The Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), an international non-governmental organization (INGO) sworn to work for peace worldwide, has accepted its membership in the International Contact Group (ICG), which was created to help move the oft-stalled Mindanao peace process forward.

Dr. David Gorman, CHD country representative in the Philippines, confirmed this Friday in an email to the Manila Bulletin, saying his group welcomed and accepted the invitation to join the ICG.

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) invited CHD, together with the United States-based The Asia Foundation (TAF) to become members of the newly-created ICG.

GRP and MILF negotiators met with representatives of states and INGOs invited to join the ICG met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday. CHD was pleased with the invitation.

“The creation of the ICG is a significant step forward. It represents a unique and important accomplishment towards resolving the conflict in Mindanao,” Gorman said.

He cited the significant role the ICG will play in sustaining the peace process.

“It demonstrates the commitment of the two parties, the successful efforts of the Malaysian facilitator, but most importantly it will help generate positive momentum for the next critical phase of the peace process which will formally begin once the ICG is finalized,” the CHD official said.

GRP peace panel chairman Ambassador Rafael Seguis and his MILF counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, signed on September 15 the framework agreement for the ICG, which is tasked to help move forward the 12 years old Mindanao peace process.

Its membership “will consist of interested parties accompanying the peace process preferably drawn from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union as well as accredited INGO (international non-governmental organization) to be invited by the parties in consultation with the Third Pary Facilitator (Malaysia).

Its website says Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue , based in Geneva, Switzerland, is “an independent organization… dedicated to helping improve the global response to armed conflict” through “mediating between warring parties and providing support to the broader mediation community.”

CHD has been in the Philippines since 2005 and has offices in Manila and Jolo, Sulu. The Swiss INGO has since been working in Mindanao, helping all parties to the conflict achieve a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace.

Included in the ICG members' responsibilities, said the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue , are “to restore trust between the parties, sustain the interest of the parties, and help them resolve the conflict in collaboration with the Malaysian facilitator.”

ICG members are expected to attend the peace talks in Malaysia, act as bridge between GRP and MILF, provide expertise and conduct research to advance the peace process that had collapsed many times in the past.

GRP and MILF negotiations started on January 7, 1997, but have yet to strike a final peace agreement. The latest breakout of violence in August 2008 forced the evacuation of over 600,000 people, majority of them Moros.

Fighting flared up after the aborted signing on Aug. 5, 2008 of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MoA-AD). The MoA-AD suffered a fatal blow when the Supreme Court declared it as "unconstitutional."

Formal negotiations have yet to resume.