Growing PHL-EU cooperation on human rights seen

AS we all prepare to celebrate this year’s international human-rights day, this is an occasion to take stock of what we have achieved so far and what still remains to be done. It is also a day for reflection on where the challenges lie, and as we witness the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it might sound commonplace, but there is still a long way to go. 
Today is also an opportunity to honor, remember and thank those who fought and are still fighting against human-rights abuses, everywhere in the world. It should also be a day to share some good news, some success stories in our common goal to advance the cause of human rights, be it through the fight against torture or violence against women and children, the promotion and protection of the Rights of the Child, or through support for human-rights defenders.

Human rights common interest for PHL, EU

For both the Philippines and the European Union (EU), the respect for human rights is a universal goal. Human rights, democracy and the rule of law are core values of the EU, and are embedded in the EU’s founding treaties. In the Philippines, human rights are guaranteed in the Constitution, and an independent Commission on Human Rights is monitoring compliance with them. On the international scene, the Philippines is an active proponent of human rights and were again elected into the UN Human Rights Council recently. Only this summer, the Philippines ratified the Rome Statute and became the 117th state party to the International Criminal Court. This development is particularly welcome because it shows the commitment of the Philippines to international criminal justice.

EU’s cooperation with PHL on human rights

One of the EU’s human-rights tools is the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), a cooperation program designed to support the development and consolidation of democracy, rule of law and of human rights worldwide. With a global budget of €1.104 million between 2007 and 2013, this program provides assistance to civil society in the Philippines in various areas such as support for human-rights defenders, assistance for children in armed conflict, the fight against violence against women, the promotion of rights and participation of indigenous peoples and other marginalized parts of society, or the fight against child trafficking and other forms of child abuse. The EU just launched this year a “call for proposals” for EIDHR along these priorities, and has committed a total of €900 000 (or P54 million) to support related actions by civil-society organizations.

EU assisting kin of victims of extralegal killings

The EU-Philippines Justice Support Program (EPJUST) aimed at assisting Philippine society (government agencies as well as relevant constitutional bodies and civil society) in bringing an end to extralegal killings (ELKs) and enforced disappearances (EDs). The project started in November 2009 and ended on July 31, 2011, with a budget of €3.9 million or P234 million.

Under one project, component grants for a total of P53 million were awarded to civil-society organizations to provide assistance to victims of ELKs and EDs as well as their families. For instance, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) provided various services to victims, such as medical assistance, educational assistance, legal and paralegal assistance, psychosocial therapy, livelihood support and sanctuary. In total, 258 persons (42 percent were minors) were assisted in Luzon between July 2010 and August 2011. Be it through medical and psychiatric assistance for torture victims, the placement of victims and their families in sanctuaries, or through support to the livelihood generation of families to compensate for the loss of income previously generated by victims, the grants under EPJUST were able to improve the lives of those affected by ELKs and EDs.

While this is but one example and there is definitely a need for more action over the whole spectrum of human rights, I still hope this may serve as a case of a concrete impact of our joint actions and mutual commitment to human rights. –Ambassador Guy Ledoux, Businessmirror