MANILA, Philippines – Members of civil society organizations (CSOs) received an extra tool from veteran journalists in monitoring human rights issues in the country.
A total of 12 CSOs including Haribon Foundation, Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace in the Philippines Inc., Alternate Forum for research in Mindanao, Hope for the Youth Foundation Inc., Green Forum-Western Visayas Inc., Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum, Holy Rosary Parish Church, Task Force Mapalad Inc., INCITE Gov, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Mindanao Peace Weavers, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and Workers Assistance Center Inc. attended a 4-day workshop on investigative reporting on human rights this month.
During the workshop, the participants took part in discussions on investigative journalism, conducting interviews, taking and editing photos and videos and journalism ethics.
The technical aspects of the workshop were conducted by VERA Files trustees Luz Rimban, Ellen Tordesillas, Booma Cruz and Chit Estella. Human rights advocate lawyer Harry Roque discussed the concept of human rights and the means of gathering evidence through documentation and testimonies.
The CSO participants are expected to produce their stories and submit their outputs to VERA Files for feedback and advice. The reports will be disseminated to various media and will be posted on the special human rights section of the VERA Files website. Some of the stories have already been published in major broadsheets.
The project, with funding from the British Embassy’s Bilateral Program, aims to sustain a partnership between journalists and civil society groups towards human rights monitoring through training and production of in-depth reports on human rights issues using multimedia platforms.
It is one of the winners from a competition for innovative human rights initiatives dubbed Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan (KaSaMa).
Meanwhile, British Ambassador Stephen Lillie was delighted to support VERA Files’ work with civil society groups through this project.
“Our new coalition government in the UK has made clear that values such as support for human rights and the rule of law are an indivisible part of our foreign policy. Accountability and transparency to protect democratic freedom and human rights is something that Britain supports around the world, including here in the Philippines. An important element of this project is to shine a light on stories and issues that otherwise may not receive enough attention. The project spearheaded by VERA Files will enable these civil society organizations to improve their production of in-depth reports on human rights issues using various media platforms,” said Lillie. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
