JOIN US IN A FREE FILM SHOWING OF “MINERS SHOT DOWN” On August 13 (Wednesday), 2 pm, @ Workers House (94 Scout Delgado) – This is part of the Marikana Global Day of Remembrance activities. For more information pls contact: Sentro 3321378 or ATM 4403211
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“In August 2012, mineworkers in one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines began a wildcat strike for better wages. Six days later the police used live ammunition to brutally suppress the strike, killing 34 and injuring many more. Using the point of view of the Marikana miners, Miners Shot Down follows the strike from day one, showing the courageous but isolated fight waged by a group of low-paid workers against the combined forces of the mining company Lonmin, the ANC government and their allies in the National Union of Mineworkers.
What emerges is collusion at the top, spiralling violence and the country’s first post-apartheid massacre. South Africa will never be the same again.” Source: http://www.minersshotdown.co.za/
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What made Nelson Mandela the most famous and revered leader world-wide, and perhaps the most respected leader in history was his unshakable commitment to human rights and dignity. He inspired his nation as a political prisoner for 27 years under the apartheid white minority regime of South Africa and he stood by his principles, beliefs and commitments to democracy and racial freedom despite the offers of freedom if he compromised and betrayed his cause.
He refused at first to renounce armed struggle as a legitimate right against the oppression of the regime – until they agreed to renounce it also. He was called a terrorist, not a freedom fighter. He choose to remain behind bars and suffer deprivations and humiliations with stoic virtue until the racist apartheid government recognized that only he could tame the rampaging civil unrest. The protest movement led by his African National Congress (ANC) could not be stopped or defeated despite mass murders, assassinations, and unspeakable cruelty to its members and activists by the police and military.
English: Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 13 May 1998 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
He never waived in his unshakable belief that there would be freedom. World sympathy and support was with him. The South African apartheid government, civil society and sports organizations were banned and isolated worldwide. It was a great shame to be a white South African who did not support Mandela and the ANC and their desire for freedom and democracy. But those white South African people who did support him were very brave indeed. And there were many.
The most famous, difficult and wise change of his policy was to renounce violence in favour of negotiations that would lead to a recognition of his political movement and party, the ANC and free elections. That was his strongest card and he played it well. He negotiated as a statesman and astute politician while still a prisoner.
He promised the minority government that despite the denial of almost every human right to his people, he would respect their human rights. Despite their unspeakable atrocities, many murders and cruelty, there would be no retaliation, no bloodbath, no vendettas or revenge killings. His firm commitment was not to exchange one bloody torturing regime for another led by him; that he denounced. His hope was to make peace and unite blacks and whites in a single nation for the future – The Rainbow Nation he dreamed of with human rights respected for all and by all.
His calm reasoning, congenial attitude, total lack of fear and unshakable integrity won over the white minority leaders. They believe him and were convinced that they could trust him to fulfill that promise and secure their future if he was ever elected.
On February 2, 1990 at the opening of parliament in Pretoria, President F.W. de Klerk announced the un-banning of all political parties including the ANC and seven days later, on the 9th February 1990, Nelson Mandela walked to freedom to a tumultuous welcome and worldwide acclaim.
He then, with others, negotiated the transition to national elections and told his supporters to throw their weapons into the sea. There was consternation at first but they revered him as their leader that they obeyed. Not all welcomed this change but it was the turning point on the road to democratic elections.
In 1991, he was elected president of the ANC and with 17 other political parties, participated in forging a draft constitution to end apartheid and open the way to national elections. His dream was now a reality.
In 1994, he glacially agreed to share the Nobel Peace Prize with his once deadly foe F.W. de Klerk, for ending apartheid. The ANC won and Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president. The military and police generals covered in medals and ribbons that had condemned him as a terrorist and hounded and killed his followers were there, ironically to shake his hand and pledge allegiance.
The monumental task to unite the people and fight poverty began. Despite racial tension, he worked at it for six years and then at the end of his term to the surprise of all, he stepped down. He became a global icon for the defense of human rights, dignity and racial equality. Despite his advanced age, he toured the world bringing peace and hope to millions who are suffering from human rights violations and oppression.
South Africa is far from healed. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) brought closure for some. If the killers and torturers on both sides confessed their crimes in public, they would not be punished. It’s not near over. Progress has been made but poverty and inequality has not greatly changed yet there is a nation at peace and a long way yet to go for the rainbow nation that Nelson Mandela did most to bring about – an impossible dream made real. (shaycullen@preda.org, http://www.preda.org)
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Iboto ang iyong #HRPinduterosChoice para sa HR BLOGSITE.
