Basta Run Against Torture VIII on June 26, 2014

DEAR FRIENDS,

Warmest greetings from the Medical Action Group (MAG)!

The United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)- Philippines commemorates the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture every June 26, through BASTA! Run Against Torture (BRAT).

BRAT is a symbolic call to various stakeholders to take concrete and effective steps to address the routine use of torture through the effective implementation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and putting in place structural changes that can help facilitate the quest of torture survivors for justice. We are doing this flagship activity for the eighth time.

This year, we are expecting to gather more than 300 participants for the run. We will assemble at the front of the University of the Philippines Oblation Statue at around 7:00 am and after a brief program, the run will start at 8:00 am which will take the route of PHILCOA going to Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon Avenue corner EDSA.

In this regard, we would like you and your organization to participate in this activity. We are also requesting you to wear a blue T-shirt for us to have a uniform color.

For your confirmation or inquiries, please free to contact us at telephone number 441.1073/433.1594 or email us at mag.1982@magph.org.

We are looking forward to your favorable response.

Thank you.

Respectfully yours,
(Sgd.)
Ms. Edeliza P. Hernandez, RN
Executive Director, Medical Action Group

Empowering the Torture Victims is a key in Fighting Impunity

UATC Support Statement on

Amnesty International’s Global Campaign Against Torture

13 May 2014

Empowering the Torture Victims is a key in Fighting Impunity

Torture is an affront to human life and dignity that cannot be justified under any circumstances in any parts of the world. 

The United Against Torture Coalition – Philippines (UATC) restates its commitments to fight against torture and end impunity by upholding the basic human rights and dignity of every individual as it joins the Amnesty International in the launching of the Global Campaign Against Torture. 

The global campaign, which will be carried out through holding of series of public events, is aimed to remind all States including the Philippine government of their obligations to respect and guarantee the right of every person to be free from torture and ill-treatment, to effectively bring those responsible to justice, and to guarantee reparative measures to victims and their families. 

“Wheel of torture” symbolizes culture of torture impunity in the Philippines

Press release

February 3, 2014

“Wheel of torture” symbolizes culture of torture impunity in the Philippines

The existence of “wheel of torture” game at a Philippine National Police (PNP) detention facility in Biñan, Laguna where detainees are reportedly tortured by authorities and its discovery by the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) last week only shows of what it seems everywhere before you is a sight of impunity.

“While noting the action by the CHRP in its inspection of the PNP lock-up cell in Laguna, is deeply concerned on the existence of such detention facility which only confirms the consistent and on-going allegations of routine and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, “ the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines said.

Make Philippines Torture Free Zone!-UATC

Make Philippines Torture Free Zone!

Photo by MAG

On its seventh year, as it marks the June 26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, members of the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines and various anti-torture advocates runs in the “Basta! Run Against Torture 7” (BRAT VII) to call on the government to make the Philippines a Torture Free Zone.

To make the Philippines a torture free zone, the UATC said “among others we need to ensure that all authorities including jail staff are fully aware of the Anti-Torture Law that reported violations will not be tolerated and will be investigated, and that perpetrators will be prosecuted.”

“While we laud the government on the enactment of the Anti-Torture Law (Republic Act No. 9745) in November 2009, but it has so far been implemented without diligence and effectiveness since many torture allegations have not been effectively investigated by authorities and detainees who are in custody do not have immediate access to legal and medical services,” Ernesto Anasarias, Executive Director of Balay Rehabilitation Center and UATC spokesperson said.

While noting that many agencies have a mandate to investigate complaints of torture and ill-treatment, the UATC is concerned at the high number of complaints of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, the limited number of investigations carried out by the government in such cases, and the very limited number of convictions in those cases which are investigated.

The group reiterates its concerns on the increasing complaints in relation to the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law which has revealed various different deficiencies from documentation, investigation to prosecution of torture cases, which embolden perpetrators in doing acts of torture.

