Dear fellow human rights defenders,

The Medical Action Group (MAG) and the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), has embarked on collaborative partnership in implementing a 3-year project (September 2013-August 2016) entitled, “Use of Evidence Based Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Monitoring for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and their Families, and in the Fight Against Impunity” under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Country Based Support Scheme (CBSS) for the Philippines.

Human rights defenders (HRDs) play important role in protecting and defending human rights. The definition and role of human rights defenders draws upon operative of the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Fundamental Freedoms[1]. The work and activities of HRDs include documenting, monitoring and reporting of human rights violations (HRVs) cases and supporting HRVs victims and their families in seeking redress through provision of medical and psychological services, and legal support among others.

By protecting the HRDs, we aim to increase the availability of evidenced-based documentation of HRVs cases, facilitate victims’ access to this documentation as evidence in legal actions, and raise awareness among policy-makers, health and legal professionals and the public at large of the need to break impunity.

The objective is to protect HRDs through improved and evidence based documentation that can be used in the prosecution of alleged HRVs cases, and in capacity building of HRDs in the fight against impunity in the country.

Target group are HRDs at risk and their families. However, there is a set of admissibility criteria for the project which are outlined in the Description of the Action by the Beneficiaries and in accordance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

The target locations are: National Capital Region, Pampanga, Eastern Samar, Bukidnon and Basilan. However, still subject of request for approval are provinces of Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Aurora, Region IV-A i.e. CALABARZON and Negros Occidental.

Please note that we will publish a briefing paper about this project with other important details in relation to its Communications and Visibility plan. The project ensures the broadest possible participation of stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations and HRDs.

We hope that some of you are interested to get involved in the project by reporting to us or sharing any information about alleged HRVs committed or is suspected of having committed against HRDs. Kindly take note that all records, documents, materials and other information pertaining to and gathered, generated and produced arising out of the project, as strictly confidential.

If you have any questions, suggestions or clarifications, kindly communicate to us through: mobile phone no. +63928-9055920, telephone nos. +632-441-10-73 and 433-15-94, e-mail address: mag.1982@magph.org, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/medicalactiongroup or Twitter @medactiongroup

Thank you.
Sincerely,

(Sgd.) Jerbert M. Briola
Project Officer-EIDHR/2013-325-656
Medical Action Group

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