Tag Archives: Anti-Torture Law

[Resources] “Torture impunity, An analysis of the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law in the Philippines” -UATC

Posted on by Leave a comment

“Torture impunity, An analysis of the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law in the Philippines”

The writing of this publication was in collaboration with members of the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)- Philippines led by Amnesty International Philippines, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Medical Action Group (MAG) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT) or World Organisation Against Torture.

[guatc logoigya width=”200″ height=”200″ src=”http://files.bannersnack.net/app/swf2/EmbedPlayerV2.swf?hash_id=fdba3bb058e8fee910c25d65b3436908&bgcolor=#3D3D3D&clickTag=null&t=1319457850″ quality=”high” wmode=”tranparent” allowfullscreen=”true” ]

The report gives an overview of the challenges faced by human rights organizations and survivors of torture and their relatives, in seeking redress for acts of torture and ill treatment in the Philippines since the enactment of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9745 otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Act in
November 2009.

This report draws together the key results that came out of the series of workshops and a follow-up mission organized by its authors in June and July 2013 to assess the implementation of the Anti- Torture Law.

In particular, last section of the report, outlines the next steps that the UATC- Philippines and PAHRA will be working on in relation to this key area of work, and the key recommendations to the Oversight Committee of the Anti-Torture Law.

Information contained in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given and a copy of the publication containing the reprinted material is sent to the UATC- Philippines secretariat.

The activities related to writing of this report has been undertaken with support of DKA Austria.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union and the Oak Foundation. Its content is the sole responsibility of its authors can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Oak Foundation.

Read full report @Torture impunity report

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.

 

[Press Release] Make Philippines Torture Free Zone! -UATC

Posted on by Leave a comment

Make Philippines Torture Free Zone!

BRAT VII Photo by MAG

BRAT VII Photo by MAG

uatc logo

On its seventh year, as it marks the June 26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, members of the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines and various anti-torture advocates runs in the “Basta! Run Against Torture 7” (BRAT VII) to call on the government to make the Philippines a Torture Free Zone.

To make the Philippines a torture free zone, the UATC said “among others we need to ensure that all authorities including jail staff are fully aware of the Anti-Torture Law that reported violations will not be tolerated and will be investigated, and that perpetrators will be prosecuted.”

“While we laud the government on the enactment of the Anti-Torture Law (Republic Act No. 9745) in November 2009, but it has so far been implemented without diligence and effectiveness since many torture allegations have not been effectively investigated by authorities and detainees who are in custody do not have immediate access to legal and medical services,” Ernesto Anasarias, Executive Director of Balay Rehabilitation Center and UATC spokesperson said.

While noting that many agencies have a mandate to investigate complaints of torture and ill-treatment, the UATC is concerned at the high number of complaints of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, the limited number of investigations carried out by the government in such cases, and the very limited number of convictions in those cases which are investigated.

The group reiterates its concerns on the increasing complaints in relation to the implementation of the Anti-Torture Law which has revealed various different deficiencies from documentation, investigation to prosecution of torture cases, which embolden perpetrators in doing acts of torture.

“The authorities’ partiality not to comply with the Anti-Torture Law runs in the ‘institutional impunity’ we have right now. Take the recent case where Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim including a senior police officer, interrogated a rape suspect in full view of the public, as Mayor Lim extracted a confession and forced the suspect to admit he had raped a woman, clearly violated the Anti-Torture Law,” Max de Mesa, Chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) claimed.

The group underscored the necessity that for the government to make the Philippines a torture free zone, it should publicly announce a clear policy of “total elimination” of all acts of torture.

The UATC-Philippines is led by Amnesty International-Philippines, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Medical Action Group (MAG) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). Other human rights groups also joined the run like PAHRA and Organisation Mondiale Contra la Torture (OMCT) or World Organization Against Torture.-end