Ang botohan ay magsisimula ngayon hanggang sa 11:59PM ng Nov 15, 2013.
IKAW PARA KANINO KA PIPINDOT? Simple lang bumoto:
• i-LIKE ang thumbnail/s ng iyong mga ibinoboto, i-share at ikampanya.
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Makiisa sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon hinggil sa karapatang pantao. Pindot na!
FREE ZONE ZONE where thoughts and actions on human rights are FREE By Renato Mabunga
This page is a mere sounding board for a lively, fruitful and pluralistic discussions, a platform for opinions, and an arena for constructive dialogues where we may all learn and share thoughts… grand or simple as they may be… on human rights and our fundamental freedoms.
TAO MUNA-HINDI MINA! Kalikasan at tao muna- hindi tubo at kita. Managed by TFDP
Members of Civil Society, Faith based organizations and Human Rights Defenders working against destructive mining in the country are launching a campaign dubbed “TAO MUNA HINDI MINA!”. It is a campaign to assert that government as duty bearer should uphold human rights and protect the environment, and should conduct its affairs consistent with human rights standards and principles.
http:// taomunahindimina.wordpress.com/ 3. koihernandez.wordpress.com
The opinions of a challenge-oriented, courageous, creative and curious youth in transition to becoming an adult. WARNING: I am not for the FAINT-HEARTED
The objective for founding SAD was to provide the children with much-needed rehabilitaion. In its early years, the focus of SAD was the attainment of this objective. Rehabilitation sessions and family conferences were conducted to help the children cope with their parents’ disappearance.
5. rodrigo75.wordpress.com
DEKONZTRUKTSCHON thinkering thoughts By Rodrigo Rivera
is about looking at things differently, breaking the whole into its parts to understand each piece that makes the whole, then putting them again together as a new construction. It’s simply a way of thinking, of knowing and of understanding. The posts here are critical, reflexive and constructive attempts of life discourse – an exercise of being academic, political, apolitical, sometimes cynical and skeptic, theoretical, simple or unusual. This blog attempts to contribute to human understanding of their life realities by examining things in their social world with a different lense – deconstruction for reconstruction of knowledge.
6. digitelemployeesunion.wordpress.com
DIGITAL EMPLOYEES UNION
• Closure, Integration of operation to PLDT – Redundancy cum (ERP) Retire – Rehire No Way! • Absorb Digitel employees in the Integration of Digitel Operation to PLDT
• Negotiate CBA with the DEU immediately, Without Further Delay!
7. rodgalicha.com
WE ARE NATURE By Rodney Galicha
Protecting the biodiversity and natural resources of Sibuyan Island (known as the Galapagos of Asia) through sustainable programs and social media, Galicha has been serving as executive director[7] of Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE) since 2007. His group, Sibuyanons Against Mining (SAM) successfully campaigned against nickel mining giant BHP Billiton and lobbied for the suspension of mineral extraction of a Canada-based mining company being operated by a Filipino corporation.[8][9] He also helped the Romblon Ecumenical Forum Against Mining (REFAM) in a successful campaign against a Canada-based mining giant Ivanhoe.[10] He also helped organize Mining Action Philippines – Australia (MAP-Oz), a mining watchdog based in Australia.
8. dars0357.wordpress.com
CARPE DIEM Seize the Moment. Be Critical. Be Involved. Be Heard By Darwin Mendiola
Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace which means “seize the day”. Carpe is literally translated as “to pick, pluck, pluck off, cull, crop, gather”. Diem on the other hand simply connotes “day”. Roman poet Ovid used this phrase to mean “to enjoy, seize, use, and live”. For the author, this is about changing our attitude – by simply being critical, being involved and to express one’s thought. This is what this blog is trying to do – just to contribute in the understanding of the social realities by examining issues that affect our lives.
Carpe diem is a call for individual and collective action.
9. matangapoy.blogspot.com
MATANG APOY By Greg Bituin
Wala akong yaman kundi ang panitik
Na kaulayaw ko sa gabing tahimik
Gamit sa paglikha ng tulang mabagsik
Na kapag tumama’y singtalim ng lintik
10. cannotallowtorture.blogspot.com
CAT ALERT! Cannot Allow Torture Philippines By TFDP
“…torture has been humanity’s option for clinging to power and in suppressing truth. We cannot allow torture in anyway.”
