation has fed the vicious cycle of armed conict and sustained the war rhetoric of all sides. Precisely because of this situation, the Philippine peace movement that was born from earlier attempts to nd a negotiated settlement to the armed conicts has likewise persisted. It continues to keep watch over the process. At the same time, it has broadened to include longer-term initiatives such as the building of a culture of peace that go beyond the connes and dynamics of the present-day internal conicts. It is also increasingly linked to other civil society groups such as the human rights and environmental movements, and development NGOs that pursue other aspects of the agenda for the countrys democratic consolidation.
8| F R A M E W O R K F O R A S S E S S I N G C I V I L - S O C I E T Y P E A C E B U I L D I N G
framework
cern. As a whole, it is a collectivity of various groups and actors autonomous from and relating to the state in a variety of ways ranging from cooperation/partnership to confrontation. Operationally, it can be broken down into various types of formations such as nongovernment organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs), professional associations, social movements, coalitions, and federations. Each society has its own set of dominant civil society organizational forms. Civil-society groups address various concerns based on their respective mandates, group interests, orientations, programs and/or ideologies. One ank of civil-society groups is involved in the Philippine peace process. In general, we can refer to them as peace organizations. In an earlier study, I dened peace organizations as:
While the citizen and citizens organizations are among the basic units of civil society, civil-society formations can also be construed in terms of institutions. We can refer to the mass media, and the churches in the collective sense of institutions. As institutions, they are very inuential in society and have played a role in articulating and responding to the armed conicts and the peace process. The Catholic church and the mass media can of course be broken down further into specic organizational entities like dioceses, orders, councils, and religious associations in the case of the Catholic church, and corporations, press clubs, stations, newspapers, and media NGOs in the case of the mass media. Civil-society groups are multiple and do not always agree or work together; they can have different stands on key issues. Some mainly advocate reform, while others are apolitical, pre-
types of actors
Multisectoral initiatives Government Civil society Grassroots communities International community (Palm-Dalupan 2000)
types of actors
Governments Professional organizations Business community Churches Media Private citizens Training and educational institutes Activists Funding organizations (John Macdonald cited in PalmDalupan 2000)
multi-actor tracks
Track 1 governments (including intergovernmental bodies) Track 2 government officials operating unofficially, retired government officials and think-tanks advising governments Track 3 NGOs Track 4 Other civil-society groups like religious, womens, and youth groups, etc.
10 | F R A M E W O R K F O R A S S E S S I N G C I V I L - S O C I E T Y P E A C E B U I L D I N G
third party
A
person, group, institution or country that is not identified directly or indirectly with any of the parties or interests to the conflict. Intervenors, voluntary or otherwise, from outside the conflict. They usually operate in coalitions; must generally be acceptable to all sides. Generally impartial or neutral, not truly impartial nor neutral because they carry their own agenda; can come from within the conflict or even outside it so long as there is sufficient respect for them and for their capacity to act in a neutral manner. (Harris and Reilly 1998: 103-106) Also, Outside parties that play intermediary roles to induce or coerce the contestants to lay down their arms and talk to each other; can be insiders or outsiders to both contestants, and may be partial or impartial with regard to a party or issue; possession of powerful levers toward one or both sides can be more decisive than neutrality. (Schmid 1998)
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third-party function
Acts
An important attribute given to civil-society groups is their autonomy from the state. Similarly, the third party is autonomous (in organizational structure, actions, and goals) from the state, and also from the nonstate armed group. The third party has its own peace agenda and strategies, elements of which may or may not interface or coincide with that of one or both armed parties. When its positions on issues or policies are significantly different from one or both parties, it may choose to adopt a confrontational mode with reference to the specic policy issue. For example, when the Estrada and Macapagal-Arroyo administrations launched large-scale offen-
as a mirror, an overview, a provider of provocation and creativity and a director of thinking; an integral part of the design thinking required for conflict resolution. Needed because in a conflict situation, parties are unable to stand outside of their own perceptions; needed to move from the argument to the design mode (De Bono cited in Schmid 2000).
third-party characteristics
impartiality influence
on the parties commitment to the process an interest in a just and sustainable outcome (1993 Manila Declaration cited in Garcia 1994)
conflicting parties. Establish a cooperative problem-solving attitude among the conflicting parties toward their conflict. Develop a creative group process and group decision making. Have substantive knowledge about the issues around which the conflict centers. (Deutsch 1991)
sives in known Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) areas in 2000 and in 2003, respectively, even as political negotiations were taking place, civil-society peace groups condemned and campaigned against the policy. Peace groups have from time to time also issued statements of concern criticizing certain rebel policies or acts that they deem contradictory to the goals of achieving peace or the success of the peace process. While this autonomy renders it (relatively) impartial or neutral with reference to the rst parties, the third party may have insider-partial constituents or allies. Inside-partial constituents or allies are people or groups with close professional, personal, or other ties to the rst parties to the conict and are willing to support the work of civil-society peace organizations on a short-term or long-term basis. As Wehr and Lederach (1991) noted, the insider-partial is an effective third-party because he/she enjoys the conanza (condence) of one or more of the rst parties. In an earlier study of Philippine civil society, we noted the roles civil-society groups play
12 | F R A M E W O R K F O R A S S E S S I N G C I V I L - S O C I E T Y P E A C E B U I L D I N G
would prevent the recurrence of conflict; conflict prevention. Preceded by the phases of peace making (bringing hostile parties to an agreement) and peace keeping (cessation of hostilities and creation of a demilitarized order). (Atack 1997) Refers to long-term preventive, prehostility strategies, for measures to remove the internal causes of conflict and to strengthen structural stability in a country against the threat of civil war. Different interpretations emphasize pre-armed conflict and posthostilities aspects. (Schmid 2000) The employment of measures to consolidate peaceful relations and create an environment that deters the emergence or escalation of tensions which may lead to conflict (International Alert 1995 cited in Schmid 2000)
transformation of conflict and violence in a society through the destruction of the structures and processes of violence and construction of the structures and processes of peace, including the capacity for the nonviolent resolution of conflict (drawn from Hoffman 1997 and Bush 1996 by Palm-Dalupan 2000). In the broadest sense, those initiatives that foster and support sustainable structures and processes which strengthen the prospects for peaceful co-existence and decrease the likelihood of the outbreak, recurrence, or continuation of violent conflict. (It) is not about the imposition of solutions, it is about the creation of opportunities (Bush 1996). A process to change unjust structures to promote justice and peace, and create mutual trust and respect (Catholic Relief Services-Jakarta 2003).
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directly in conflict Preventing escalation of violence Enabling a settlement (e.g., confidence building, facilitating dialogue, negotiation, mediation) Maintaining a presence (e.g., unarmed protection and monitoring) Addressing the consequences of conflict/ violence
peace-building objectives
Short Long
e.g., postwar physical and social reconstruction, psychosocial counseling and trauma relief, reconciliation and rebuilding social relationships, truth commissions, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants Working on the social fabric e.g., institutional reforms, promoting participation in decision-making, developing good governance, education for peace and justice (Fisher et al 2000 cited in Palm-Dalupan 2000).
term (e.g.., humanitarian objectives) term (developmental, political, economic, and social objectives) (Bush 1996 cited in Palm-Dalupan 2000)
ties in conflict or the appearance or recognition of new actors. Issue Transformation change in the political agenda of the conflict, where the relative importance of issues on which antagonism exists is reduced and the issues on which commonality prevails are emphasized. May imply significant political change since the political constellation supporting the previous agenda will have to change. Rule Transformation alteration in the rules. Redefining the norms which the actors are expected to follow in their mutual transformation. Can alter actor behavior; such need not be dependent on the position of the actor in the structure as the structuralist approaches assumed.
ited changes in the composition of actors, issues or rules. The external structure is transformed if the distribution of power between actors significantly changes or their mutual relations experience a qualitative change (e.g., increase or decrease in extent of communication and interdependence between actors). Transformation of the interest structure happens where commonality of interest is increased (Vayrynen 1991). (Note: According to the author, transformation may be intended or unintended; is associated with everyday and broader historical changes transforming the scope, nature and functions of collective violence.)
14 | F R A M E W O R K F O R A S S E S S I N G C I V I L - S O C I E T Y P E A C E B U I L D I N G
peace-building efforts
Peace-Constituency
Building includes advocacy work, campaigns, organizing, networking, and education aimed at promoting a peace agenda and/or culture, and organizing constituencies united or mobilized along these goals. Conflict-Reduction Efforts activities aimed at deescalating the level of political violence, with the end in view of enhancing the conditions for a more permanent peace. Conflict-Settlement Efforts refers to activities geared toward achieving a nonmilitary solution to the major armed conflicts, namely the communist, Moro and military rebellions. These efforts are focused on facilitating negotiations toward settlement.They are essentially mediation efforts addressed directly to the parties in conflict. Peace Research and Training Programs refers to research efforts and studies on the ongoing peace processes, and training in skills important to peace building, thereby serving as support structures to the other peace efforts (Coronel Ferrer 1994).
Peace Agenda
Political Negotiations HR/Militarization/Political Repression D i s p u t e / C o n f l i c t Resolution E m p o w e r m e n t / Governance Issues Peace Zone Building/Peace Pact Electoral Reforms Regional Autonomy Disarmament/Anti-Nukes
IHL Development Socioeconomic Issues Environmental Issues Agrarian Reform/Rural Development Ancestral Domain Health Literacy Sectoral or Group Rights Welfare Gender C h r i s t i a n - M u s l i m
Social
Relations Children Urban Poor Labor Tri-peoples Students Media Cultural Transformation Values Education Ecumenism Internationalism Spiritual Healing (Coronel Ferrer 1997a)
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Another study organizes actual initiatives or efforts based on goals (see left inset). The Waging Peace in the Philippines Conference held in December 2003 identied four strategies of the Philippine peace movement. This outline of strategies gives us a sense of the range of peace-building
to end the fighting Efforts to address the sources and causes, Efforts to address the direct impacts and consequences (of armed conflict/political violence) Efforts to deescalate or prevent the escalation of violence Efforts to build an infrastructure of peace (constituency, culture of peace, capacities for nonviolent conflict resolution) (Palm-Dalupan 2000)
activities that are being done and perceived necessary by Philippine peace organizations. Many of these elements reect a continuity in terms of needs already identied earlier.
