Manila Times

THERE is an advancement in protecting human rights in the Philippines, but much work still needs to be done, human rights group Amnesty International said Sunday.

Jeselle Papa, spokesperson for Amnesty Philippines, stressed that while the Philippines has enacted laws and lobbied for initiatives that aims to protect human rights, the limited awareness of the Universal Declaration of Hu­­man Rights, both from the government and the people, is disrupting progress.

Papa was referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ formal announcement of its support and co-sponsorship of the Universal Moratorium on Capital Punishment since October 10, 2007 and reports that the United Nations Human Rights Council lauded the Philippines for being vigilant in addressing abuses on women and children, children under detention, and defending the social and cultural rights of people, including migrant workers, disabled persons and indigenous peoples.

However, there were also reports that 17 countries blasted the Philippines’ record over at the UN rights conference in Geneva, which Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor denied. He quoted a US head of delegation as saying, “the US congratulates [Executive] Secretary [Eduardo] Ermita for the engagement in this process and for introducing best practices.”

Blancaflor also quoted Switzerland as saying that “Switzerland views positively the measures adopted by the Philippine authorities in the abolition of extra judicial executions and welcomes the cooperation it has developed in this regard.”

Japan also commented that “We appreciate the various measures taken by the Government of the Philippines so far, such as the establishment of the Human Rights Office in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the establishment of a special task force to handle relevant cases and the strengthening of the witness protection program.”

Papa noted that while the Philippines has done such measures, it still needs stricter implementation.

“The rights to life, values, sanitation, health care are not being enjoyed by the majority of our people and the laws on anti-torture and anti-discrimination are yet to be passed,” Papa said prior to the staging of the Riders with a Cause, Small Place Tour on Sunday.

The caravan, joined by 200 participants from Bagbaguin Cycling Club riders, Pugadlawin Philippines, Commission on Human Rights, Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and Amnesty International, was staged to jumpstart the 60-day countdown to the 60th founding anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 2008.

The UN declaration advocates the right to equality, freedom from discrimination, right to life, liberty and personal security, freedom from slavery, freedom from torture and degrading treatment, freedom from arbitrary arrest and exile, and the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, among others.

RP signed declaration

Since its inception in 1948, around 40 countries voted in favor of the UN declaration, including the Philippines.

However, the country’s human rights record has been assailed by various groups for the unresolved extra judicial killings and mysterious disappearances linking government forces, allegedly caused by the passage of The Human Security Act in July 2007.

The Human Security Act, among others, allows authorities to detain suspects without warrant or charges for up to 72 hours. The government claimed that law was enacted to deal with the renewed conflict in Mindanao.

In the same year, the UN Special Rapporteur sent to the Philippines cited government’s failure to address the military counter-insurgency strategies that target civil society groups as fronts for communist insurgents.

Finally, a 2008 Transparency International report for the Philippines showed at least 33 people were alleged victims of political killings, while several people disappeared. The concern on political killings and disappearances peaked in 2007, at the advent of an intensified all-out war against terrorism.

– Llanesca T. Panti