LAUNCHING : CSO-Peoples Monitoring Mechanism

Date: December 8, 2011
Time: 2PM
Venue: CHR

The motivation of a systematic CSO-Peoples Monitoring Mechanism is the desire of the CSOs to contribute to the prevention of and the breaking of impunity. Impunity was identified by Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston remains the principal cause for the perpetuation of violations of human rights, and particularly those of the right to life.

However, impunity is not only the problem for civil and political rights violations, . It also
a cause of alarm to economic, social and cultural rights (ECO-SOC) violations. Most of
the time, civil and political rights violations break out due to the peoples’ resistance and
struggle against the impunity perpetrated in the domain of economic, social and cultural
rights. Impunity in the civil and political rights arena are rooted usually in the impunity of
esc rights. The venues and mechanisms in claiming justice for these violations remain
absent in the judicial system of the country.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates’ (PAHRA) is mandated to establish
structures and processes for defending human rights and preventing violations and
abuse . Even before the formation of the Alliance in 1986, HRDs and HR organizations
who established the Alliance have been in the forefront of documentation, investigation,
monitoring and advocacy on human rights violation cases.

PAHRA acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights
(CHR) and the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) in convening the
National Monitoring Mechanism (NMM) which aims to monitor cases of gross violations
focused on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.

To supplement and complement the NMM but in a broader scope, to include all other
violations of civil and political in nature as well as eco-soc rights, PAHRA will set up the
CSO-Peoples Monitoring Mechanism (CSO-PMM). The Alliance with about 35
member organizations nationwide and a wider network of sectoral and development
organizationsi would join the mechanism. The CSO-PMM will not only document
violations but more critical is reporting them appropriately at all levels of authority, the
local government agencies, line agencies, investigating agencies, human rights offices
of concerned security sector, the CHR and PHRC. In addition, the CSO-PMM will
monitor the development of the cases including the processes on how the agencies
reported to have acted on them. A diagram and short description of the CSO-PMM will
be presented. Please refer to attached documents.

It is in this light that PAHRA proposes to the CHR to allow us to present and launch the
CSO-PMM after the planned CHR Accomplishment Report of Chair Loretta Ann P.
Rosales on December 8, 2011. This monitoring mechanism will not only complement
the NMM but more importantly reinforce and strengthen one of CHRs objectives of
monitoring violations as well as contribute to the hastening of the institution’s expertise
on eco-soc rights in the light of the expansion of its mandate as envisioned in the CHR
Charter Bill.

PAHRA will also have a ceremonial presentation of selected cases that are currently
handled and monitored by the Alliance as representative cases of types of violations
that reflect the true status of respect for human rights and impunity in the Philippines.

Their positive and just resolutions would translate to strategic promotion and protection
of human rights as well as contribute to ending impunity in our country. Cases that will
be presented is the Mariano-Esquivel case in Bulacan (IHL) , Dela Cruz –Quezon/and
Fortuna/Garcia – Zambales (Enforced Disppearance), Salas./Cabais/Ajid – (Torture),
Hanjin/PALEA ( labor contractualization), North Triangle (eviction) and Kired (Mining).

The CSO-PMM will be presented by Mr. Max de Mesa, Chaiperson of PAHRA and the
sectors involved for the ceremonial presentation of cases. PAHRA will be inviting
PAHRA members and other CSO networks as well as media people.

Participating groups:
NGO-PO ESC Rights Network,

NGO Coalition for the CRPD,

NGO Coalition for the CRC,

UN-CSO Consultative Assembly (UN-CSAC)

Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)

Rainbow Rights

Koalisyon para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP)

Philippine Coalition for Climate Justice

National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP)

and Center for Community and Development (JJCD)

For more details contact:

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
53-B Maliksi St. Bgy. Pinyahan
Quezon City, Philippines (1100)
Tel/fax (632) 436-26-33
Mobile : 0906-553-1792
E-mail:  pahra@philippinehumanrights.org
pahracampaigns@gmail.com
Fb account: philippinehumanrights