Looking in particular at womens peace-building roles, the following categories were utilized. While not an inclusive list, it highlights the areas of strength among women peace builders.
and conflict resolution Policy formulation Reconciliation and healing (Quintos-Deles 2000)
16 | F R A M E W O R K F O R A S S E S S I N G C I V I L - S O C I E T Y P E A C E B U I L D I N G
reflections/tasks
Sustaining
a commitment to a negotiated political settlement and keeping lines of communication open Enabling citizens participation Recognizing domestic third-party participation in the facilitation of dialogue and mediation in talks Preparing for formal talks Building confidence between parties in conflict Searching for acceptable processes, venues, and timetables Defining the substantive issues Identifying possible agreements in different areas
in the negotiations
Aiming for the disposition of armed forces and set-
ting out a timetable for compliance effective monitoring mechanisms with monitors composed of citizens and institutions with nationwide reach and credibility Working out a long-term peace education program and harnessing media participation in creating a climate conducing to a sustainable peace Looking for different tracks in the peace process and formulating a substantive peace package that can significantly advance the process (Garcia 1994)
Elaborating
A summary of lessons learned in Indonesian peace building also gives us insights on what effective peace building is.
of violent conflict, before and after it breaks out long-term commitment Uses a process-oriented, comprehensive approach that works at different levels and with local communities while strategically engaging key decisions and policy makers Builds upon indigenous nonviolent approaches Requires a thorough participatory analysis based on accurate information Is driven by community defined needs Is sensitive to gender issues, and takes into consideration the needs and interests of both women
Requires
and men Involves a range of stakeholders who represent the diversity of the communities in which we work Strategically includes promotion of human rights and advocacy at local, national and global levels Strengthens and contributes to a civil society movement that promotes peace Requires transparency on the part of organizations and openness to all parties involved Acknowledges the balance between rights and responsibilities (Catholic Relief Service-Jakarta 2003)
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the infrastructure for peace activism Engagement of state and armed nonstate actors (NSAs) Protection/promotion of community/civilian interests in the context of continuing conflict or in moments of relative peace.
These three categories of activities cover elements of the structures and processes that are necessary for peace building. They are believed to be the dominant and distinct areas of contemporary peace-building work in the country. The peace-building categories are not to be confused with the peace agenda itself. The latter includes both negative peace (absence of direct conict) and positive peace (presence of justice/absence of indirect or structural violence). Elements of such comprehensive peace agenda are addressed jointly or separately in the different peace-building activities. This study will exclude related initiatives for social, economic, and political reforms that are not done consciously and deliberately within the peace process framework. Many groups working on the environment, gender, agrarian reform and other concerns do so consciously within the democratization framework but not necessarily within the peace process (as earlier dened). On the other hand, we can assume (but still need to validate) that the active peace constituency network consciously links the peace process to democratization. In effect, in this categorization, elements of the Waging Peace 2004 Conferences Strategy 4 (Positive Peace) is embedded in one or more of the three categoriesfor example, as part of the substantive agenda being negotiated, or the content of peace education. The outcome of the research process may, however, lead us to reexamine these starting points.
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peace advocacy
Advocacy: proactive process of continually and responsibly facili-
tating or struggling for change, through a variety of methods and strategies, of changing policies which are not in the interest of ordinary people into those which respect and protect their rights. Advocacy within the process of building peace: must be based on the principles of peace-building: nonviolence, and without giving rise to or at least minimizing repercussions which strengthen the prime causes of violent acts and conflict, such as poverty, ignorance and dependence. (Catholic Relief Service-Jakarta 2003)
peace constituency
Leaders and citizens who favor or seek peace and support peaceful
means and measures to end armed rebellion. (Abueva 1992) The body of supporters of an agenda for peace; a numerical (has a quantitative following) as well as a geographical (located where they can influence) constituency; a conscienticized as well as conscienticizing constituency; mobilizable for community action; an intentional community of solidarity, advocacy, vigilance and action. While ready to advocate and agitate for peace, it should be ready to learn and absorb other perspectives and have the ability to sift through. (Bautista 1991)
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process through various peacebuilding initiatives. On page 19 are more elaborated definitions of the peace constituency. Peace-constituency building in this study will refer particularly to efforts directed at strengthening and broadening the peace constituency in civil society. Developing and nurturing a culture of peace and capacities for the nonviolent resolution of conict are also multifaceted endeavors but will be examined here mainly with reference to initiatives falling
structural fields concerned with peace building in a specific conflict, whose purposes are to enhance effectiveness through fostering a holistic approach to peace building and to foster the development of new theories of action that necessitate collaboration. Members share a common purpose and a common set of operating principles and value inclusiveness and diversity, are decentralized and selforganizing, malleable in form and empowering of members. A primary function is to supplement the limited theory of action of any one organization by fostering opportunities for diverse organizations to learn from one another, bring different information for planning and analysis, and thus expand the range of possible action that can be taken to advance peace building. (Ricigliano 2002)
under peace education and peace/conict resolution trainings. It can be said that coalitions and networks have played very important roles in building the infrastructure for peace in the country. The concept of network of effective actors (NEAs) (above) may be useful in understanding the roles of peace coalitions and how networks have been tapped to advance infrastructure building.
conflict resolution
A state of affairs wherein the contending parties voluntarily find a
satisfactory way of regulating basic disagreements so that military confrontation becomes unnatural and mutual recognition of each others existence ensues. (Wallensteen in Garcia and Hernandez 1989) The process of facilitating a solution where the conflict actors no longer feel the need to indulge in conflict activity and feel that the distribution of benefits in the social system is acceptable. (Nicholson 1991)
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States or Governments Organizations International NGOs Special Bodies Local NGOs and POs Individuals (Coronel Ferrer 1994)
Intergovernmental
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cess of negotiations and the terms of the negotiated settlement. Participating in Actual Negotiations activities conducted during actual negotiations such as use of good offices, or as observer, documenter, or arbiter. Implementing the Terms of Agreement activities done as part of the implementation such as monitoring, enforcing, arbitrating, and adjudicating on conflicts that arise in the process of consultations after the agreement. (Coronel Ferrer 1994)
These more general categories are similar to the kinds of activities drawn from global mediation experiences as consolidated by Kriesberg below.
mediating activities
Selecting
Issues Selecting Parties Providing Good Offices Communicating Each Others Side Reframing Conflict to Problem Suggesting New Options Raising Costs of Failing to Deescalate
Adding
Resources for Settlements to Create Parity Building Trust and Credibility Fostering Reconciliation Legitimation and Helping to Implement Proposal or Agreement (Kriesberg 1991)
Helping
Most of the time however, mediation is viewed more narrowly in the context of formal negotiations, hence this narrower classication.
Facilitation Pure
Mediation Conciliation
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protection/promotion of community/civilian interests in the context of continuing conict or moments of relative peace
War weighs heavily on civilians, as many contemporary conicts have shown. This is especially true for nonconventional warfare in which the enemy lines are not clear, and combatants could not easily be distinguished from the civilian population. The use of indiscriminate weapons and methods like air raids and landmines further make the cost on communities and human lives and well-being high. Other than engaging the state and NSAs to observe international humanitarian law and to cease hostilities, civil-society groups in the Philippines have taken on the task of providing relief and reconstruction work in affected communities. Such efforts include soliciting and distributing goods to displaced communities, providing counseling to deal with psychosocial trauma inicted by the war, and assistance in resettlement and reconstruction efforts. Many activities in line with peace advocacy such as the campaign to promote and respect international humanitarian law applicable to internal conicts, and to forge cease-re agreements, have a bearing on the protection of community/civilian interests because they seek to establish rules of conduct and put checks on the use of violence. Such campaigns may have local and national elements and may include activities like monitoring the implementation of cease-re agreements in the community and releasing the results of such monitoring to the larger public for corresponding action to be taken. Each affected community can have its local momentum or dynamics.
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not be constructed explicitly as peace organizations but in any case have played a role in the peace process. Prime examples of such institutions are the religious institutions and mass media. This broader notion is also akin to the idea of a com-
which points to the need for a broader and wholistic understanding of the tasks at hand, and has a vision of both long-term transformation and short-term steps. (Lederach in Garcia 1994b)
prehensive peace process as dened by Lederach (left). Although the UNDP Peace Program envisions to undertake separate studies on peace and conict-resolution initiatives by government, and in the Cordillera and Mindanao regions, a study of macro-level or center-based civil-society peace-building initiatives will necessarily interface with such focused studies on community-based and government peace building. This interface happens because the various actors within and outside of these territorial delineations (the community, or bigger entities like the Cordillera and Mindanao regions) interact through various formal and informal networks, and respond to similar concerns directly relevant to the peace process. A bombing incident in a marketplace in Cotabato, or children being hit by stray bullets in an encounter between rebel and army troops in a remote mountain village in the Cordillera, are developments of concern to the immediately affected community all the way to the advocacy groups based in the cities. Meanwhile, because of proximity, resources and expertise, people in the cities are able to do more lobby work in the legislative and executive branches of government, the outcome of which will also affect the local communities. Organizationally, we are also witness to various formations that are horizontally and vertically linked to all sorts of networks. Lederach in fact emphasizes the need to bridge the gaps by multiplying interfaces across levels, although in this schema (see left inset), levels are not to be interpreted in terms of territorial units but leadership position, and the scope of the power and inuence that can be exercised (which may be expressedbut not only in territorial terms). To thus delimit the scope
levels of actors
Top-level
conflict. Middle-level leadership those in leadership positions but not necessarily connected to or controlled by the government or main opposition groups but connected through networks to the influential people. Grassroots people in the communities or on the ground. (Lederach 1997)
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framework
actors/groups
As already discussed in the pertinent section, civil society can be disaggregated according to type of organizations. From a survey of different self-acknowledged peace organizations in 1996-1997, the following organizational categories were arrived at:
organizational types
Peoples
Organizations Service and Development NGOs Institutes Programs & Desks Of a Religious Institution Of an Academic Institution Others Coalitions Political Parties (Coronel Ferrer 1997a)
In terms of geographic scope or level of operation, they were found to be operating as follows:
Basic
School International
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Based on availability of potential case study writers, the study was able to put together case studies on religious institutions, peace coalitions, academic institutions with peace-education programs, and psychosocial trauma rehabilitation programs. Under religious institutions, the region-wide peace-building activities of the Catholic Church institutions in the region (Bicol) was chosen. A separate study of a religious association was planned but no writer was found. The peace coalitions and peace-education studies were limited to Metro Manila initiatives while the study on psychosocial rehabilitation work (PRW) undertook a survey and review of initiatives
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actions/activities
After short-listing the actors or groups that were to be covered, the study documented each group or set of groups/actors, according to:
Issues Addressed Divergences/Convergences in Issue Positioning and Actions Undertaken Strategies Employed Organizing Strategies (among targeted peace constituents; among themselves) Engagement Strategies (directed at the parties in conict) Campaign Strategies (directed at the general public or specic communities or for specific undertakings)
This categorization of strategies were considered not necessarily applicable to all cases since the groups may have different organizational mandates or thrusts.