“The authorities’ partiality not to comply with the Anti-Torture Law runs in the ‘institutional impunity’ we have right now. Take the recent case where Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim including a senior police officer, interrogated a rape suspect in full view of the public, as Mayor Lim extracted a confession and forced the suspect to admit he had raped a woman, clearly violated the Anti-Torture Law,” Max de Mesa, Chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) claimed.

The group underscored the necessity that for the government to make the Philippines a torture free zone, it should publicly announce a clear policy of “total elimination" of all acts of torture.

The UATC-Philippines is led by Amnesty International-Philippines, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Medical Action Group (MAG) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). Other human rights groups also joined the run like PAHRA and Organisation Mondiale Contra la Torture (OMCT) or World Organization Against Torture.-end

Philippines: Torturers evade justice on Aquino’s watch

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Press release
26 June 2012

Philippines: Torturers evade justice on Aquino’s watch

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has failed to ensure that police officers charged with torture face justice under the country’s anti-torture law, Amnesty International said on the International Day against Torture.

In August 2010, a national television news programme broadcast a mobile-phone video of a police officer torturing criminal suspect Darius Evangelista while other officers at a Manila police station looked on. The footage showed Evangelista writhing in pain as the officer, identified as Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug, yanked a cord attached to the detainee’s penis and whipped him with a rope.

After a 22-year campaign, the Philippine Congress in 2009 passed the Anti-Torture Act (Republic Act 9745), which prescribes criminal penalties for torture and other ill-treatment. Under the doctrine of command responsibility, the law also establishes liability for superiors who fail to prevent or punish torture committed by their subordinates.

Rights groups urge Aquino to order elimination of all forms of torture -GMA News

Rights groups urge Aquino to order elimination of all forms of torture
February 25, 2012

On the 26th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising, human rights groups on Saturday urged President Benigno Aquino III to announce a policy of “total elimination” of the vestiges of Martial Law.

The United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines made the call, noting that despite Republic Act 9745  (or the law that criminalizes torture), reports on cases of torture being routinely practiced by authorities on arrested suspects are still piling up.

For his part, Ernesto A. Anasarias, executive director of Balay Rehabilitation Center and currently the head of UATC Secretariat, said authorties' "partial" compliance with the law has given rise to "institutional impunity" we have in the country.

“The persistence of torture casts doubts on the effectiveness of the law. Legal safeguards for arrested suspects and detainees are insufficient..., highlighted by failure to bring them promptly before a judicial authority, restricted access to lawyers and medical doctors, and failure to contact family member immediately after their arrest,” Anasarias added.

Update: Senate approved on its second reading the Philippine accession to OPCAT

The senate today (February 8, 2012) approved on its second reading the Philippine accession to OPCAT. The process took only a few minutes as there was no objection or any further comment from the senators at all. The Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Relations said that the final reading is set to take place on Tuesday, February 14. We need at least 16 senators (2/3 of the entire senate) to finally approve the accession. We are almost there.

Members of UATC and PAHRA joined the delegation. Representatives from PAHRA, Balay, MAG, TFDP, FIND, AFAD were there. A representative from the ICRC was also there as another resolution pertaining to the Geneva Conventions was also approved by the senate.

We thank everyone who have been part of our advocacy efforts since we started with the OPCAT ratification campaign several years ago with the support of RCT and APT, and other partners like the IRCT, among others. We are almost there in our campaign. We’ll send another delegation to the senate next week. Let’s hope for the best.

BASTA! Run Against Torture! (BRAT V)

 

Friday,  June 24, 2011

ASSEMBLY: 700 – 730 AM in front of the Department of Interior and Local Government Building (Mapagmahal St. corner EDSA)

Route: EDSA (in front of DILG) – East Ave. – QC Elliptical Road –PhilCOA – Commonwealth – Commission on Human Rights

700 runners from the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC),

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) ,Presidential Human Rights Committee,

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ),

Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

For more information, please contact Mei Orias of Amnesty International Philippines through the following contact numbers: mobile – 09996282066 / landline – 4338100 / email – meiorias@amnesty.org.ph