EU calls for monitoring mechanism on crimes

The European Union (EU) has called for the establishment of a National Monitoring Mechanism (NMM) that would strengthen transparency and accountability of the Philippine government and the society as a whole in addressing extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances in the country.

Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the Delegation of the EU to the Philippines said the NMM will be supported by the EU under the EU-Philippine Justice Support Programme (EU-JUST) through financing and training.

He said the proposed mechanism will serve both as a monitoring and advisory body that is inclusive, credible and respected by both the government and civil society. Its main task is to monitor the nation’s progress in resolving human rights violations, particularly extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances.

The NMM would also assess the measures taken to address the overall phenomenon both in terms of inputs and outputs, MacDonald further said during the public forum on the Establishment of a National Monitoring Mechanism on extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances held at Filipinas Heritage Library in Makati City.

He said: “For example, how much resources are devoted to these issues? Are they sufficient and timely whether in terms of human and financial resources or in terms of applicable policies and legislation? The outcome of the efforts should be measured by the evolution in the number of incidents, number of cases filed, in the number of prosecutions and the number of convictions.”

The envoy added that the NMM as an advisory body should consider the views of journalists, civil society, police, soldiers, prosecutors, judges, in coming up with resources, procedures, policy and legislation in line with the mechanism.

“The views from various sectors should be of great help in identifying and promoting an approach towards a resolution, maybe an agreed baseline which will be respected by all the stakeholders,” MacDonald said.

However, he clarified that the design, status, membership, agenda and the resources needed for the NMM and its success lie in the hands of local stakeholders,

“It is the Philippine stakeholders, Philippine society, who will decide how Philippine society as a whole should monitor the nation’s progress in resolving the issue. It should not be a plug-in solution imported from elsewhere,” he said.

For his part, EP-JUST Team Leader Detlev Mehlis said that ideally, there should not be a monitoring mechanism because it would mean that there’s nothing to be monitored.

The reality, however, points otherwise.

“The reality is human rights violations exist and the monitoring mechanism can help in preventing it,” Mehlis said.

Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima agreed, saying that the NMM would boost efforts in putting an end to the abuses being committed against suspected enemies of the state.

“Vigilance is the order of the day,” de Lima said. –Llanesca T. Panti, Manila Times