peace impact
those effects that foster and support the sustainable structures and processes which strengthen the prospects of peaceful coexistence and decrease the likelihood of the outbreak, recurrence, or continuation of violent conflict. (in Galama and Tongeren, 2002:113)
conflict impact
all social, economic and political effects that increase the likelihood that conflict will be dealt with through violent means. (in Galama and Tongeren, 2002:113)
The earlier citation from Vayrynen on areas of transformationissues, actors (are relationships changing?), rules, and structures (external structure and interest structure) also offer us guideposts on what kind of changes we need to look into to evaluate the impact of civilsociety peace building.
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Impact on the policy issue Impact on the ground-level situation Impact on the perception, attitudes, behavior, and perspective of other stakeholders (community, other civil-society groups, elements of the state, and the armed NSAs)
primary stakeholders
State
agencies and officials organization, leadership, and members Communities in conflict areas Citizens at large
Rebel
The three areas for assessment of impact are specific enough to be relevant in informing present initiatives as well as the immediate future. At the same time, the ndings can allow us to reect on the bigger aspects of peace and conict impact, and areas of transformation as dened by the authors cited above. As we can see, the peaceful resolution of the armed conict, eradication of the roots of insurgency, and a just and lasting peace are the long-term goals of the Philippine peace process. The areas of impact identied allow us to measure our progress toward these goals but at the same time, they are a tacit recognition that we still have a long way to go. It can be said, therefore, that while we are making steps toward conict transformation, we are not yet about to achieve a just and lasting peaceful solution. Thus what we can measure by way of gains are incremental progress at the level of policy, at enhancing conditions on the ground, and at transforming thinking, behavior, and perspectives. This reection question may thus be in order in locating current peace-building efforts:
reflection question
Are we transforming the conflict even though we are not (yet) settling it?
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general guide questions for documentation and evaluation of civil-society peace building
A. What peace-building activities have been/are being undertaken by the group/institution? Does the group/institution refer to these activities as peace building? How in effect does the group define peace building (or what terms do they use to refer to the work relevant to the concern of the study)? B. Evaluation of Interventions and Impact 1. Impact on the Policy Issue What interventions were made in terms of policy advocacy? What resources, structures and campaign strategies were utilized? How did the interventions affect the course of the policy? How did objectives match with outcome, including policy implementation? What other factors could have affected the policy outcome and its implementation? What lessons were learned from the experience? 2. Impact on the Ground-Level Situation What interventions were made in terms of addressing the situation on the ground? What resources, structures, and campaign strategies were utilized? How did the interventions affect the situation on the ground (e.g., deescalation/prevention of violence, creation of new structures, relationships and processes)? Were the deescalation, and new structures and processes sustained? How did objectives match with outcome? What other factors affected the outcome or contributed to the change? What lessons were learned from the experience? 3. Impact on the Perception, Attitude, and Behavior of Primary Stakeholders What changes in perception, attitude, and behavior of primary stakeholders have taken place/ been discerned? How have these changes contributed to building positive vertical and horizontal relationships among stakeholders? What interventions led to the changes in the perception, attitude, and behavior of primary stakeholders? What resources, structures, and campaign strategies contributed to the outcome? How did objectives match with outcome? What other factors could have led to these outcomes? What lessons were learned from the experience?
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On Peace Issues and the Policy Environment On Strategies of Civil-Society Peace Building
Literature Review Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) Interviews of Key Informants (KIs) Participant-Observation Case Studies Series of Validation Workshops Trial Training Workshops utilizing the Output
A Framework Paper Four Published Thematic Papers (Selected Actors) Full Paper on Lessons Learned Training Modules Several Validation Workshops Trial Training Workshop
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actors/groups
The four cases examined or made references to various civil-society organizations. These are enumerated in Table 1 (see next pages). In terms of type of organizations, they were institutions, NGOs, or coalitions. Except in the PRW study, which included peoples organizations in their focus group discussions, grassroots organizations were not the main focus of this set of studies, since from the beginning we stated that it would concentrate on middle-level civil-society organizations. Middle-level leadership or actors refer to those in leadership positions but not necessarily connected to or controlled by the government or main opposition groups but connected through networks to the inuential people or the top-level leaderships of the conict parties (Lederach 1997). As institutions, NGOs and coalitions, these bodies facilitate establishment of vertical linkages to the grassroots as well as to the top-level leaderships. They also undertake horizontal linkages among themselves whether on a campaign- or program-specic level or more strategically in terms of shared social and political goals.
peace-building strategies
This study limited the review and evaluation to three general types of peace-building activities and the corresponding strategies adopted. These peace-building categories are:
Building the infrastructure for peace activism includes advocacy, organizing, education, nurturing a culture of peace, and developing capacities Protection and promotion of community interests and welfare includes preventing
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Institutions/NGOs
Dioceses of Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte Archdiocese of Caceres Prelature of Libamanan Prelature of Libmanan Development Foundation, Inc. (PLDFI) Caceres Social Action Center Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI) Bicol Regional Social Action Commission Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) Other NGOs like BEMJP and Task Force Detainees Ecumenical Movement (of the Diocese of Camarines Norte) Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFD-P) Community Organizing of the Philippines Enterprise (COPE) Ateneo de Naga Social Integration Office/ Ateneo de Naga University Naga Parochial School Colegio de Sta. Isabel AKMA Makabayan Philippine Miserior Partnership Tri-media Organizations Kapisan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas Radio Veritas
Coalitions/Networks
Peoples Organizations
Hearts of Peace (HOPE) Basic Ecclesial Bicol Peace Advocates Communities/ Basic Masbate Principled Christian Communities Peace Movement (BECs/BCCs) Masbate Association of Peoples Organizations Regional Peace Forum Naga Popular Democrats (NagaPopDem) Coalition for Peace Bishops-Businessmen Conference
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CASE STUDY
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Work (PRW) by the Program on Psychosocial Trauma and Human Rights, University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies, led by Marco Puzon, Elizabeth Protacio-de Castro and Agnes Camacho
Institutions/NGOs
Childrens Rehabilitation Center (Metro Manila) Balay Rehabilitation Center (Metro Manila, Mindanao) Program on Psychosocial Trauma, University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (Metro Manila) Christian Childrens Fund (Basilan) Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc. (Basilan) Institute of Peace and Development Studies, Southern Christian College (Cotabato/Maguindanao) Notre Dame Foundation for Charitable Activities, Inc. Women in Enterprise Development (Cotabato/ Maguindanao) Balik Kalipay (Maguindanao) Consuelo Foundation (Cotabato project) Social Action Center, Apostolic Vicariate San Jose Occidental Mindoro Mangyan Mission (Mindoro) Bulig Foundation (Negros Occidental) Tabang Mindanaw (Metro Manila with field offices) Women and Children Internal Refugees Assistance Center (Metro Manila) Initiatives for International Dialogue (Davao)
Coalitions/Networks
Federation of Mangyan Organizations or PASAKAMI (Mindoro Occidental) Mindanao Emergency Response Network Bantay Cease-fire Mindanao Peoples Caucus Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement Philippine Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers Peace Educations Network Philippine Disaster Management Forum United Against Torture Coalition International Society for Health and Human Rights
Peoples Organizations
Bangsamoro Womens Association HAGURA (indigenous Mangyan organization from the Hanunuo, Gubatnon and Ratagnon tribes) SAKAMAIMO (Iraya Mangyan organization) SASSAMA (Sta. Cruz Alangan Mangyan association) HABANAN (Buhid Mangyan association) FAMATODI (Fakasadian Mangaguyang Taobuid Mangyan association) Suara Kalilintad (voice of peace, organization of evacuees in Cotabato and Maguindanao)
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CASE STUDY
Institutions/NGOs
Balay Integrated Rehabilitation Center for Total Human Development (Iligan City, Lanao del Norte) Philippine Human Rights Information Center (Philrights) Community and Family Services International (Mindanao program) Save the Children-US (Mindanao program) Immaculate Conception Parish-Pikit (North Cotabato) Accion Contra el Hambre Medical Action Group (MAG) Catholic Relief Services Movimondo Oxfam Ateneo de Zamboanga Research Center
Coalitions/Networks
Peoples Organizations
Peace Education by Loreta N. Castro, Jasmin N. Galace and Kristine Lesaca of the Center for Peace Education, Miriam College
Miriam College Philippine Normal University Assumption College Far Eastern University Ateneo de Manila University De La Salle Uniersity University of the Philippines
Peace Coalitions by Zosimo Lee and Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute (GZOPI) Josephine Dionisio Program on Peace, Democratization & Human Rights, University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies Philippine Peace Center Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) Third World Studies Center, University of the Philippines
Coalition for Peace Multisectoral Peace Alliance National Peace Conference Pilgrims for Peace All-out Peace Groups Gathering for Peace Sulong CARHRIHL
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Engagement strategies includes activities directed at the conict parties such as lobby, dialogue, facilitation, mediation, and helping dene the substance and processes of the peace negotiations needed to resolve the conict
Table 2 identies the strategies employed by the areas covered in the four case studies. The next sections discuss each peace building activity.
