HUMANITY AMIDST CONFLICTS 38 showed their practice in negotiations among began, andwith regard to loans secured in order themselves. This was undertaken in one ofthe fora to plant but plants were not harvested. that they held with General Cabuay after an encounter. From the negotiations, the community Prof. Ferrer ended her statement by expressing her was able to seek certain measures, such as thanks and assured that they (the participants) compensation for damagesof farm products that have a lot to learn from each other. Finally, she were ready to be harvested when the conflict said thatthis is just the beginning. Presentor2: MS. LAN MERCADO Country Director, OXFAM Ms. Lan Mercado shared the OXFAM’s experiences on thesituation in Central Mindanao since the all-out war in 2000. The OXFAM Organization OXFAMis not just a service provider but an international organization working in more than 80 countries all over the world. It is adevelopment organization as well as a campaign organization promoted, in the absence of a national law. whoseorganizationalidentity, the work that they Essentially, all of their activities are aimed in do in the Philippines, form as a task force. For ensuring full respect for the rights of an individual them, IHL andthesituation in Central Mindanao in accordance with international standards. is a humanitarian endeavor where they aim to alleviate the suffering from extreme form of The Humanitarian Protection poverty oftheirclients. OXFAM, with its work on humanitarian protection, subscribes to international standards. OXFAM’s Concern on IHL The other important aspect of humanitarian With its humanitarian concern, the emphasis of protection strategies is services or humanitarian their workis to protect civilian populations protection advocacies that are conducted in an who are affected by war. They are not only impartial manner. While its work is around concerned in conflict situations, but also in humanitarian protection, OXFAM challenges the situations of natural disasters. Among the warring parties and the governmentto respect and recipients of their services are the membersof the uphold State and non-State armedforces or armed groups instruments whetherin conflict situations or whoarealso entitled to certain formsofprotection. natural disasters. In the absenceof local capacity. The international standards are subscribed to and OXFAM determines whetherthey would intervene IHL and the core Human Rights