On January 21, 2019, citizens in the Southern Mindanao Island of the Philippines voted in a historic referendum to proceed with a second vote that would give the region greater self-governing powers. This vote was a “key element” of a deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) towards the resolution of the decades-long Moro conflict. The conflict between the government and armed rebel groups—including the MILF—stems from historical marginalization of Muslim and indigenous communities. In a statement, the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) welcomed the positive outcome as “a harbinger of a broader and sustained process of democracy, not only in Mindanao but in the country as a whole.” Read the full statement here.

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