This is the paper.li page maintained by the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights). Here you can access stories that impact on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
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Deadline for applications is on 15 October 2013.
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The factual backdrop for human rights protection and development agendas
The UN Human Rights Office has spent the past several years researching, consulting and now implementing a range of statistical indicators to assist in measuring progress in realizing human rights. The indicators have been adopted in several countries in a number of situations, including in the reform of judicial systems, in measuring the rights of indigenous communities, the rights of persons with disabilities, the success of national human rights institutions and in mainstreaming human rights in national development planning.
At the launch of “Human Rights Indicators: A Guide to Measurement and Implementation”, in Geneva, UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay, said its publication was in response to a “longstanding demand that we develop and deploy appropriate statistical indicators in furthering the cause of human rights.”
“Twenty years ago, one of the recommendations of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was that we employ and analyse indicators to help measure our progress in human rights,” Pillay said.
“Only robust and accurate statistics can establish the vital benchmarks and baselines that translate our human rights commitments into targeted policies,” she said, “and only they can measure how effective those policies truly are.”
Pillay welcomed the adoption of the indicators in a number of countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Invited panellists at the launch event gave practical examples of the importance of indicators in underwriting and assessing programmes, which incorporate human rights principles.
The former Mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, described how human rights indicators were developed for a project involving the Superior Tribunal of Justice and with a specific focus on the right to a fair trial.
Loretta Rosales, the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, described a “simple statistical analysis of arbitrary killings, enforced disappearance and torture… from 2001 to 2010… correlated with policy gaps or failures during the previous government, (which) provided a factual backdrop to what has been described as a climate of impunity in our country.”
“Because we had the numbers to back up our negotiating points,” Rosales said, “it was easier for us to generate meaningful reform commitments from the Armed Forces and Police institutions which have been established as the biggest perpetrators of enforced disappearance and torture, respectively.”
“Internally, the use of human rights statistics relating to these violations resulted in targeted deployment of institutional resources, increased professionalization of human resources and justified requests for equipment in support of investigation and monitoring,” she said.
Maria-Virginia Gomes, a member of the Portuguese National Commission for Human Rights described a project she has been involved in, where the list of indicators developed by the UN Human Rights Office is being used to develop a tailored set of standards for the right to education and the right to liberty and security of person.
In her role also as a member of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, one of the human rights treaty monitoring bodies, Gomes said it had been clear for a long time that a “set of reliable indicators (was needed) to measure compliance of States with their treaty obligations.”
“It is not that States do not provide statistical data but, often such data is not geared towards compliance with human rights obligations because it represents mainstream trends of progress or lack of progress and seldom takes into account human rights standards of non-discrimination, equality, participation and accountability,” Gomes said.
A major strength of the human rights indicators produced by the High Commissioner’s Office is that “they have used a common approach to deal with civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights on an equal footing”, she said.
All panellists underlined the importance of ensuring a firm platform for cooperation among human rights, statistical and policy-making communities to help improve the measurement and implementation of human rights, as one of the three pillars of the United Nations, along with peace and security and development.
Jan Robert Suesser, Senior Official Statistician, Member of the Board of the Ligue des droits de l’Homme, and Senior Advisor to the International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Finance in France, said that information is more legitimate if and when it is owned by all major stakeholders.
Suesser referred to the experience of Poland, when the country was on a general strike in 1980, and that among “the 21 claims put forward by strikers to the authorities, the sixth was about making economic and social information publicly available and not restricted to the ruling authorities.” He said that “it shows how in practice, and not merely in theory, access to statistical information and respect of human rights were understood by the population as intrinsically linked”.
Rajeev Malhotra, Executive Director at the Centre for Development and Finance and Professor at the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy in India, said that “above all, indicators help in improving follow-up on the recommendations and concluding observations of treaty bodies and other mechanisms, and allow national human rights institutions and civil society organizations to exercise more effective oversight on the promotion and protection of human rights”.
Participants at the launch underlined that that the establishment of national human rights indicators is a good example of a practical, measurable and scientific way to engage with a wide range of relevant stakeholders for human rights implementation at country level. Comments from participants also recognized the usefulness of the Guide for the post-2015 development agenda, in particular in dispelling the misconception that human rights are not measurable and therefore cannot be mainstreamed in development agendas.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit legal resource human rights organization for children committed to advancing children’s rights and welfare through the provision of its services based on human rights developmental framework approach and methodologies.
