In the towns of Barira and North Upi on the Philippine island of Mindanao, justice
systems have adopted indigenous methods of resolving conflict, resulting in greater
judicial transparency, fewer allegations and disputes, less harassment, and reduced
attorney fees according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In Barira, a governing
council of indigenous elders and Islamic religious leaders oversee each conflict;
in North Upi, where the population is almost equally divided between Christians,
Muslims, and indigenous Tiruray, the people have established a "tri-people
conflict resolution process" to govern the justice system.
Tebtebba, an indigenous research and policy institute based in Manila, has
spearheaded the Independent International Commission of Indigenous Peoples
for Mediation and Conflict. The commission wants to "internationalize" similar
indigenous methods of peace-building and conflict resolution.
