Organizational Profile
A Brief history:
Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace in the Philippines was established out of the need for complex Human Rights issues, Peace and Development and Environmental problems of the Bangsamoro communities in the Philippines. This initiative of dynamic Peace, Human Rights and Environmental Advocates create an atmosphere for a collaborative effort of the Bangsamoro youth and people’s organizations and other social entities in working together for comprehensive and non-violent solutions to the present social and economic crisis in the poor and marginalized communities in the country.
Organized in late 2003, CENTER FOR JUSTPEACE has been registered to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as non-profit, non-stock and non-political organization, where environmental issues, peace and development as well as gender issue are its primary concern.
In the last Three (3) years of operation, CENTER FOR JUSTPEACE has already significantly acquired, developed and enriched its experiences in various fields such as:
ADVOCACY/CAMPAIGN/NETWORKING
PEACEBUILDING
&
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
CENTER FOR JUSTPEACE Advocacy is done in close collaboration with multi sectoral groups that has concerns with Human Rights, Peace and Development, Gender, Environmental protection and the differently able Persons.
CENTER FOR JUSTPEACE is a member—network of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Mindanao People Caucus (MPC), Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN), Kutawatu Coalition of Development NGO (K-CODE), Cotabato City Transparent and Accountable Network (CCTAN), Bantay Ceasefire, Mindanao Invisible Link - Cotabato Cluster and Tiyakap Kalilintad
Convenor/Founding member of Young Moro Forum (YMF), Mindanao Interfaith Human Rights Advocates (MIHRA), Taskforce Tiyakap Mindanao (TTM)., Mindanao Interfaith Coalition Against Injustice (MICAI) and founding member of the CENTER FOR JUSTPEACE IN ASIA, a network of peace movement from all over Asia based in Hong Kong Sar.
VISION
Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace in the Philippines Inc. (BCJP) envisions a community where people live in harmony, peace and in tranquility through individual, family, social and community transformation.
MISSION
To identify individuals and groups who are involved with grassroots communities using traditional methods of peacemaking, conflict transformation and development and to help create critical solidarity and collaboration among these groups to help counter the various forces of oppression and exploitation of natural resources work and defend the rights of the marginalized Bangsamoro communities and facilitate their initiatives to uplift their living condition
GOAL
Established a Self Reliant community that promotes peace; enjoy human rights; observe justice; equality and freedom; and protects environment through culturally relevant peacemaking, peacebuilding conflict transformation and development
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. Document Human Rights and environmental abuses in the communities where few other organizations can safely operate
2. Strengthen unity among Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization and indigenous peoples groups.
3. Uphold and defend the rights and welfare of the marginalized sector of society
4. Launch educational campaigns aim at raising the consciousness of the Bangsamoro people and their communities on issues affecting their lives
5. Support and participate in any non-violent solution of the Bangsamoro people for genuine development and Justpeace restoration in Mindanao
6. To mobilize financial resources for community-based development project and support self-reliant efforts of the community
7. To foster interfaith and inter tribe dialogue with the purpose of developing a common contemporary challenges.
Present Programs:
Human Rights:
Human Rights Violation Documentation - Bangsamoro Political detainees and other victims of abduction – in collaboration with the Taskforce Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP and the Consortium of the Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS)
Advocacy/Campaign
a. Against Anti-Terror Bill –
b. Anti E.O 546
c. Supporting the Anti Torture Bill
Through a series of Fora, Symposia and Seminars, Signature Campaign, Press Releases/Statement/Conferences - target of this activity is the Civil Society Organization, Students, the Academe and the Moro communities – assisted by the taskforce Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Human Rights Education/Orientation – Beneficiaries of these initiatives were various civic, sectoral and religious organization and Moro in Davao Oriental province- in collaboration with the taskforce Detainees of the Philippines. (TFDP)
Peacebuilding:
Bangsamoro Youth Congress – an attempt to unite Bangsamoro youth from the 13 ethno-linguistic groups divided by cultural/traditional practices and geographic location. The project assisted by the British Council through its HATAG KALINAW Mindanao program. Major provinces in Mindanao who are dominated by Moro were clustered into 4, Cluster 1 comprising Central Mindanao, Cluster 2 is SoCSarGen, Cluster 3 Eastern Mindanao and Cluster 4 is Western Mindanao. After cluster caucus for these 4 clusters, Bangsamoro Youth Congress will be conducted as culminating activities where the major issues and concerns as well as the recommendations from the caucus will be discussed and given due action which will be identified by the participants in the Congress.
Awareness Raising on the GRP-MILF Peace Process - To strengthen the participation of the Bangsamoro youth in the GRP-MILF peace talks with the end in view of responding to the special needs and protection of children in armed conflict situation. The project is supported by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Launching of a Young Moro Forum – Series of Youth consultation to the Bangsamoro youth it will be culminated in a launching of the Young Moro Forum – in partnership with the Mindanao People Caucus (MPC)
School Of Peace – identify and send participants to attend 4 – months School Of Peace in Bangalore, India to encourage young people from around Asia to become agents of transformation in the task of building cultures and communities of justpeace. – the project is supported by the Center for Justpeace in Asia (CJPA)
Conceptualization and Development of Module/Manual of Culture of Peace in a Moro Perspectives
People with Disability Empowerment – the project is supported by the Handicap International (HI) where differently people persons organize and train.
Programs and Initiatives
1. PEACEBUILDING
2. HUMAN RIGHTS
3. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
4. SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(SEED)
5. RELIEF AND REHABILITATION
Project Management Staff
(PMS)
BOBBY BENITO
Over All Coordinator
NORODIN ‘ford” SAMAD
Executive Director
&
Social Empowerment and Economic Development
(SEED)
AILYNNE M. BENITO
Writer/Admin
HALIMA C. ABDULLAH
Human Rights/Bookkeeper
RASUL KULAT
Peacebuilding/Finance Officer
RAIDAH ABUBAKAR
Program Officer Relief & Rehab
WILLIAM D. BANZALI
Advocacy Program Officer/Spokesperson
SARAH SALIK
Research
KAHAR BENITO
Logistics
ANWARUDIN ESMAEL
Volunteer
BOBBY ASIM
Volunteer
NASH SALIAO
Volunteer/Photographer
ISMAEL LULAYVolunteer
