Phillipines: Shaping rights awareness

Barangay Lao Lao is one of many communities in Mindanao where people have experienced frequent displacement due to years of conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Due to a lack of awareness about the rights of civilians affected by war, communities have faced challenges in coping and living within a conflict zone. Oxfam has been working with partners, local government units, and communities to raise awareness of the rights of displaced women, men, and children. Kapitana Amnah has witnessed the changes that are taking place in her community.

Oxfam has been working with partners, local government units, and communities to raise awareness of the rights of displaced women, men, and children.

Kapitana Amnah has witnessed the changes that are taking place in her community.

“People were not aware of their rights as civilians affected by war. They didn't know where to go for help and didn't know the government's roles and responsibilities for displaced people,” says Kapitana Amnah, an accomplished Moro mother who is now in her second term as the village leader of Barangay Lao-Lao.

Oxfam and our partners have provided training to the local government units, agencies and communities on rights and the protection from threats, risks and disasters caused by conflicts. As the leader of the village, Amnah encourages women to voice their needs and problems in the village council and to other local government units and agencies.

Encouraging female participation

“Women were afraid and shy to speak out, but after the rights awareness training on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID, principles on rights of IDPs) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC, the campaign for an end to all forms of violence against women and children), they are now confident to speak up,” says Kapitana Amnah.

Luminog Alid, the Barangay Secretary of Lao-Lao who also attended the training, found that Oxfam's Free and Informed Decision component has helped the local government unit in resolving land conflict issues.

“Their training and workshop on rights have helped reduce the number of land dispute cases and incidences of violence against women and children,” says Luminog Alid. The women's rights training also boosted the confidence of women to share their concerns with leaders in the community.

Born for service

Kapitana Amnah's public service began a long way back. An excellent student from elementary to college, Kapitana Amnah was a student leader who won the support of her friends to serve for the welfare of the student body. She represented Muslims in school activities and even joined a beauty pageant and used her prize on the procurement of mosquito sprays for the community. She also became a Barangay Health Volunteer and nurtured five children while studying as a midwife in college.

Though fulfilling her dreams, Kapitana Amnah's path to leadership was not easy. Moro women, Muslim natives of Mindanao, have limited space in politics and are often challenged by their male counterparts.

However, through her determination and ability in delivering basic services, Kapitana Amnah has captured the hearts and minds of the community. Her presence has driven female participation in the area, and has inspired women in the community and even outside Barangay Lao-Lao. She successfully leads a Bayanihan, a community activity where everybody participates. “If you do the work first, then the rest will follow,” she reflects.

Local elections in the Philippines are due to be held in May 2007 and Kapitana Amnah, has not yet decided whether to pursue another term of public service. However, she is optimistic that even if she doesn't run for public office next year, she will still continue to help and deliver basic services in her community.

“Public service should not be tied down with job title or position. It's about helping the community with your heart and mind ”“ a duty and responsibility of every citizen,” she concludes.

Oxfam's program

In central Mindanao, Oxfam has delivered a combination of direct basic services including providing seeds and fingerlings; training on soap production; constructing tube wells and latrines; and public health promotion. Through training, we also support local government units and agencies in leadership, management, negotiation, and disaster management skills. Another priority is working on disaster preparedness.