[Statement] “End Torture in the Philippines”

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

(from left to right) AFP Human Rights Office Chief Col. Jose Antonio Carlos Motril, DILG Undersecretary for Operations Edwin Enrile, MAG Chairperson Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, PNP Human Rights Affairs Office Chief PC Supt. Antonio Viernes, CHR Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag, PAHRA Chairperson Max de Mesa, Sister Arnold Maria Noel of Balay Rehabilitation Center and Undersecretary Severo Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC). Photo by MAG

July 3, 2014

Dear all,

Thank you for joining this year’s June 26 campaign International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, by attending and actively participating in the forum-dialogue at the InterContinental Hotel in Makati City organized by the Medical Action Group (MAG) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) in coordination with the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)- Philippines and in partnership with the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines.

The forum-dialogue brought together key stakeholders in torture prevention from government, National Human Rights Institution, security sector, diplomatic community, civil society organizations to media. The forum-dialogue highlights our commitment to provide justice to torture victims and their families, and collates our voices to one call to “End Torture in the Philippines”.

So what did we conclude from the above-mentioned forum-dialogue? Through the notes of and information from panel of reactors about the report, “Torture Impunity, An Analysis of the Implementation of the Anti-Torture Law in the Philippines” by the members of the UATC-Philippines and in cooperation with the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), we learn not only of the situation of torture in the country but also the need in generating a more thorough and systematic response to address the problem of torture.

The forum-dialogue also affirmed our commitment in ending torture impunity in the Philippines as reflected in “June 26 Declaration on the Fight against Torture Impunity in the Philippines” signed notably by several government officials, members of diplomatic community and guests of June 26th event.

The forum-dialogue has also challenged us to think about how to make our collaboration productive and effective towards full rehabilitation of victims of torture and their families through effective and diligent implementation of the Anti-Torture Law in the Philippines.

Kindly see attachments, speech of EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux, available reaction notes by panel of reactors and presentation of the key findings of the above-cited report including some media links about the visibility of June 26th event.

Our thanks to all involved for making this forum-dialogue a success.

We look forward to working with you in this important work and we count on your continued support of the promotion of the right to freedom from torture and to ensuring effective implementation of the Anti-Torture Law.
Regards,

(Sgd.) Edeliza P. Hernandez (Sgd.) Emmanuel C. Amistad
Executive Director Executive Director
Medical Action Group Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

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