Content
Mindanao and the surrounding island groups are characterised by numerous violent political and social conflicts. The armed conflict between the Philippine government and the communist rebel group in eastern Mindanao and between the Philippine government and Muslim separatist groups in western and central Mindanao are usually at the centre of attention. Studies suggest that one of the main reasons for the increased propensity for violence among young people in Mindanoa is their frustration with the stagnating peace processes in Mindanao. In many cases, peace education approaches in formal and non-formal education are not sufficiently culturally and gender-sensitive when it comes to preventing violent extremism. Civil society programmes and youth initiatives for peace development and violence prevention do not adequately address the needs of vulnerable young people such as school dropouts, members of indigenous communities or internally displaced persons.
Objective
Selected governmental and non-governmental actors contribute to gender-sensitive, youth-orientated peacebuilding and non-violent conflict transformation in selected areas of Mindanao.
Approach
Peace-building approaches of formal educational institutions are adapted with a view to preventing violent extremism. Approaches of selected youth initiatives and civil society actors are adapted to the needs of vulnerable young people and made accessible to them. Training measures on the conflict-sensitive use of digital media. In addition, local authorities are advised on the integration of youth and peacebuilding strategies into local development plans and their implementation. The establishment of stakeholder-specific exchange forums will promote Mindanao-wide learning, mutual knowledge transfer and networking