specic policies or laws, the elements of a comprehensive peace agenda, or a general peace orientation that effectively weaves together what a foreign peace scholar has called, the different elements of peacelessness. Advocacy strategies include issuing statements; holding exhibits, conferences, seminars, and forums; organizing protests and all sorts of outdoor campaigns; legislative lobby; and offering formal and informal peace education and/or conict-resolution courses. Seek Peace, Pursue It was a powerful pastoral letter issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in 1990, a time that saw the harsh consequences of the rise in vigilante groups since the breakdown of peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in 1987. The pastoral letter supported former President Aquinos declaration of 1990-2000 as the countrys Decade of Peace. Consultations and discussions are also part of advocacy, particularly aimed at enhancing understanding and achieving consensus among the stakeholders or a particular constituency. In Bicol, for example, the Budyong Bikolnon two-day consultations held in May 2000 with the theme Progress and Development through Peace discussed the regional and national situation; issues such as mining, education, basic services, labor, indigenous peoples and environment; and regional efforts in creating a culture of peace in the communities. Open-air mass actions are usually issue-specicfor example, advocating the holding of a cease-re, highlighting the plight of evacuees in war-torn areas, supporting continuation of peace negotiations, or demanding the resignation of the defense secretary. Marches or rallies usually include a program made up of several speeches and songs. Marches have also taken on the form of prayer rallies or street performances that highlight the theme of religious celebrations like the Penafrancia (annual adoration of the Virgin Mary statue in Camarines Sur) or use traditional forms such as the panunuluyan during Christmas. Besides marching with banners and placards and the giving of speeches, activities in the past included the ceremonial burning of war toys,
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COMPONENTS
Peace Advocacy, - Advocacy work, campaigns, organizing, networking, peace education, interfaith dialogues and other activities aimed a promoting a peace agenda, and/or culture of peace, and organizing constituencies united or mobilized along these goals
Peace Coalitions
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Bicol Churches
Declaring schools Policy Various campaigns, Advocacy as zones of advocacy(e.g., forums, festivals, campaigns peace participation in conferences & and various the formation seminars (e.g., mobilization Providing formal of a national on psychosocial activities (e.g., education in peace agenda; trauma, child marches, schools and non- campaigning soldiers, rights of prayer formal education for/against the child and of rallies, street to other sectors specific policy women, children as performance) issues; roundtable zones of peace) Holding discussions) Media conferences, Pushing for the campaigns seminars, Issuing statements, implementation of (radio-hopping exhibits letters on related reforms and the and reporting, issues and national peace press Holding mass developments in agenda releases); actions the peace process newspaper Lobbying needed columns and Pushing for the Pushing for the legislation (e.g., radio program implementation implementation of humanitarian of reforms and reforms and the protection of Education, the national national peace internally displaced lectures, peace agenda agenda populations; seminars and ratification of symposia on Various other Lobbying for needed conventions, justice and campaigns legislation (peace treaties and peace and activities policy, ratification protocols) (burning of toy and passage of Pastoral letters, guns; sisternational legislation Newsletters, literary statements, schools in to implement works guidelines, and conflict areas) conventions, exhortations on treaties & protocols) Interreligious human rights, activities and justice and Rallies, protests, dialogues peace and other forms of street actions Communitybased prayer meetings Regional and provincial forums
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PEACEBUILDING ACTIVITIES
COMPONENTS
Peace Organizing - Creating organizational mechanisms to undertake work, and harvest and consolidate the involvement of the constituencies
Peace Coalitions
Holding timely, efficient, and productive meetings Organizing campaigns and corresponding mechanisms to bring together concerned civil society groups Networking and forming linkages (issue-or campaign-based, or more longterm coalitions) locally, nationally and internationally
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Putting up PRW organizations or mainstreaming it in existing programs, desks or institutes, both governmental and non-governmental Networking with human rights and other groups in international, national, and local activities; also other schools and youth groups (e.g., Twinning of Schools Project; GO-NGO interagency cooperation)
Bicol Churches
Formation of Basic Ecclesial Community with peace orientation as main part of transforming values and attitudes Integrating a peace-building program and/ or reviving the Justice and Peace Desks in the diocesan Social Action Centers in the region, and strengthening regional coordination
Maintaining and expanding the Peace Education Network (PEN) as facilitative network and b a s e Communityf o r v a r i o u s Complementing. cooperating and organizing partnerships. coordinating with other coalitions Supporting peaceForging or groups zone building , international youth and children linkages development Providing secretariat service to alliances and campaigns Supporting peace zone-building
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PEACEBUILDING ACTIVITIES
COMPONENTS
Peace Coalitions
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Bicol Churches
Peace Research & Train- Research, publi- Trainings on intering Programs - Recation, training, national humanisearch efforts and and module tarian law; primers studies on impact development on on peace zone of war, peace, peace, human building conflict resolution, rights, conflict etc, and training resolution, peer in skills important mediation to peace-building, thereby supporting and building capacities for peace action
Research on Training programs psycho-social on values impact of armed orientation, conflict and leadership political violence on vulnerable sectors Undertaking and affected research on communities; manifestations best practices, and impact indigenous of the armed approaches conflict in the and knowledge, region recovery and reintegration Researches and publications on torture and other human rights violations of states and armed NSAs, especially against children Training and module development on responding to psychosocial trauma, human rights, international humanitarian law, humanitarian work or emergency response, barangay rehabilitation planning, peace and conflict resolution; also leadership, life skills, and entrepreneurship as part of post-conflict reconstruction
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PEACEBUILDING ACTIVITIES
Protection and Promotion of Community/ Civilian Interests and Welfare
COMPONENTS
Peace Coalitions
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Bicol Churches
Promoting observance of ceasefires, human rights and international humanitarian law Fact-finding missions Providing various forms of assistance to affected constituents (e.g., employment and protection after reintegration) and communities
Activities aimed at Campaigning for Campaigning for Psychosocial de-escalating the cease-fires, cease-fires, counseling and level of political observance observance trauma relief violence and adof peace of peace services (utilizing dressing the agreements, agreements, creative methods negative impact human human rights like the arts and of violence on rights and and international theaters, or taking affected cominternational humanitarian law into account munities and humanitarian indigenous practices individuals, with law Supporting peace and beliefs) the end view of zone initiatives enhancing the Letter-writing Reconciliation and conditions for to childrenJoining or rebuilding of social sustainable peace, evacuees in organizing factrelationships seeking respite conflict areas finding missions, (including from violence, to express relief and medical strengthening receiving justice empathy missions traditional socioand reparation for political community human rights vio- Fund-raising for structures lations, and healwar-affected weakened by the ing the wounds areas to support conflict) through of war inflicted on the work of interactive war-torn commuother NGOs programs nities Fact-finding, mercy, and cease-fire monitoring missions
Undertaking livelihood programs to Physical rehabilitation address poverty of constituents Delivery of basic services Peace and development projects, livelihood/ income-generating projects (e.g., Recycling War Trash for Peace Project in Basilan) Conflict prevention efforts
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PEACEBUILDING ACTIVITIES
COMPONENTS
Peace Coalitions
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
Adoption and promotion of the Principles of Conduct for Non-Government Humanitarian Agencies in Mindanao Special campaigns like Bakwit Power (collective action of evacuees calling for peace and cease-fire)
Bicol Churches
Engagement Activities geared of the State toward achieving and Nonstate a non-military solution to the major Actors armed conflicts, including facilitating, mediating and advocating political negotiations and meaningful reconciliation; reintegration
Mediation(e.g., Submission of negotiating the reports and documents to both release of prisoners held by either parties.
Joining dialogues with the two Facilitating parties as part of dialogues civil society between civil society groups and the parties to the conflict Back-channeling efforts /shuttle diplomacy Holding dialogues with the conflict parties Direct & indirect participation in defining the process and substance of the peace talks
Writing petitions to the parties Forming local ceasefire committees (60-day 1986-e.g. during the 1987 GRP-NDF cease-fire) Providing resources & other support to parties in order to facilitate the peace negotiations Providing assistance (issuance of safe conduct passes, security, shelter, medical) to rebels returning to the fold of the law
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is strengthened and expanded. In peace education, an important organizational form are the peace centers with their small core of associates who conceive, develop, implement, and monitor the programs and campaigns. This is supplemented by the Peace Education Network (PEN), a coalition-type body that provides coordination, facilitation, and a goal- and activity-setting forum for people and groups interested in advancing peace education in their respective communities or at large. Similarly, to start off and ensure sustained psychosocial rehabilitation work, the common organizational form that is taken is the institution of PRW programs, desks or centers, and the training of a core of PRW volunteers. These initiatives are networked, assisted, and monitored by the more developed PRW centers like the Balay Rehabilitation Center and the Psycho-Social Trauma Program of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies. Partnership between the pioneering organizations and the new programs enable technology transfer. For specific campaigns like the those against child soldiers and the rights of the child and of women (in situations of armed conict), organizing takes on the form of coalitions with one or several centers taking on the secretariat function. In the Catholic Church, the diocesan Social Action Centers (SACs) are emerging as an important organizational body that can undertake peace-building work. Peace activists in these SACs initiate the development of peace programs and the effective transformation of the SAC into a peace organization. The SACs are also the diocesan bishops arm in the development of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) within the diocese. The SACs with a purposive peace orientation can transform these BECs into solid peace constituencies who see peace as integral to the practice of their faith and the BECs main goal of spiritual formation. The diocesan SACs are loosely networked into a Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao formation, and are coordinated by a national secretariat known as the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA). They can also be consolidated more effectively into a regional network such as the Bicol Regional Social Action Commission (BRSAC) in our case study on the Bicol churches. The BRSAC, moreover, has more comprehensively adopted a three-pronged approach to social action, namely, poverty alleviation, good governance, and peace building. It is doing this in cooperation with other NGOs and the Philippine Miserior Partnership, and by assigning leadership and responsibility for each of the thrusts to the different SACs. In Metro Manila, peace coalitions are the common organizational form for general or is-
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the impact of war, peace, conict resolution, etc., and training in skills important to peace building. These are, in effect, initiatives that support and build capacities for peace action. They have been undertaken by academic institutions that link up with civil society for the conduct of their actual research, validation, and dissemination, or by sholars and researchers who themselves are active in peace building. Or they may be programs of NGOs and coalitions to support their own work. Peace research, as noted by the PRW study, is also a tool for advocacy, especially if conducted in a participatory and empowering way. Peace trainings are of course the staple of the peace education and even the PRW groups. The latters greater emphasis on training and research (compared to advocacy campaigns) is conditioned by the current dearth of institutions, programs, and trained personnel to undertake PRW work. Training materials produced include modules on human rights and international humanitarian law, peace-zone building, PRW, leadership, research and analysis, and introductory courses on peace and conict resolution.
