PASKUHAN SA KAMPO 09

Arroyo signs anti-torture bill into law

Arroyo signs anti-torture bill into law
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:58:00 11/13/2009

Filed Under: Human Rights, Laws
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) The Philippines finally has an anti-torture law after 22 years.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, which criminalizes “torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo.

To read more...

Anti-Torture Countdown

Anti-Torture Countdown

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Phillipine Alliance of Human Rights (PAHRA)

Press Release

Signing the Freedom from Torture Law
see also : Open Letter to Ms Arroyo, 30 September 2009

Paris - Quezon City : 20 October 2009 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Phillipine Alliance of Human Rights (PAHRA) wish to convey their concern regarding the delay of the signing of the new Anti-Torture Act of the Phillipines despite the fact that it has been adopted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Our organisations are convinced that the bill will constitue a crucial and fundamental step for human rights protection in the Philippines after decades of civil society's efforts to have domestic legislation on the criminalization of torture.

FIDH and PAHRA consider that in signing the Anti-Torture Act the Phillipines may influence other States in Asia to take similar positive steps. The adoption of this bill will be a significantly positive step towards the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights bodies which have called upon the Philippines' authorities to elaborate specific domestic law criminalizing torture as stated in the country's Constitution.

Emmanouil Athanasiou
Responsable du Bureau Asie - Head of Asia Desk

(FIDH) -
International Federation for Human Rights
Fédération
Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme
17, Passage de la Main
d'Or
75011 Paris, France

Tél.: 0033 1 43 55 25 18
Fax.: 0033 1 43 55 18 80

RIGHTS GROUPS COMMEMORATE AND OFFERED PRAYERS FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

30 OCTOBER 2009
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
Contact Person: Don Pangan (Campaigns Officer) 09174740039/09081189575

RIGHTS GROUPS COMMEMORATE AND OFFERED PRAYERS FOR THE
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

As we commemorate our friends and relatives who have passed away this coming all souls day, the human rights community through the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and its partner organizations led an activity to commemorate human rights defenders. The said activity was held at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo Manila.

“This activity was offered to those who have dedicated their time in upholding the rights of the people, they have been involve in the struggles and even sacrificed their lives to defend dignity.” Said Max de Mesa, Chairperson of PAHRA.

The group displayed the pictures, lighted candles and offered prayers and made a pledge to continue their cause. Among the list of the human rights defenders were; Sr. Mariani Dimaranan SFIC a religious figure and founder of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Enrique Torres, a professor and leader of the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PHILRIGHTS), Lean Alejandro, a student activist who was assassinated during Cory administration. Eric Cabanit, peasant leader and an agrarian reform advocate, Felimon Popoy Lagman, student activist and labor leader who was assassinated during the present administration and his brother a labor lawyer Hermon Lagman, who was a victim of enforced disappearance, Alecks Pabico, campus journalist and reporter/researcher of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and all those who are in the long list of heroes and martyrs who have defended and fought for human rights, peace and social justice, according to the group.

“What these people have fought for is not yet done, we have to continue their fight for humanity.” Said de Mesa. “We call on president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to sign the Anti-Torture Bill, the both chambers of the House of Representatives for the passage of the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Bill and the ratification of the Optional Protocol on Convention Against Torture and the International Convention on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Through these laws we are putting justice to the death of these people who have offered their time and even their lives for the society.” De Mesa concluded. ###

HAVE THE WILL, SIGN THE ANTI-TORTURE BILL

The Philippines as a State Party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has agreed that torture, among others, is a crime under international law. It knows that torture seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being. Furthermore, the systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity. Torture must be abhorred.

While martial law was put to an end by an uprising of people, torture is still perpetrated unabatedly and with impunity. The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) has documented the torture of more than 500 individuals during the present administration. UN Special Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, as well as the European Union’s Needs Assessment Team underscored the persistence of the torture phenomenon which in relation to arrests and detention is done with presumed regularity.

In 2001, the people willed to end the impunity consequent of plunder’s reign. Now is the time for all to will to expunge the impunity of torture and to effectively address its root causes in the violations of economic, social and cultural rights.
The immediate enactment of the legislation is necessary to initially protect the rights of people to be free from torture, and would be a sign of the international status of the Philippines as a defender of human rights.
Furthermore, there are still many countries in the Asian and ASEAN region where a law criminalizing torture is absent. Given the Philippines’ political weight and membership in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the signing gains an edge to influence others to take this positive step as well.

And lastly, the Freedom from Torture Law is necessary in order for the legal embodiment of the right not to be tortured to come full circle in the Philippines. The measure will ensure that the articles under Section 12 of the Bill of Rights under the Philippine Constitution, which stipulates the right to be free from torture, freedom from illegal detention, freedom from forced confessions and the right of torture victims to receive compensation and rehabilitation services, will redound to the lives of the people.

We strongly advocate the sentiments of the UN Committee Against Torture that: “The enactment of a domestic legal framework banning the use of torture in the Philippines is an absolute necessity.”

PAHRA thus urges President Arroyo to claim her place in our country’s history as the Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the AFP who absolutely outlawed torture and made it unjustifiable under any circumstances. By immediately signing and enacting the Anti-Torture law she will bring the country in compliance with its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). By this act, she will strengthen the Filipino’s sense of justice and her administration’s will to break impunity.

Max M. de Mesa
Chairperson
October 25, 2009

Filipinos' aspiration to have a law banning the use of torture in place in the Philippines.

October 31, 2009

Dear Friends,

It seems the Office of the President officially received the enrolled Anti_torture Bill on the 15th of October, 2009. Hence the necessity for us to recalibrate our countdown by two days. Its is Day 16 today. The 30th day is on the 14th of November.

As unanimously decided by all the members of the Civil Society Watch for the Enactment of the Anti-Torture Law, we held our Press conference yesterday which conveyed the Filipinos' aspiration to have a law banning the use of torture in place in the Philippines.

Here, our two representatives, Mr. Ernesto Anasarias from BALAY, representing the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC), and Director Karen Dumpit of the Commission on Human Rights, firmly pronounced that we are expecting the President to sign the enrolled bill. They also explained the features of the bill detailing the bills intention to protect the people against torture and Ill-Treatment, as well as provide victims, justice, compensations and other forms of redress and restitution. Our representatives also encouraged and called for all stakeholders to have interest and give importance to the crafting of the measure's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), a vital yet often neglected part of the legislation process. A participative and inclusive IRR formulation process will help guarantee the effectiveness and robustness of the Anti-Torture Law and ensure that this landmark piece of legislation's purpose will surely redound to the lives of the Filipino people.

There was a good media turnout yesterday. The media sector was well represented. Most major dailies, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, television stations such as GMA7, ABC5 and other networks as well as radio outfits were there to capture what we had to say. The host of media practitioners energetically and astutely put forward many questions.

Our Media Event yesterday is sure to have impact in terms of spurring public opinion and support as well as on convincing our country's leader that this is the correct and moral path to take.

We would like to thank our United Agianst Torture Coalition secretariat, Amnesty International Philippines and the Commission on Human Rights Philippines for the well-oiled and systematic manner in which the media event was organized.

Friends, please find attached our streamer for the event which also represents our upcoming actions in the days to come.

Kindly stand by for further posts on other undertakings to advance the installment of the Anti-Torture Law.

For responses to this notification, kindly make use of opcatph@yahoo.com. Thank you.

All the best to everyone!

Civil Society Watch for the Enactment of the Anti-Torture Law countdown:

DAY 16

Ellecer Ebro Carlos
PDRP-STOV Team
BALAY Rehabilitation Center, Inc.