MANILA, March 15 -- In the Philippines, women play an important role and often take the lead in mediation and conflict settlement within Filipino indigenous people communities.

Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las, Bo-i of the Obu Manuvu and incumbent chairperson of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), highlighted this during a forum advocating the active participation of women in customary and informal justice (CIJ) systems at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday morning (Manila time).

"IP women often act as mediators in disputes, drawing upon their interpersonal skills and knowledge of customary norms to facilitate dialogue and reach consensus among conflicting parties. Their involvement promotes fairness and inclusivity in disput...