Bangkok, Thailand – In a letter sent today to ASEAN Heads of State, leading international human rights organizations called for the postponement of the adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, pointing out that in its current form, the Declaration falls short of existing international human rights standards and risks creating a sub-standard level of human rights protection in the region.
Of particular concern are the General Principles in the Declaration. Under General Principles 6,7, and 8 of the current draft, enjoyment of rights is to be “balanced with the performance of duties”, subjected to “national and regional contexts” and to considerations of “different cultural, religious and historical backgrounds.” Also, all the rights in the Declaration may be restricted on a wide array of grounds including “national security” and “public morality”.
“The idea that all human rights are to be ‘balanced’ against individual responsibilities contradicts the very idea of human rights agreed upon in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was affirmed by all States, including ASEAN Member States, in 1993 in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,” said Wilder Tayler, Secretary General of the International Commission of Jurists. “Balancing human rights with responsibilities turns on its head the entire raison d’être of human rights,” he further emphasized.
Furthermore, international law prohibits governments from derogating under any circumstances from a broad set of rights. Other rights can only be subject to specific, narrow, and clearly defined restrictions in certain circumstances. Finally, international law imposes on all ASEAN Member States the duty, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to respect and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“It is clear that in its current form the Declaration purports to make a significant and worrying departure from existing international human rights law and standards, including those found in other regional human rights instruments, in Europe, the Americas, and Africa,” said Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights.
“Unless significant changes are made to the text, ASEAN will be adopting in 2012 a Human Rights Declaration that grants ASEAN Member States additional powers to violate human rights instead of providing the region’s people with additional safeguards against such violations”, said Michael Bochenek, Director of Amnesty International’s Law and Policy Programme.
The organizations strongly urged in their letter that ASEAN leaders should return the draft text to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and send clear instructions to redraft it, in a transparent, deliberate and inclusive process, in full consultation with all stakeholders, so that it does not fall below internationally recognized human rights law and standards.
All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
This group page adheres to the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1998. The declaration arose from the recognition that defenders often become the target of violations and abuses because of the nature of the activities they carry out and the issues they raise. The abuses to which defenders are subjected to include killings, death threats, torture, arbitrary arrest, criminal prosecution, harassment, defamation and other various forms of attacks, often coupled with impunity for the perpetrators of these acts.
The Defending of Human Rights Defenders group page is created to provide a venue for advocates and practitioners to share their thoughts and views for the protection of defenders against threat, harassment and intimidation, physical harm and other forms of violations.
Member of this group may post acticles, statements, photos, letter of appeal, petitions, news and other related materials in support to the said cause.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
In celebration of the coming 2012 Human Rights Week in December and as a way to give thanks to HR Defenders who continued their support by patronizing and contributing online articles, photos, statement, press releases and other resources, HRonlinePH.com is holding its 2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards.
The HR Pinduteros Choice Awards is an online event that aims to give recognition to human rights defenders’ online activities (Individuals and groups) that informed, inspired and mobilized the online readers to our common cause that is to promote, defend and assert human rights utilizing the internet as a tool.
Online polling and popularization of the event also hopes to contribute in increasing awareness and build up for the international HR day celebration in December 10, 2012 through encouraging the netizens to visit and learn more about human rights issues, campaigns and etc. posted and featured in different HR sites.
Human Rights Pinduteros is a community of internet users, HR advocates and activist who as a network promote and defend HR and believe in HRonlinePH.com’s call to inform, inspire and mobilize our readers to our cause online and offline.
“2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards” aims to:
1. Encourage active HR promotions and posting
2. Recognize online efforts for human rights
3. Promote HR activities online and offline
4. Encourage more readers and patronage for HR sites and causes
Recognitions/Categories for HRonlinePH pinduteros’ (readers’) choice 2012
• 2012 most clicked HR bloggers
• 2012 most clicked HR website
• Top HR bloggers posts 2012
• Top HR networks post 2012
• Top HR event 2012
• Top HR photo 2012
• Top HR off the shelf 2012
• Top HR video 2012
Mechanics
Nominees were chosen from the top items per category posted in HRonlinePH.com based on the hits generated from the period of October 2011 to September 30, 2012.
50% of the score for winning post will be based on HRonlinePH.com statistics
50% will be based on an online voting/polling which will be held from the period of October 2012 to November 30 2012.
