MANILA, Philippines – Human rights defenders have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to urge president-elect Sen. Benigno Aquino III to fulfill his campaign promise to promote human rights and prosecute the perpetrators of human rights violations in the Philippines.
The Philippines, a UNHRC member, is signatory to major UN human rights instruments.
Speaking Tuesday at the UNHRC’s 14th session in Geneva, Switzerland, Rex Reyes, Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights head, said the human rights of farmers, workers, indigenous peoples, social activists, religious, lawyers and journalists in various parts of the Philippines have been violated.
“We urge this Council to help us make the president-elect stand by his campaign promise,” he said.
Reyes said the UNHRC must urge the government to stop its counterinsurgency program dubbed as Operation Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch), which makes no distinction between armed combatants and civilians.
Its continued implementation has caused massive human rights violations the victims of which cut across all sectors in Philippine society.
Reyes said Aquino had pledged to prosecute all those involved in unexplained killings.
“That’s part of the agenda (of the incoming administration),” he quoted Aquino as saying.
Judicial reform is so important. There has to be closure as soon as possible, which means not the usual average of six years.
A total of 1,192 cases of unexplained killings, 205 forced disappearances and 1,028 cases of torture have occurred in the country since 2001, according to Reyes, National Council of Churches in the Philippines general secretary.
He cited the Maguindanao massacre in November last year and the arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal last Feb. 6.
Reyes formally thanked UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Philip Alston for his trailblazing efforts into the issues of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Alston’s report and recommendations on the Philippines in 2008, as well as his report to the 14th Session, are outstanding pieces of work that human rights advocates and defenders in the Philippines find very instructive and helpful, he added. — Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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