Amnesty International (Phils) conducts Human Rights orientation on ZDS Subanen Women and Youths

By PJTremedal

Pagadian City- Twenty (20) indigenous peoples (Subanen) Women and eleven(11) Indigenous People (Subanen) youths were given orientation by the Amnesty International (Philippines) to become fully aware of their rights based on the articles of the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights.

Participants came from the “"Pegsalabukan Bansa Subanon (PBS) Pikhumpongan Dibon Subanen, Inc. “(United Subanen Women’s, Inc.)In coordination with the Amnesty International Philippines secretariat with Dr. Aurora Panong, AI(Phils) Executive Director and Ms. Darlen Gela, Project Coordinator on IP and Mining, Francis Marcial of AI-Zambonga as facilitators together with Ms. Vicky Cahanding, Local AI-IP Women’s coordinator . Said participants were oriented with their basic human rights.

Amnesty International’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.

In pursuit of this vision, Amnesty International’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights.

With its core vision, AI(Phil’s) conducts the said orientation of basic human rights embedded in the UN Declaration of Human Rights’

In the said two days (June 5-6, 2009 at Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City) orientation participants were taught of the basic human rights. State and non-State Obligations, IP Rights, IP Situations, and the Local and International Mechanism of Amnesty International.

After the orientation, participants will be planning for activities that will be brought to their respective areas of responsibilities.

“AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL addresses governments, intergovernmental organizations, armed political groups, companies and other non-state actors. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL seeks to disclose human rights abuses accurately, quickly and persistently. It systematically and impartially researches the facts of individual cases and patterns of human rights abuses. These findings are publicized, and members, supporters and staff mobilize public pressure on governments and others to stop the abuses. In addition to its work on specific abuses of human rights, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL urges all governments to observe the rule of law, and to ratify and implement human rights standards; it carries out a wide range of human rights educational activities; and it encourages intergovernmental organizations, individuals, and all organs of society to support and respect human rights.” Dr. Aurora Panong said.

Meanwhile, as part of the AI (Phils) 2009 plan, AI’s Dignity Campaign will be launched with an over-all goal of stopping and preventing human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty. The Philippines was selected as an area for case study on the actual impact of a failure to recognize obligations beyond borders through the thematic project, particularly Canadian and Australian mining in the Philippines.

AI Philippines has started internal capacity building in preparation for an active role in the campaign. We have reached out to indigenous peoples affected by mining in Zamboanga Peninsula and started training a few on human rights and campaigning. Initial contacts with NGOs working with indigenous peoples affected by mining have also been established.

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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