Winners will be announced and awarded during the HR week 2012 celebration. (Exact date and venue to be announced)
YEP2012: pinoy young Educators Convene for Human Rights
By Celine Bernadette H. Francisco
July 29, 2012
“It has long been recognized that an essential element in protecting human rights was a widespread knowledge among the population of what their rights are and how they can be defended.” – Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Sixth UN Secretary-General, 1992-1996
Filipino youth educators and leaders, together with the I am S.A.M. Foundation and United for Human Rights (UHR) Phillyphines, convened at the Youth Educators’ Program (YEP) 2012 for human rights promotion, education and propagation, May 27 to 28, 2012, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas.
Selected 17 student leaders from UST, FEU, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila, and San Beda College Mendiola, young professionals, and non-government organization leaders attended the said event. With the leadership and mentoring of I am S.A.M. Foundation Founder and President Rayla Melchor Santos, Program Director for Rights Respecting Schools (RRS) Maricar V. Flores, Virgilio Dolina (UHR Phillypines Executive Director) and other human rights educators, this event was made possible.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
According to a survey by the NGO Minority Rights Group International, over 55 per cent of violent conflicts between 2007 and 2009 had tensions between communities or violations of the rights of national and ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities at their core.
“Violations of minority rights constitute today a wide-scale problem, affecting all regions of the world, with multiple manifestations ranging from attacks on religious minorities to systematic exclusion of minorities from decision making in economic and public life, and contributing to statelessness and other serious human rights challenges around the world,” said Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang. “These violations are not only undermining human rights and sustainable development but also fuelling insecurity and conflict.”
Speaking at an expert panel at the 19th session of the Human Rights Council to reflect on 20 years of achievements and remaining challenges since the adoption of the Minority Rights Declaration, Kang emphasized that the protection of minority rights was a key factor in preventing conflict and atrocities, as well as building peace.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities established that States have an obligation to acknowledge and promote minorities’ rights to enjoy their own cultures and identities, to profess and practice their own religions and use their own languages.
It ushered in a new era for minority rights and set essential standards for their protection and has offered guidance to States as they seek to realize the human rights of minorities.
The Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Rita Izsák, noted that countries that had integrated the principles of the Minority Declaration possessed fairer societies where minorities felt safe and were able to participate fully in all aspects of society.
“Sadly however, in many other countries globally, the situation is far from positive. Minorities may face persecution and violence or the threat of violence. They frequently live in the worst housing and living conditions and are rarely, if ever, consulted,” she said. “In such situations, implementation of the Declaration is truly essential, but it can seem like a very distant prospect for minorities.”
Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa and Member of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights noted that national minorities in Africa remained weak and invisible because of the persistence of discrimination and exclusion.
Joshua Castellino, Head of the Law Department of the University of Middlesex reminded participants that minority rights are human rights and that minorities and other vulnerable communities are often the best indicators of how well entrenched human rights are in any given country.
“Minorities are often excluded in the project to build strong and viable national identities. In this project any deviation from a centrally agreed position is viewed with suspicion and as a threat. Yet it is our diversity which is often our biggest economic asset,” he said. “To embrace the fruit of such diversity all we need to do at a fundamental level is to broaden our vision and become more inclusive in how we imagine our respective nations and States. The nine articles in the Declaration provide us with broad principles that ought to give shape to this imagined more inclusive State.”
During the debate, panellists stressed the importance of collecting disaggregated data on the experience of minority communities which would reflect the extent of the violations they face. They added that this would call in the need for special measures, which under the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination are an obligation for States to implement where significant disadvantage is experienced by particular racial or ethnic communities.
Castellino also highlighted the need for legally binding force for some of the provisions in the Minority Declaration which could be achieved through a specialized treaty or the incorporation of elements of the Declaration in national Constitutions.
The panel noted that in transition situations, where constitutional, social, or political changes occur, minorities are often placed in more vulnerable situations, as seen during the events in the Middle-East and North Africa. The international community must make sure those States are supported in safeguarding the protection of minorities as they move towards greater democratization, the experts added.
Despite seven wage hikes since 2002, the real value of the mandated NCR minimum wage has fallen by some 3.5% from that peak in February 2002 to be worth just Php246 as of December 2011.
