The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Women, Children, and Youth in Conflict Zones in the Southern Philippines: The Experiences of Internally Displaced People from Zamboanga and Marawi

This paper examines the risk for gender-based violence in conflict zones in the southern Philippines, focusing on the experiences of people displaced by the 2013 Zamboanga Siege and the 2017 Marawi Siege. The researcher examines the dynamics of violence, conflict, and war from a gendered perspective and illuminates the continuum of gender-based violence, ranging from personal to community based and/or state-sponsored violence during war and conflict. Drawing upon interviews and focus group discussions with the internally displaced people (IDPs) in evacuation centers and/or transitory sites, and duty-bearers from Zamboanga City and the Islamic City of Marawi, the researcher discusses common themes and nuances in the experiences of private and community and/or state-sponsored violence among women, children, and youth, and the impact thereof on their well-being.

The researcher exposes the incidences of lawlessness and violence experienced by IDPs in Zamboanga, the vulnerability of women, children, and youth to domestic violence and/or human trafficking, and the covert attempts to recruit young men into extremist groups. Moreover, this research looks into the experiences of militarism and other forms of gendered violence among IDPs from Marawi City and the risk of clan feud upon their return to their communities. This study also illuminates the issues and service needs of IDPs who relocated either to transitory sites, in the case of evacuees from Zamboanga, or home-based evacuation centers in Iligan City, in the case of evacuees from Marawi, and the challenges they confront due to the lack of affordable and/or permanent housing, livelihood opportunities, and health care interventions.

The researcher highlights the links between racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and social class inequality in the Philippines and the vulnerability of people displaced by armed conflict. This paper highlights the human rights issues confronting IDPs from Zamboanga and Marawi, and local and international responses to their situation.