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Reconciliation and rebuilding social relationships Fact-finding, mercy, and ceasefire monitoring missions Demobilization and reintegration of former combatants Conflict prevention efforts
* The types of activities were adapted from Simon Fisher et.al., Working with Conflict, Skills and Strategies for Action (London: Zed Books, Ltd., 2000) by the PRW Study. The original entry of truth commission was replaced by fact-finding, mercy, and cease-fire monitoring based on actual practices.
munities like the Mangyan tribes on Mindoro island, trauma relief interventions take into account local beliefs and practices. Conict creates mistrust, hatred, and prejudice; the rebuilding of social relationships is thus needed to help the community cope with their suffering and move them closer toward a harmonious and active community life working collectively for sustainable peace and development. This is done through various avenues such as forums, peace camps, and peace festivals created to enhance interaction across divides (culture/religion), and to discuss and deepen understanding of issues. Fact-nding and cease-re monitoring missions serve the purpose of gathering and verifying conditions and facts in order to respond to the needs; extract accountability and justice; and contain the damage and prevent further escalation of violence and suffering. They are also mechanisms for networking and ventilating issues and concerns. Mercy missions provide one or several types of services such as distribution of goods and other basic needs, medical care, and psychosocial rst aid. A number of PRW agencies/programs are extending their assistance or services (education, training, credit assistance, counseling, etc.) to former combatants, thus assisting in their de-
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engagement strategies
This category refers to activities geared toward achieving a nonmilitary solution to the major armed conicts. It includes facilitating, mediating, and advocating political negotiations and meaningful reconciliation and reintegration; holding dialogues with the two parties (usually
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facilitating factors
illuminated largely by the case studies. Table 4 enumerates and describes these factors.
Six factors supporting effective peace building were discerned from the studies. These are:
The presence of an initiating, sustaining, and capable core that is committed to the goals and the process, Tapping networks and social capital to be able to expand reach, capability, and effectiveness, Availability of logistical resources, Use of appropriate and multipronged strategies and approaches, Supportive environment, and Building on successes.
organizations who are committed to the goals and the process stands out as the basic human resource ingredient to start off and sustain a peace initiative. The membership of this core is usually drawn from an institutional base, or from a group of people with shared backgrounds who decide to band together to respond to felt needs. Sample core organizations are:
In Bicol churches, the Social Action Centers or peace and justice desks/programs of dioceses, ecumenical formations, and NGOs; In peace education, the peace-education centers, desks, core groups, or associates
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FACILITATING FACTORS
HINDERING FACTORS
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some lack knowledge and understanding of the dynamics and the diversity in cultural and religious practices, and are not adept in the local languages. Material Resources: most CSOs suffer from budgetary constraints; some donor agencies dont want to fund projects in perceived high-conflict areas; and organizations or communities have poor or inadequate facilities. Lack of support and cooperation from other sectors of society Level of Perception or Attitude: Leadership of key institutions may be conservative (churches, schools); people have varying perceptions of peace, the intentions of different parties, and what are morally right or wrong; the community may have traditional views on leadership selection (reflected, e.g, in their electoral behavior, which results in poor/unsupportive leadership) or may be apathetic; there are ideological and political tensions between organizations; and many biases and prejudices deter harmonious relationships, campaign or project implementation (e.g, Muslim-Christian biases). Organizational or Process Constraints: Includes lack of mandate of person from organization, protectiveness of superiors; lack of resources, and lack of resourcefulness on the part of the other sectors. Continuing Governance Problems Disappointment over failure of government assistance to rebel returnees and continuing threats they face from both sides; implementation lags in government reform and delivery of services cause cynicism and hopelessness on the part of the people; despite passage of laws (e.g., child protection laws including ban on child soldiers), there is lack of information and government is not capable of implementing these laws; some leaders of the local government are inaccessible or apathetic; the goons, guns and gold phenomenon is still pervasive; lack of support from the national government. Threats posed to peace work and affected communities Indiscriminate acts of violence on civilians by armed groups; the military continues to harbor suspicion against religious and other CSO workers; rebels may disagree with or hamper conduct of peace programs; continuing displacement of people in the uplands due to threats posed by the armed conflict; presence of armed groups and/or powerful people with vested interests intimidate the people in the communities. Difficulties in Engagement of Armed Groups ideological barriers, historical and organizational differences among groups and vis--vis the armed group; the NDF does not support localization of peace negotiations thus hampering local initiatives, and it is wary of the third party role of civil society groups; CSOs lack knowledge of current policies, dynamics, leadership and changes in ideology inside the rebel organization; some rebel contacts are low-level and do not have enough clout or authority; CSOs are unclear on how to go about engagement; there is fear by former rebel supporters or combatants of being stigmatized or subjected to retaliation. Other Environmental Factors These include the cyclical and /or seasonal nature of conflict which grossly disrupt the immediate post-war physical and psychosocial reconstruction; unstable peace and order; occurrence of natural calamities and other disasters; and the distance between the affected communities and centers making delivery of services and other undertakings difficult.
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In peace coalitions, organizations like the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute (GZOPI), UPCIDS Program on Peace, Democratization and Human Rights, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Philippine Peace Center (PPC), Miriam Colleges Center for Peace Education, and other NGOs/institutions provided the function of convening and providing secretariat and/or coordinative services for the formation and sustenance of the various coalitions at different territorial levels; and
In the case of PRW, the pioneering programs Childrens Resource Center (CRC) and Balay resulted from the coming together of professionals (in psychology, child education, social work), and concerned citizens (former detainees, activists, and friends and allies in different institutions). Integrated relief and rehabilitation was effectively put in place in Pikit, Cotabato, thanks largely to the coordinative role played by the Pikit parish church. In community-based peace initiatives, community leaders (elected ofcials, heads of religious groups and congregations, traditional leaders/chieftains, and other inuential people) were usually part of the initiating core.
NATURE OF THE INSTITUTION. Part of the success of peace initiatives may be attributed to certain
built-in advantages of the institution in the Philippine setting. The Catholic churches in pre-
Table 5. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Presence of Initiating, Sustaining and Capable Core
FACILITATING FACTOR Presence of initiating, sustaining and capable core Sample core organizations Nature of the Institution Qualified, sensitive and motivated staff/members Strong and effective peace-building leadership
SACs, Peace Education Centers, NGOs and desks Built-in advantages such as moral authority, and institutional legitimacy Culture-sensitive, efficient, multicultural, skilled, positive attitude, aware, diverse Encourages, mobilizes, able to inspire Consultative, participatory and inclusive Good at setting goals, eliciting insights and participation, and handling conflicts
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qualied, sensitive, and motivated women and men who make up the staff (educators, caregivers, organizers, coalition workers) of these institutions, NGOs or programs. An effective core of initiators has been described as follows:
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culture- and gender-sensitive diverse and multicultural in composition especially at the eldwork level or grassroots where communities are multicultural and multilingual having a clear understanding of roles in the projects and programs aware of the issues and processes involved possessing a strong spirit of voluntarism maintaining a healthy and positive attitude being happy to help others who are in need with sufcient training, exposure, and level of efciency and competence good at team work, coordinating, and networking.
STRONG AND EFFECTIVE PEACE-BUILDING LEADERSHIP. The role played by leadership cannot be
underestimated. The Bicol churches study found that where religious leaders (notably bishops and priests) exhibited leadership qualities, much work was done. To illustrate, in Camarines Sur, a priest in charge of an archdiocese-wide peace-building program succeeded in expanding the program to include other people from civil society, local government, and academe (including their alumni). The group also served an advisory function to the Bishop. Good leaders are particularly adept at program setting and mobilization of people, networks, and resources. They are aware of the need for integrated, participatory, and consultative approaches. They handle meetings well, making these sessions productive in setting goals, eliciting insights and feedback, clearing tensions and handling conicts, and generating a sense of ownership of the organization to its plans and programs. Good leaders are also those who have human touch as manifested in ordinary acts like giving words of encouragement to staff members and the community. They are respected as peace builders because of their actions, integrity, leadership style, personality, capability, and track record. As the Peace Coalition Study put it with reference to conveners of peace coalitions, They are the ones who provide the vision, the nurturing, the challenging and grounding functions to the coalition. Different persons can offer different inputs and energies to the coalition but there must be the synthesizing, integrative, and constant presence of the coalitions conveners.
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Table 7. Elements of Facilitating Factor: Appropriate and Multipronged Strategies, Methods and Approaches FACILITATING FACTOR Appropriate and Multipronged Strategies, Method and Approaches
Use of indigenous, socially and culturally integrated, participatory, and non-dominating approaches Strategies are diverse, complementary, and integrated, and vertical and horizontal linkages are developed Use of various forms of mobilizations and entry points
Approaches and methods are transparent, inclusive, consultative, and facilitative of authentic representation. Ethical codes or principles guide action (e.g., Principles of Conduct for Humanitarian Organizations in Mindanao)
years, was experiential and experimental, basically responding to felt needs. PRW in the Philippines, for instance, evolved from a limited clientele (political detainees and their families, torture victims of the martial-law regime) to encompass larger communities (internally displaced people, children in conict situations, postconict communities). Given its appreciation of the Philippine context, it rejected a medical practitioner-oriented, clinical- and institution-centered approach in favor of developing an indigenous psychology-based, socially and culturally integrated, and family/community-oriented methods. Providing trauma relief is also seen as more a facilitative rather than a directive undertaking. On the whole, PRW is done in a holistic manner whereby the range of issues besetting the affected population is given attention. The programs of Balay, to illustrate, have curative, preventive, and proactive elements that create a psychosocial continuum. PRW strategies were also described as integral, meaning utilizing rights- and community-based, gender- and culture-sensitive approaches that work within community structures, utilize local resources and incorporate local knowledge, skills, and mechanisms for healing (PRW study). In Mangyan communities, practices associated with death and beliefs regarding the afterlife are respected and considered integral to the healing process. In Basilan, male facilitators are assigned to allmale groups, for cultural reasons, as much as possible. In Muslim areas, wearing appropriate garb helped in gaining acceptance in the community. It was noted, however, that some cultural practices and beliefs can hinder peace building. Strategies used in providing psychosocial relief include the basics like healing sessions, crisis debrieng, and play therapy. But strategies also extend to community organizing, consultations and dialogues with all stakeholders; planning workshops; and advocacy campaigns. Traditional and religious leaders are strategically involved. Projects for children involve the children. Existing community structures like day-care centers, barangay halls, and schools are utilized.