For reference: Mr Sonny Africa (IBON executive director) 0928-5053550 | As labor groups file petitions for a substantial wage increase, a study by research group IBON reveals that increases in the mandated minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation in the last decade.
Taking inflation into account, the highest real mandated minimum wage since 1986 in the National Capital Region (NCR) was the Php255 reached in February 2002 (measured in 2000 prices).
Despite seven wage hikes since 2002, the real value of the mandated NCR minimum wage has fallen by some 3.5% from that peak in February 2002 to be worth just Php246 as of December 2011.
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.
Women at the frontline in the fight against torture
Today, on International Women’s Day (8 March), we wish to join the worldwide movement to honour women as human rights defenders. Women from all over the world, including at our 140+ member centres in over 70 countries, work at the frontline in the fight against torture. These women lobby national governments, head human rightsinter-governmental bodies, work in rehabilitating torture survivors, and are often survivors of torture themselves.
At World Without Torture, we would like to honour these women by providing a platform for their stories today. Please share these stories to honour not only their work, but the hundreds of thousand of women human rights defenders worldwide.
Kagalingan Para Kay Flora, Kagalingan Para sa Kababaihan – Mga Himig at Tula Para Kay Flora
6 March 2012
Dear Friends:
Warm greetings.
Sarilaya, FIND and Sulong CARHIHL appeals for your assistance in keeping Flora Umali, a dedicated human rights defender and one of SARILAYA’s more dedicated community organizers, healthy and well. Flora, who has been a SARILAYA member –organizer for more than seven years, has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid gland stage 4.
To struggle is nothing new to Flora. When the Marcos regime declared martial law in 1972, Flora and her husband were among the first batch of students who made the hard decision to leave school and their families to help build the peasant movement in the countryside – a commitment that lasted for two decades.
From 1993 to 2004, Flora devoted herself to helping advance the human rights movement. She became an organizer and later an officer of KAPATID, a human rights organization that provides services to political detainees and their families. In 1996, her work in the human rights movement took a much more personal turn when her own husband disappeared, reportedly killed by security forces. Flora joined FIND, a human rights organization assisting victims of enforced disappearance and their families. She also volunteered her time to Claimants 1081 and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation to help get justice and recognition for the heroes who fought against martial law.
In 2004, Sarilaya was fortunate to have Flora become one of its members. With her experience in organizing and education, she helped set up local chapters in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite and assisted SARILAYA chapters in Sitio Kalakad, Antipolo and Sapang Palay, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija. It is largely through Flora’s dedication that GMA has become a showcase of Sarilaya’s projects in health, livelihood, and environment, empowering community women to assert their rights.
Today, Flora finds herself in the toughest challenge of her life. SARILAYA, FIND and Sulong CARHIHL hopes to raise at least P250,000 for her treatment and wellness . We thus hope you can join us on March 29, 2012 to a night of songs and poetry at the Conspiracy Resto Bar along Visayas Avenue from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets for the event dubbed as Kagalingan Para Kay Flora, Kagalingan Para sa Kababaihan – Mga Himig at Tula Para Kay Flora at P500 each (with free lugaw and juice) are available at the FIND office. For inquires and ticket reservations, please contact FIND through Erlinda Malicdem or the undersigned at phone numbers 9210069 and 2182138. Thank you.
For human rights and sisterhood,
Wilma Q. Tizon
Deputy Secretary-General
Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND)
4-D Maningning St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Philippines 1101
Phone no. (63-2) 2182138
We will keep every human rights issue a major topic of our blogs. We will cover our websites with news and updates on human rights situation. We will share photos and videos of actual footages that capture the reality on the ground. We will create a trend in twitter and facebook. We will swamp the chatrooms or form online fora or email groups to share and exchange information. We will be in every nook and corner of cyberspace whenever human rights are concerned.
The annual Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk was established in 2005 to honour the work of a human rights defender or group of human rights defenders who, through non-violent work, are courageously making an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others, often at great personal risk to themselves.
The Award seeks to focus international attention on the human rights defender’s work, thus contributing to the recipient’s personal security, and a cash prize of €15,000 is awarded to the Award recipient and his/her organisation in an effort to support the continuation of this important work.
Front Line is currently accepting nominations for the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk 2012, and will continue to do so until the 30th January 2012.
Noel, Bayang, Gary and Cooky jammed to celebrate human rights at 70s Bistro during the Beinte Singko Human Rights Celebration of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines in partnership with Dakila.
Human Rights Online Philippines 