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MAG envisions a society where fundamental human rights are upheld and protected at all times in accordance with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights

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United Against Torture Coalition (UATC) - Philippines

Press Release

26 June 2020

  

Torture free Philippines should be the “new normal”

Today 26 June[1], the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC)-Philippines, a broad network of human rights organizations and human rights defenders together with its partners, In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), are one with the world in commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and in contributing to the campaign for the absolute prohibition of torture in all corners of the world.

On this day in 1987, the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into effect. The Philippines[2] acceded to this Convention on 18 June 1986.

Torture is an unequivocal crime. Under the UN Convention against Torture, it is prohibited under all circumstances, without exception.  Yet torture is still commonplace and systematically being practiced by many States including the Philippines in the conduct of custodial investigation under the guise of combatting terrorism, curbing criminality, and maintaining peace and order, which risk eroding constitutional and other legal protections.  While the Philippines is considered one of its kind in Asia for criminalizing torture as a specific criminal offense with the passage of the Anti-Torture Act in 2009[3], however the Philippine government failed to fully and effectively implement the law with reported cases of torture and ill treatment continue unabated.

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(From the FORUM-ASIA website: https://www.forum-asia.org/)

The well-being of human rights defenders is a critical – but still often neglected – issue. Human rights defenders (HRDs) are particularly exposed to a number of different stressors. Unlike others, HRDs will generally have a higher exposure to stress and trauma, either directly or indirectly. 

This booklet, ‘Psychosocial Well-being for Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines’, aims to provide HRDs with the basic knowledge to address their well-being individually, organisationally and as a movement. 

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PUBLIC STATEMENT

JUNE 5, 2020

ANTI-TERROR LAW WILL MAKE "TORTURE" A NEW NORMAL

We, the United Against Torture Coalition (UATC), the broadest network of civil society organizations and individuals working for the prevention of torture in the Philippines, vehemently condemn the treacherous imminent approval of the new Anti-Terror law that may institutionalize the use of torture and ill treatment in the name of counter-terrorism.

The enactment of the new Anti-Terror Law amid public health emergency due to Covid 19 pandemic shows not only the lack of concern of the Philippine government with the plight of the Filipinos especially the poor who are hardest hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, but also its propensity to suppress political dissent and infringe on fundamental freedoms and human rights including the non-derogable right against torture and ill treatment. The railroading of its passage tramples upon the basic principle of democratic policymaking where all stakeholders are amply heard to ensure that law will serve and protect the governed not the governing.

The enrolled Anti-Terror bill which is just awaiting the President’s signature repeals the Human Security Act of 2007. Several of its provisions breach not only international human rights standards but also basic constitutional safeguards against human rights violations. It allows warrantless arrests and detention from the current maximum of three days to 14 days, extendible for another 10 days. This critical period during which forced confessions may be extracted can put a detainee at great risk of torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, and even summary execution.

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HROnlinePH Statement on Defending the Freedom of Expression (FoE) in times of public emergency

12 April, 2020

SHOUT OUT and NEVER HOLD BACK

Shutting our mouth can’t prevent us from voicing our opinion.

While drastic times may call for drastic steps, any emergency measures particularly responding to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic must be necessary, proportionate, and should have the minimal possible impact on human rights especially on the right to freedom of expression.

Instead of targeting critics, stifling dissent and imposing restriction to the flow of information and dissemination, the Philippine government should focus primarily on protecting the right to health of all through the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

The freedom of expression which is the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas is considered as the indispensable precondition for the exercise of other rights and freedoms. It is only when the people have access to information that they can be capable of rendering responsible opinion and decision.