The Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC) are undertaking research on militias and armed violence in Mindanao.

The study (due to conclude in late 2010) aims to identify practical and political measures for the dignified and sustainable disbanding of current militia members, and explore the ways in which militias become actors in peace processes. It will also study the effectiveness of various techniques of engaging militias in dialogue efforts.

The research will examine the multiple pressures and factors that lead to involvement or conscription in militias in Mindanao, and will explore how gender, religion and age are understood, manipulated and contorted. Hopefully, the international peacemaking community will be encouraged to consider the key insights and suggestions that will be offered by the project.

The research is part of the project funded by the MacArthur Foundation entitled: Comparative Perspectives on Conflict Management in Asia. The project seeks to examine and compare conflict resolution approaches in Asia, and includes three focus countries—the Philippines, India and Indonesia. This two-year (2009-2010) multifaceted research process compares factors influencing violent conflict and efforts to resolve such conflict in the Asia Pacific region with particular focus on the relative efficacy of mediation and dialogue processes. The research is designed to inform conflict management and security policy in the region as well as to provide an empirical basis for further research, analysis, policy and programming.

HDC partner institutions in Indonesia that will undertake the study include the Peace Building Institute and the Indonesian Institute of Science.  In India, the HD Centre is collaborating with the Delhi Policy Group.