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supportive environment
Efforts can naturally be expected to bear more fruits in a supportive environment. Among the favorable conditions or sources of support identied in the cases are listed in Table 8.
FACILITATING FACTOR
Supportive environment
Support extended by some LGUs/LGU officials the community leaders (traditional/elected) the local authorities (in schools, churches) the communities Peoples/groups/institutions own desire for peace, sustained interest, and growing commitment to or involvement in peace building Congruence of peace programs with the institutions vision-mission Bayanihan spirit Openness and willingness of former combatants and of some commanders of the local military/armed group to the peace initiatives
These identied conditions were facilitative in many ways. At the minimum, they allowed for peace-building initiatives to take place with less concern for the physical security of both the peace builders and the community. Thus, cease-re conditions were seen as a strong and facilitative factor for PRW. The cease-re in place may be a result of a bilateral agreement such as the government-MILF cease-re; unilateral cease-re declarations by either the government/ Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the rebel group like the CPP-NDF-NPA during natural disasters like earthquakes and oods; or people-declared cease-res as in the case of the peace zones, sanctuaries for peace and spaces for peace communities. A halt to open hostilities or a reduction in the level of violence effectively allowed for the safe and smooth delivery of PRW services and community organizing. Beyond cease-re agreements and declarations, the openness of former combatants and leaders or commanders of the local military or NSA units to PRW, peace coalitions, peace education, and the churches peace advocacy and mediation roles is just as important in sustaining peace building. In cases where the AFP/rebel leaderships or local units proved cooperative, peace building was able to gain more headway with less tensions, fear and risk to life and limb.
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building on successes
Peace building is a cumulative process, not a one-shot, short-term endeavor. It builds on gains achieved by previous initiatives to soften the ground though promotion of alternative ideas and activities; to creatively respond through innovative forms of interventions that have effectively served as models or best practices; to enhance understanding and commitment through various research, training, and dialogue and conference activities; and to broaden and deepen reach as peace organizations themselves are born and multiply. The current generation of peace builders is learning from the lessons of and building from the foundations (networks, groups, good practices) established in the past. And to sustain the work, they must produce the next generation largely through the peace building that they are doing now. This production and reproduction of peace builders and peace building result from the multiplier and deepening effect of earlier good peace building. The outcomes are manifested in wider networks, more programs, and a larger and more active peace constituency. Track record is important. Track record may best be summed up as ones reputation based on integrity, capacity, and output. Quality (perhaps more than quantity) of leadership, processes employed, and membership base or effective reach, also add up to ones reputation (as an individual and as a collective entity). A good track record born from previous work enhances ones capacity to take on new challenges, expand, and broaden. New programs, initiatives, and peace activists must thus endeavor to build a good track record. Successes in specic initiatives contribute to more successes. As noted in the Bicol churches study, successful mediation undertaken by religious leaders built their credibility as mediators which, in turn, further enhanced this line of intervention. The same may be said of respective approaches/interventions of PRW, peace education, and coalition building. Successful undertakingsreected in positive feedback and people expressing more interest and actually joining the program/organizations or opening up new onesare also good for the morale of the peace builders. They sustain hope, inspire, and stimulate members to carry on despite the risks, difculties, and shortcomings.
FACILITATING FACTOR
Building on successes
Institutional track record, integrity, and credibility record enhance the capacity to network, mobilize and influence policy/other stakeholders Successes in mediation adds to the credibility of mediators Gains are reflected in the growing networks of people being mobilized, or having interest in peace (multiplier and deepening effect) Successes sustain hope, inspire, and stimulate members to carry on
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hindering factors
From the cases, six factors were identied as hindering or obstructing peace-building work. These are:
Lack of/Weaknesses in Human and Material Resources Lack of Support and Cooperation from Other Sectors of Society Actual Threats Posed to Peace Work and Affected Communities Continuing Problems in Governance Difculties in Engagement of Rebel Groups Other Environmental Factors.
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Table 10. Elements of Hindering Factor: Lack of/Weaknesses in Human and Material Resources
HINDERING FACTOR
Lack of/Weaknesses in human and material resources
People loss of people or their reassignment causes programs, campaigns, and coalition efforts to dissipate or discontinue no full-time staff high turnover of volunteers limited skilled resource base cultural and language barriers including lack of knowledge and understanding of different cultural and religious heritage and practices conflict in schedules psychosocial stress budgetary constraints donor agencies unconvinced to provide aid technical problems such as frequent power shortages, worn-out facilities
Material Resources
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Table 11. Elements of Hindering Factor: Lack of Support/Cooperation from Other Sectors
HINDERING FACTOR
Lack of support/cooperation from other sectors
Obtaining Perceptions/Attitude conservative and traditional church leaders lack of appreciation of PRW, peace education or peace building in general varying perceptions on what peace is, intentions of the different parties, and what are morally right/wrong. traditional attitude of the community in the selection of political leadership and the changes in leadership low response from the community, apathy of some or few members of the local leadership unresolved biases and prejudices (e.g., suspicion that projects are aimed at religious conversion; tendency for the Muslim community to be withdrawn in the presence of Christian outsiders or visitors; conflicting interests and priorities between Christian and Muslim residents; unsympathetic sentiments of the Christian community toward the Bangsamoro struggle) unresolved ideological tensions and differences arising from the splits within the left groups lack of mandate, protectiveness of superiors lack of resources, and lack of resourcefulness from the LGUs and some sectors
Organizational/Process constraints
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ers who are conservative and traditional in their perceived roles and do not support or are not interested in peace activism; or NGOs and other CSOs who lack appreciation of the value of PRW, peace education and peace building in general. A low level of response from the community/ institutional setting has been ascribed to apathy in the ranks and the leadership. Prevailing attitudes observed, such as the tendency for the Muslim community to be withdrawn in the presence of Christian outsiders or visitors; the fear that participation in the projects would ultimately mean or lead to conversion to Christianity; conicting interests and priorities between Christian and Muslim residents; unsympathetic sentiments of the Christian community toward the Bangsamoro struggle; and various other unresolved biases and prejudices among community members or vis--vis the NGO/coalition/institution have hindered peace building. The traditional attitude of the community in the selection of those who would comprise the political leadership was also seen as a constraint because it has led to a condition where poor governance continues to the detriment of peace-building efforts. The PRW study thus notes that the culture of a particular community plays a strong facilitating (e.g., the bayanihan spirit) as well as a hindering role in the conduct of psychosocial intervention work. Sometimes, perceptual differences within the community may be at the ideological or even philosophical realm. For example, varying perceptions of peace, the intentions of the different parties to the conict, and what are morally right/wrong, have been identied as constricting factors. The splits and animosities among the different Left groups have also affected the work, creating turf wars and obstacles to organizing, campaigning, or delivering services in certain areas. In the case of a regional coalition, support was withdrawn by the local church who perceived some of the coalitions activities as too radical. Differences among members, with some perceived as too close to the rebel groups, have also created tensions.
ORGANIZATIONAL/PROCESS CONSTRAINTS. Lack of support from sectors in the community may
not only be due to perceptual or attitudinal differences. It can stem from constraints faced by the organization or institution concerned due to lack of mandate; protectiveness of superiors over their people (like the clergy); or lack of resources and of resourcefulness. The Nagdilaab Foundation pointed to cultural barriers to providing psychosocial relief to sensitive and specific cases such as the widows and children of arrested or killed Abu Sayyaf men, who cannot grieve publicly and suffer from discrimination and lack of public sympathy.
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I
Table 12).
tion. Vayrynen provided four areas that are part and parcel of conict transformation (see
Rule Transformation
Structural Transformation
Source: Vayrynen,1991:1-25. Note: transformation may be intended or unintended; is associated with everyday and broader historical changes transforming the scope, nature, and functions of collective violence.
The framework illuminated areas where the impact of civil-society peace building may be discerned. The framework, however, appears to be focused on the conict parties (state and rebel forces) as the main actors, and the changes in the terms and nature of their relationship. The study on Philippine peace building, however, encompasses all actors and stakeholders, and
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Impact on the Policy Issue adoption by either parties (government or armed NSA) of the policy positions advocated by civil society as reected in policy declarations, legislations adopted, programs and mechanisms instituted, and other acts.
Impact on the Ground-level Situation deescalation of the conict and reduction in the level of violence in the community; positive changes in the well-being and living conditions of the people on the ground.
Impact on the Perception, Behavior, Attitude, and Perception of Primary Stakeholders changes in the understanding of and response to the conict supportive of peace-building goals or compatible with a peace orientation; growing interest and participation in peace activism.
