(Project launched on 17 March
by the European Union Delegation to the Philippines and an NCCP- led Consortium)
Quezon City, Philippines – The launching of a new Human Rights Project was announced today (17 March) at UP Diliman campus, Manila by its implementing partners and the EU delegation to the Philippines.
This project will be carried out by a consortium led by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). The project aims to promote the protection of human rights defenders through education and training, public advocacy and lobbying, and by providing support to defenders who are under threat. The project will also enable them to help them rebuild their lives through livelihood assistance, medical support and psychosocial intervention. The project will also give educational assistance to children of victims of human rights violations.
With a contribution of € 534,717.00 (Php 27.8 million), the EU is financing the Project through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). Since 2006, the EU has supported a large number of human rights projects in the Philippines, ranging from gender equality and anti-discrimination, promotion of children’s rights, social and economic rights of disadvantaged groups to protection of human rights defenders.
Fr. Rex Reyes, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines expressed the satisfaction of the NCCP and other consortium partners to partner with the European Union for the protection of human rights defenders. The NCCP has previously received EU support for human rights work through the EPJUST programme (EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme) and the EIDHR. Mr Reyes deplored the persistence of the culture of impunity in the Philippines. Authors of human rights abuses are rarely prosecuted. Through this project, the NCCP will help human rights defenders to develop the skills and knowledge required to challenge this culture of impunity and promote human rights, particularly the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society.
Atty. Josalee S. Deinla of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), another implementing organization, stressed the importance of the project to assist its members for the processing of human rights cases, especially those that lead to legal charges against human rights defenders.
Through the organisation KAMP (the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamayan sa Pilipinas), indigenous peoples are also represented in the consortium. Ms. Piya Malayao underlined the added value of this project to promote the collective rights of indigenous peoples, as opposed to the interests of the extractive industry.
Mr. Benjie Oliveros of Bulatlat.com who will also be involved in this project pointed out the crucial role of the mainstream and social media to promote a human rights culture.
“An important element of this project is the practical support that will be offered to victims of human rights violations and their immediate families” said Ms. Cristina Guevarra of Hustisya. Victims of human rights abuses face a range of issues. They are often forced to leave their homes due to threats and intimidation. Many have medical problems. Others are in need of psycho-social support to process the trauma they have experienced. Through this project, we will be well equipped to respond to the urgent needs of victims.”
The project will be carried out over the next three years with the support of the European Union. The year 2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of the EU delegation in the Philippines.
____________
Media Liaison: Ms. Snap Mabanta, 09164984160
