This paper documents the role of Meranaw women of Lanao, on the island of Mindanao, Philippines in mediating conflicts. In one type of violent conflicts called rido (family or clan feud), women are able to handle more effectively and apply culturally acceptable solutions to end disputes in their own way and time, without resorting to use of legal methods to settle lethal differences. To most Meranaw, rido means violence and other forms of physical conflict. Interestingly, they consider it as a response, rather than an initiation, to violence. It is an act of vengeance carried out by members of a Meranaw family or clan to settle differences that have led to a dispute between two individuals, families or kinship group. This paper will discuss indigenous peacemaking practices of Meranaw based on the taritib ago igma (consensus and precedent). This type of law is applied to family feuds since the Shari’ah court in the Philippines does not cover criminal cases such as homicide or murder. The case-study-descriptive method will be used to demonstrate the unique and various strategies of indigenous way of resolving feuds among Meranaw women. The paper concludes that much can be learned from the role of women as pacifiers and mediators. For instance, the local government units at all levels can tap women as pacifiers of feuds as they are proven to have effectively resolved feuds.

Authors:
Monalinda Doro, Mindanao State University-Main Campus, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Monalinda Doro is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Philippines

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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