Each of these areas may embody elements of actor, issue, rule, and structural transformation. The different studies utilized various methods to evaluate these impacts. The Peace Education study issued a questionnaire/survey to measure the impact of the peace education courses in one college, and dug into previous course evaluations done by participants. In general, results were positive, especially in terms of changes in perceptions and attitudes of students supportive of a culture of peace. Except for the questionnaire as evaluation tool issued by the Peace Education study team,
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Table 13. Impact of Civil-Society Peace Building Areas of Impact Illustrative Outcome Environment On the Policy Issue/
Agenda, Legislation or Policy
Declaration of 1990-2000 as the Decade of Peace by the Aquino Adoption by the National Government of the Six Paths to Peace, Social Reform Passage of related laws (e.g., Anti-rape law, creation of NAPC and NIPC laws) Influenced resumption of PTs and end to military operations; put pressure
Agenda in 1993 Administration
Creation of Mechanisms and Programs
Specific Peace/Conflict Concern
on two parties to sustain political negotiations and move on to substantial agenda. Examples: the MILFs unilateral suspension of military offensives after the series of violence in February 2003 was partly a response to the civil-society calls including the Catholic Bishops Conference in the Philippines (CBCP) and the Bishop-Ulama League of the Philippines. Also, GMAs resumption of talks in 2001 was a response to public outcry on the 2000 AFP offensives and resultant humanitarian disaster Heightened visibility of women, children, Moro, lumad, and civil society in general in the peace agenda, processes, and structures (e.g, women and lumad representatives were included in the GRP panel and technical working committee; civll society representatives sit in panels and other committees in the formal bodies) Influenced how the media report on peace and conflict and helped generate greater awareness among the media Support for the annual celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace, and formal recognition of Muslim holidays Creation of the National Unification Commission, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and National Indigenous Peoples Commission (the latter preceded by exposes which pushed government to act on cases and outbreak of violence, e.g., it put up Task Force 63 to deal with conflicts arising from development projects in IP communities. The task forces responsibilities were later transferred to the (NCIP). Interagency Memorandum on the Handling and Treatment of Children Involved in Armed Conflicts signed in 2000 by then VP and DSWD Secretary Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the heads of various government agencies including the AFP, PNP, DND, DOJ, DILG, and the OPAPP Operationalization of the GRP-MILF Joint Cease-fire Monitoring Committee and Local Monitoring Teams, and a parallel third party monitoring (Bantay Ceasefire) Institution of more realistic community disaster response plans at the barangay and municipal levels Various consultative mechanisms Release of detained suspects, bodies and personal belongings of rebels killed in operations; release of AFP soldiers taken by the NPA; withdrawal of troops in certain areas Acceptance of peace-zone declarations in communities
Human rights violations were mitigated and addressed through fact-finding Less cases of illegal detention in some areas Reduction in direct violence through local cease-fires
missions and relief missions
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lessons learned
Peace builders are asked to reect on the following concluding statements that were culled from the insights provided by the different case studies and the validation and trial training workshops. The strength of their veracity may vary across time and cases, but they can be taken as starting points or lessons learned from previous experience.
lessons learned
policy and overall environment
Peace initiatives are negatively affected by policy inconsistency and shifts in priorities, close-mindedness and ideological thinking of rst parties, institutions, leaderships, and authorities. Participatory mechanisms and processes instituted by the parties, and respect and support for civil-society groups, on the other hand, support peace building.
Militarization and human rights violations continue to impede initiatives in communities. On the other hand, reduction of conict such as during cease-re facilitates peace building.
Policy change is effected through changes in perspectives, priorities, and behavior of primary stakeholders. Peace builders are there to sustain the process of transformation in parties and institutions and build capacities for peace building.
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lessons learned
peace issues
Peace issues are interrelated and wide-ranging; thus, peace advocates have tried to pursue integrated developmental, human rights, and social-justice programs and frameworks in their campaigns, education programs and services. Initiatives and groups are linking up for an integrated response.
During periods of hostilities, human rights protection, IHL concerns, and the needs of people (including women and children) getting caught in the crossre, stand out. Actual social, economic and political reforms are the more important goals, not the peace agreement/ofcial peace agenda/legislation nor the creation of special bodies, although the latter are important in forging commitments/contracts and dening the terms and mechanisms for the realization of reform goals.
Hot and cold issues of the day also affect the currency of peace campaigns/programs and the interest of key groups and individuals in peace work; peace campaigns/ programs need and try to respond to hot issues but also sustain visibility of cold issues and peace building.
While there is common understanding as to the important issues and the needed reforms, there are still differences in perception as to the alternatives, solutions, and process to achieve change among the parties to the conict, civil-society organizations, and the common people. Peace education thus serves as a strategic intervention approach for the transformation of values, behaviors, attitudes, and perspectives. Peace education should be mainstreamed in all institutions.
While domestic conicts remain the main agenda of peace groups, international issues and developments such as the war on Iraq, international terrorism, landmines, use of child soldiers, proliferation of small arms, are also addressed from the frame of peace and their implications on the domestic conicts.
lessons learned
civil-society peace building
CORE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS. A basic ingredient to peace building, particularly for the peace or-
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secretariat support facilities and logistics provided by NGOs, desks, and institutions leadership orientation, commitment, and ethical principles skills (language, organizing, networking, and other specic skills like training, counseling and so on) cumulative wealth of experience on which to build gains, social capital, and expertise or capacity credibility which may include impartiality/nonpartisanship sustenance and well-being of members.
CAPACITY TO NETWORK AND MOBILIZE. Effective peace building requires the capacity for critical
collaboration and networking with all parties and sectors to achieve depth and reach of campaigns and programs (sometimes referred to as vertical and horizontal linkages). Elements of this capacity include:
organizational and personal qualities such as legitimacy, moral authority, impartiality, credibility, track record, institutional or individual prestige, autonomy/independence a wide range of contacts, networks, and local, national, and international volunteers employment of good entry points, mechanisms and partners to build the peace infrastructure effective use of the mass media availability of support infrastructure being process-conscious (e.g., through consultations with and involvement of partners, members, target beneciaries, communities; use of participatory approaches to campaign/program planning and implementation/delivery; sustained interface/ interaction with and among all stakeholders) and sensitive in many ways (e.g., culture- , gender-, language-sensitive).
CAPACITY FOR CRITICAL REFLECTION. Peace builders must learn to step back and examine their
work and the environment in which they are working so as to be able to read the signs of the times, and be attuned and responsive to the moment. Peace builders must thus also invest in:
reection activities (e.g., on ethical, analytical, situational, organizational concerns) research analysis
LESSONS LEARNED
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documentation and monitoring of programs, events and developments/situation for assessment, planning, sustenance, and articulation of alternatives Capacity building of staff and members
Guidelines, codes of conduct, documentations of strategies and approaches produced by CSOs involved in peace building are a good reection of this capacity for critical thinking, despite the constraints in time, personnel, and resources most of them face.
USE OF MULTIPLE STRATEGIES. Effective peace building employs diverse, appropriate, creative,
and complementary range of activities addressing different components of the work (advocacy, organizational, service delivery, research, training, grassroots community peace building, and engagement of the state and the armed nonstate actors). Three major guidelines are:
Activities must be empowering and not mere dole-outs nor utilitarian to achieve certain goals. Programs must be holistic, dynamic, and creative. There are many considerations and approaches in the effective engagement of state and nonstate actors. Autonomy, integrity, and sensitivity are very important for groups and individuals playing third-party roles.
RESPONSIVENESS TO THE ENVIRONMENT. Just as certain conditions like the lack of cooperation
of key sectors or a hostile policy environment can impede effective peace building, there are moments or periods that must be maximized to advance peace building. These favorable conditions include mechanisms and processes put in place by government and other actors that can facilitate civil-society peace building such as the national consultations conducted by the NUC. Cease-res (which reduce the level of violence and allow a measure of physical security), shifts in policies/policy frameworks, supportive leaderships in important sectors (local government, institutions, communities), and even disasters or conicts whose impact create a momentum for united action or indignation in favor of peace. Being able to identify and maximize such favorable conditions is important.
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references
Atack Iain. 1997. Peace Processes and Internal Conicts, Kasarinlan, A Philippine Quarterly of Third World Studies, 12:4/113:1 (2nd-3rd Quarter), 113-130. Bautista, Liberato C. 1991. War, Peace and the Ecumenical Movement in the Philippines, Tugon, An Ecumenical Journal of Discussion and Opinion, 11:3, 443-466. Bernardo, Allan B.I. and Carmela D. Ortigas. 2000. Building Peace, Essays on Psychology and the Culture of Peace. Manila: De La Salle University Press.
Catholic Relief Services. 2003. The Peacebuilding Toolkit, Learning from Good Practice: The Experience of Indonesian Peacebuilding Practitioners. Jakarta, Indonesia: CRS. Coronel Ferrer, Miriam. 1994. Peace-building and Mediation in the Philippines, Peace, Conict Resolution and Human Rights Occasional Papers, Series No. 94-3. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. Coronel Ferrer, Miriam. 1997a. Peace Matters: A Philippine Peace Compendium. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies and University of the Philippines Press. Coronel Ferrer, Miriam. 1997b. Civil Society: An Operational Denition in Ma. Serena Diokno (ed.), Filipino Citizenship and Democracy (Philippine Democracy Agenda, Volume 1). Quezon City: Third World Studies Center, University of the Philippines. Deutsch, Morton. 1991. Subjective Features of Conict Resolution:Pyschological, Social and Cultural Inuences in Raimo Vayrynen (ed.). New Directions in Conict Theory, Conict Resolution and Conict Transformation. London, California, New Delhi: Sage Publications and the International Social Science Council, pp. 26-56. Galama, Anneke and Paul van Tongeren (eds.). 2002. Toward Better Peacebuilding Practice, On Lessons Learned, Evaluation Practices and Aid and Conict. Utrecht, the Netherlands: European Centre for Conict Prevention. Garcia, Ed. 1994. Reections on the Peace Process, Peace, Conict Resolution and Human Rights Occasional Papers, Series No. 94-1. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. Garcia, Ed (ed.). 1994b. War and Peace Making, Essays on Conict and Change. Quezon City: Claretian Publications. Garcia, Ed and Carolina Hernandez. 1989. Waging Peace in the Philippines, Proceedings of the 1988 International Conference on Conict Resolution. Quezon City: Ateneo Center for Social Policy and University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies.
