Peace Links Program - II

Results as of the end of the Peace Fund component include: 16 local civil society organizations (CSOs) were supported through the Peace Fund resulting in an environment that is better able to support sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. In particular the Peace Fund support enhanced the capacities of CSOs and broader stakeholder participation in peacebuilding in the following areas: communicating peace and development issues such as the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the Government - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks through mechanisms such as community-based dialogues and consultations; the production and dissemination of information and education materials; participating in International Contact Group meetings and negotiations in Kuala Lumpur; laying the foundations for increased access to justice for women in the ARMM through the adoption of the ARMM Gender and Development Code by the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly and the completion of the Thematic Guide Book on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for Shari’a court judges; increasing the business sector's understanding of conflict-sensitive business strategies; and analyzing managing and resolving conflicts through the documentation of indigenous knowledge systems and practices on conflict resolution training in conflict mapping and analysis and in the use of community-based or indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms which resulted in the settlement of conflicts such as rido (family feuds). At least 2 local CSOs have been invited to become members of local peace and order councils. Moreover the Peace Fund support resulted in more transparent and participatory planning processes involving communities women and youth. This led to the development of a 15-point Mindanao Peoples Peace Agenda which includes a Women’s Peace Agenda and a Tri-Peoples Peace Agenda. A young peoples’ peace agenda was also developed f