AI Report presented at Bacolod Bishop's House
BACOLOD CITY -- Amnesty International Philippines Section Director Dr. Aurora Parong presented yesterday to an audience from various civil society and religious groups, government agencies and media practitioners the "Amnesty International Report 2009: State of the World's Human Rights" at the Bishop's House in Bacolod City.
Parong cited that in the last six years, hundreds of millions of people slipped into poverty as the cost of food, fuel and other commodities soared, and now more are pushed by the global financial crisis.
"Throughout the Asia-Pacific region, millions more suffer from government policies that the people were either unable or were afraid of challenge, this situation worsens as conflict, natural disaster and human rights abuses create widespread insecurity and indignity," Dr. Parong added.
The presentation of Amnesty International Report 2009 was witnessed yesterday by Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 303rd Brigade Commander, Sr. Gerolinda Tingson of La Concolacion College, Pastor Emmanuel Allano and many other religious groups.
According to the report, a great number of people suffer from deprivation of basic needs like food, housing, just wages and decent jobs. People are excluded from participating in decisions affecting their lives. Their voices are not heard and in many cases, suppressed.
Parong reported that in many cases, people who dare to speak against government inaction or ineffective programs and policies in dealing with poverty, inequality and repression are met with threats, violence and even death.
"Enforced disappearance and extra-judicial executions of political activists, NGO workers and journalists continued. Few effective investigations were conducted into allegations of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial executions, the majority of which remain unsolved. A culture of impunity continued to encourage vigilante killings and extra-judicial executions -- as evidenced by the recent killings of farmer leader Rene Penas, peasant leader Fermin Lorico and Journalist Antonio Atabay Castillo," Parong continued.
Amnesty International report also dealt with the indigenous people's (IP's) continued struggle for land rights as the government failed to comply with its obligation to obtain IP's free, prior and informed consent to development plans, including mining operations in their traditional territories.
Dr. Parong emphasized that protecting the rights of the poor peoples is not an option, it is an essential piece of any solution to the abuses of the rights of peoples. Amnesty International worldwide demands leadership, accountability and transparency that are essential to end the human rights abuses that keep people poor, in the Philippines and in the world.
Amnesty International Demand's Dignity campaign aims to end global poverty by working to strengthen recognition and protection of the human rights of the poor, including the indigenous peoples.