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learning modules
learning modules
T
the trainers.
signed for 1.5 to 2.0 days. Trainers, however, can choose to select only several modules from this set depending on training objectives. The main reference for this training package is this volume. Trainers are encouraged to review the other volumes for reference. These modules can also be combined with modules from the other volumes. We leave the task of selection to the wisdom, creativity, and goals of While the modules are written in English, we suggest that facilitators use the local language as medium of discussion. Copies of the introductory outline and the guide questions for each module should also be provided to the participants, and translated in the local language if deemed helpful.
peace-building concepts
The framework paper introduced several key concepts:
Peace building (pp. 13-25) Peace movement (pp. 7-8) Peace process/national peace process (p. 23-25) Civil society & peace organizations (pp. 9-11) Third-party (pp. 11-12) Network of effective actors (p. 20)
learning modules
Conict resolution (pp. 20-21) Mediation (pp. 21-22) Peace impact/conict impact (pp. 30-31)
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guide questions
1. Discuss your understanding of the words/concepts above. 2. What words or terms in the local language best reect the different concepts? 3. Think of proverbs, words of wisdom, or images that illustrate or are related to these concepts. This activity can be done in pairs or groups of three people, depending on the number of training participants. It would help if the Framework Paper were given as advanced reading assignment. Give out blank cartolina cut-outs and pens on which participants can write their responses to the questions. Assign one concept to each pair/trio to discuss for ten minutes. Preferably, pairs or trios should be mixed (male-female, new-old acquaintance, old-young). A reporting session will follow and participants are encouraged to raise questions or give their comments to each report. Ask participants to post their responses on the wall. This wall can now serve as a living thesaurus for participants. They may add or change their answers throughout the workshop. Estimated duration: 1.5 hours
Building the infrastructure for peace activism (pp. 41-50) Peace Advocacy Peace Organizing Peace Research and Training Programs
Protection and Promotion of Community/Civilian Interests and Welfare (pp. 50-52) Engagement of the State and Nonstate Actors (pp. 52-54)
guide questions
1. Can you distinguish the three types of peace-building activities according to objectives and target audience or beneciaries? 2. Compare your activities with other organizations. In what ways are your activities similar or different? Is your group more focused on one type of peace-building activity?
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Presence of initiating, sustaining, and capable core Tapping networks and social capital Availability of resources Use of appropriate and multipronged strategies, methods, and approaches Supportive environment Building on success
Lack of/Weaknesses in human and material resources Lack of support and cooperation from other sectors of society Continuing governance problems Threats posed to peace work and affected communities Difculties in engagement of armed groups Other environmental factors
activity guide
This module consists of thirty-minute sharing, thirty-minute lecture using the power point or other forms of visual aid, and a fteen-minute open forum (for a total of one hour and fteen
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Impact on the policy directions of the parties in conict Impact on the situation on the ground, especially at the community level Impact on the perceptions, attitudes, and behavior of all stakeholdersthe parties in conict, the affected communities, the citizenry (pp. 77-82)
However, the study was not able to undertake a systematic impact evaluation.
guide questions
1. What would you consider the most signicant impact of your work? What areas were of minimal impact?
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Lessons learned regarding Policy and the Overall Environment (pp. 83) Lessons learned regarding the Nature of Peace Issues (pp. 84) Lessons learned regarding Civil-Society Peace building (pp. 84-86) Core People and Institutions Capacity to Network and Mobilize Capacity for Critical Reection Use of Multiple Strategies Responsiveness to the Environment
guide questions
1. What difculties do peace builders face with regard to the policy environment? 2. How are the different elements of peace and working for peace interrelated? What are the emerging consensus on how to view the armed conict and the best way to achieve peace? In what areas of peace and peace building are there wide disagreements? How does shared understanding or lack of consensus affect the work of peace building? 3. Examine the ve elements making up the lessons learned in civil-society peace building. In what areas is your organization strong/weak? How can you take these strengths and weaknesses into account in your organizational assessment and planning? This session can be in the form of lecture-discussion. Question No. 3 can, however, be addressed through small-group discussions. The results of the group discussions can serve as
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simulated situations
1. Your barangay used to be a typical crowded community where people were busy with their livelihood. The people only occasionally got together when the barangay council called for a meeting. Even then, very few people attended, except during election time when some people expected freebies to be given out by campaigners. But something happened recently. Two months ago, there were reports that armed groups were sited in the area. In response, the police conducted pursuit operations. One night, a running gun battle took place on several adjoining streets. Two children buying rice in the
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Identify the negative developments that have taken place after the shooting incident. Outline/Dramatize the steps you can take. What resources do you have to start with? What potential difficulties do you think you will encounter in taking these steps? How can you overcome these difculties?
Note: To learn more about responding to the impact of the conict on community people, see the volume on Psychosocial Trauma Rehabilitation Work. 2. You and your best friend are grade-school teachers in the local public school. Often, during recess, you see many children shouting and using cuss words when they argue with other children. You have also noticed how the bigger pupils always hit smaller pupils with loud slaps behind their necks or backs. One time, two warring gangs of grade 5 students engaged in pitch battles in the school compound, throwing water bombs lled with urine and even stones. Another time, you saw a grade 6 girl throw her book at her classmate in anger. You and your friend talked to the guidance counselor about your observations of violent behavior among the pupils but the counselor was too busy with paper work to feel what you felt was a serious problem. What else can you and your best friend do?
What could possibly explain the violent behavior manifested by many of the pupils? Outline/Dramatize the steps you can take. What resources do you have to start with? What potential difculties do you think you will encounter in taking these steps?
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Note: To learn more about what other schools have done to institutionalize peace education in their education program, see the volume on Peace Education. 3. You work as a program director in your diocesan Social Action Center (SAC). Your center has been successful in promoting alternative livelihood programs for nearby impoverished communities. Last year, your SAC decided it will expand its outreach to remote sitios where people have expressed the need for training and assistance in building cooperatives. But recently, it has been very difcult to continue with your work. Government soldiers, local bosses, and the armed groups that operate in the area have sent feelers that they are not very happy with your project in the sitio. One staff worker has received a death threat from an unknown source. As program director, you want to protect your staff. At the same time, you have to respond to the needs of the people who themselves have asked your assistance. What would you do?
What could possibly explain the resistance to your cooperative project from different sectors? Outline/Dramatize the steps you can take. What resources do you have to start with? What potential difficulties do you think you will encounter in taking these steps? How can you overcome these difculties?
Note: To learn more about the experiences in peace building of diocesan Social Action Centers in Bicol, see the volume on Church peace building. 4. You are one of the conveners of a multisectoral coalition that is campaigning for peace, human rights, and development in your region. Recently, you noticed that less and less people are attending the meetings of the coalition. Also, it has been very difcult to mobilize people and resources for the activities that you have lined up. Since your organization also houses the coalitions secretariat, your group has taken on most of the tasks, from calling for meetings, following up on each organization, coordinating and implementing activities, and providing almost all the logistical needs. But your organization is also understaffed and has meager resources. You are afraid that very soon the coalition will collapse or simply fade away. What would you do?
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What could possibly explain the dwindling attendance and support from the other organizations? Outline/Dramatize the steps you can take. What resources do you have to start with? What potential difficulties do you think you will encounter in taking these steps? How can you overcome these difculties?
Note: To learn more about initiatives in building peace coalitions see the volume on Peace Coalitions. 5. You are a peace advocate. You are concerned about the recent spate of human-rights violations and growing fear in the community of more violence to come. For example, a staff member of a human-rights organization with which you have worked on some peace campaigns, was recently arrested on suspicion of being a subversive. He is now in jail and the human-rights organization is asking you to support its campaign for the persons release. Also recently, both the government and the rebel group have threatened to pull out of the peace negotiations. They are accusing each other of bad faith. Last week, the police outpost in a remote town in your province was raided by armed men, and their weapons were taken. One policeman died in the attack. You feel increasingly helpless and fearful about the situation. What can you do?
Outline/Dramatize the steps you can take. What resources do you have to start with? What potential difficulties do you think you will encounter in taking these steps? How can you overcome these difculties?
visioning exercise
Close your eyes and think about your organization/community. Think of the people that are part of ittheir strengths and weaknesses, the events youve gone through together. Think of your ofce/community, and your own place in this ofce/community. Think of your organizations/communitys projectsthose that are going well, those that are somewhat prob-
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What steps would you need to undertake? What human, material, and other resources would you need? What other supporting conditions would be necessary? How do you generate the needed resources? How can you achieve the needed supporting conditions?
(Draw in-between the left and right side of the paper the symbols representing the steps, resources, and supporting conditions to reach your goal on the right.) Note: This can be done individually, in pairs, or as a team. A bigger roll of paper may be used if being done as pairs or as teams. Or it can be done individually rst, then the team will process the inputs and consolidate into their own team visioning exercise. Estimated duration: 1.5-2.0 hours
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participants
Validation Workshop on Civil-Society Peace Building
Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines Diliman 20 September 2004
Participant
Jane McGrory Rexal Kailam Karen Taada Lorena dela Cruz Josephine Perez Rene Romero Noel Sto. Domingo Norman Novio Madeleine Sta. Maria Rey Casambre Franz Clavecillas Esperancita Hupida Delia Dudy Locsin Rene Carbayas
Affiliation
Catholic Institute for International Relations [email protected] Initiatives for International Dialogue (Central Mindanao) [email protected] Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute [email protected]; [email protected] Balay [email protected] Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute/Ateneo de Manila University [email protected] Philippine Normal University [email protected] National Secretariat for Social Action-Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines [email protected] Social Services Commission, St. Josephs Seminary Occidental Mindoro (043) 4914973 Southeast Asia Conict Studies Network-Phil [email protected] Philippine Peace Center [email protected] Hearts for Peace, Naga, Camarines Norte Nagdilaab Foundation,Bishop Querexeta Formation Center, Isabela City Basilan [email protected] Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet, Negros [email protected] Philippine Information Agency, Basilan [email protected]
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Participant
Emmanuel Amancio Marites Guingona-Africa Helen Amante Ramil Andag Kaloy Anasarias Sr. Marita Cedeno Lorena dela Cruz Madett Virola-Gardiola Cris Gonzales Marco Gutang Bambi Magdamo Becky D.E. Lozada Ruth Lusterio-Rico Raymund Narag Norman Novio Jepie Papa
Affiliation
Catholic Relief Services-Davao [email protected] fax (082) 2992447 Peacemakers Circle [email protected] fax 7211379 Peace Education Network [email protected] PHILRIGHTS [email protected] 4331714 Balay, Inc. [email protected] Peace Education Network [email protected] Balay Inc. [email protected] CO-Multiversity [email protected] PETA [email protected] Peace Education Network [email protected] Ofce of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Coalition for the International Criminal Court-Asia tel 456-6196, fax 9267882 Department of Political Science University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City [email protected] Humanitarian Assistance Foundation [email protected] Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (043) 4914973 Amnesty International-Philippines fax 9276008
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