The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.  The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.

One year after holding its first meeting, on 18 June 2007, the Council adopted its “Institution-building package” [Word file] providing elements to guide it in its future work.  Among the elements is the new Universal Periodic Review mechanism which will assess the human rights situations in all 192 UN Member States.  Other features include a new Advisory Committee which serves as the Council’s “think tank” providing it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues and the revised Complaints Procedure mechanism which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council.  The Human Rights Council also continues to work closely with the UN Special Procedures established by the former Commission on Human Rights and assumed by the Council.

source:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/

Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA, as Laura Vicuña Foundation’s representative joined and participated in the National Roundtable to Prevent Child Sex Tourism last February 26, 2009 at the Heritage Hotel Manila, organized and conducted  by the Department of Tourism and ChildWise Australia. It was an opportunity to discuss the latest available information on child sex tourism, current child sex tourism prevention activities in the Philippines and across South East Asia. The Department of Tourism with ChildWise Australia launched the Five Year Plan to Prevent Child-Sex Tourism in South East Asia in which the different stakeholders present made reference during the roundtable discussion.

Child-sex tourism is the sexual exploitation of children by any person/s who travel from their home to another place and have sexual contact with children. Child-sex tourists can be domestic travelers or international tourists. The problem of child-sex tourism remains a significant and growing threat in South East Asia.

The event was one of a series of Roundtables taking place across South East Asia throughout February and March 2009.

- Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA

Trafficking in persons refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation which includes at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines organized a Seminar-Workshop on Countertrafficking for Religious Women last February 19-22, 2009 at Supreme Hotel, Baguio City. This Seminar was one of a series taking place since 2007 in the Philippines through AMRSP spearheaded by Sr. Estrella M. Castalone, FMA, AMRSP Executive Secretary.

Thirty six (36) Religious Sisters coming from 16 Congregations participated in the Seminar discussing the reality of Trafficking, its causes and processes, profile of both the trafficked and the trafficker, and responses to trafficking. Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA served as the main resource speaker who rendered a very comprehensive view of the global and Philippine scenario. With her expertise on this considered Human Slavery of the 21^st century, she guided the group in understanding the intricacies of this issue through lecture, group discussions, case analysis, and open forum. Legislations addressing the phenomenon of Trafficking were also taken as well as Networking as a strategy to combat this reality. Towards the last part of the Seminar, concrete plans at the Congregational level and as a Network among the group was given ample time to really work for this cause.

Everyone has committed to COUNTERTRAFFICKING. Yes, it is indeed a very difficult task yet it is an urgent CALL for us Religious to do something to protect our children and women who are most vulnerable. As Sr. Estrella challenged the participants, “Let us be moved to ACTION! Let us be prophets and advocates of HOPE! Consecrated life, by its very nature, ought not to be centered in itself but focused upon its commitment at the service of the most vulnerable after the example of Jesus.”

- Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA

Laura Vicuña Foundation joined the Roundtable Discussion on Interventions for Children who Sexually Abuse other Children in observance of the 13^TH National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation last February 10, 2009 at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Sr. Rosalia Panganiban, FMA and Ms. Joy Hugo participated in the event as LVF forms part of the Sub Task Force for Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, of Children (STF-SACSEC) under the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC). Highlights of the Roundtable are the presentation of the Profile of Children who Sexually Abuse other Children and a video presentation on a parent’s testimony on the case against children who sexually abused his daughter.

As a culminating activity, last February 14, 2009, Ms. Joy Hugo, LVF’s Social Worker, together with 20 kids from Tondo and 28 YCDP trainees joined a celebration at the Quezon Circle where children from different agencies gathered to let their voices be heard as they shout the 2009 Theme: “ Sekswal na Pang-aabuso sa Bata: Nangyayari Saan Man, Karahasan na Dapat WAKASAN!”

The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines in partnership with Businessmen for Integrity and Stability of our Nation or BISYON and Transparency International Philippines, under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme held the First Integrity And Human Rights Conference last January 27-28, 2009 at the Hyatt Hotel, Manila.

Of the 400 participants, Laura Vicuña Foundation was chosen to attend the two-day conference as a delegate to this milestone event participated by Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA. The Conference raised the awareness on integrated and global corporate compliance, integrity and ethics programme. It also examined current issues, shared best practices and tools, built networks and partnerships for action in combating human rights violation and corruption. Through the Conference, each stakeholder resolved to safeguard human rights.

Various keynote speakers were invited from their fields of expertise: general and corporate counsels, compliance and ethics officers, finance and internal audit directors, corporate governance and legal compliance directors, civil society, heads of local and national government units, agencies and non government organizations.

The Honorable MS. LEILA DE LIMA, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, delivered a very emphatic and intense keynote speech “Breaking the Grip of Corruption: Our Captured Culture’s Penultimate Effort to Promote, Protect and Fulfill Human Rights.”

“Who in the DOJ, in the PDEA is at fault in the Alabang Boys case; who in the SBMA and the DENR is responsible for the cutting of protected forests in Subic Bay; who in the Executive Department had been responsible for the Fertilizer Scam and the ZTE deal. We need to put an end to our habit of openly denouncing corruption, then surreptitiously consenting to it.”

“CORRUPTION IS A VERY SERIOUS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. The reason for this conference is to instill in your minds, for you to instill in the minds of your subordinates, to instill in the minds of their children and your children, and your children’s children: corruption is a violation of human rights.”

“Our courageous struggle against corruption and the battle for integrity and accountability, transparency and trust, derives many lessons from the development of the seminal document on human rights. It is the comparison between the histories of human rights and corruption that we hope to deliver this new paradigm, this new revolution that upstages any past revolution in the name of integrity.”

“The Commission on Human Rights challenges all to address corruption through the Human Rights Based Approach. Let us empower people to act and do their part by demanding good governance lest they become tools to the perpetuation of corruption. Now is the moment to choose action over lethargy and over apathy: to choose integrity over ennui. This is the moment!”

Other known speakers did their share like Dr. Purificacion Quisimbing, member of the Advisory Committee to the UN Human Rights Advisory Council, who gave an overview of the International Norms and Standards for Governance and Human Rights; Former Senator Wigberto Tanada shared the Promotion of Human Rights and Good Governance in the Asean Region. Best Practices in Local Government Units for Human Rights Promotion and fight against Corruption were inspiringly shared by two known transparent and good Mayors from Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo and from San Fernando Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez. Other distinguished speakers were from the Media Sector Isagani Yambot and Maria Ressa who shared their role in fighting corruption and in protecting human rights.

The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Artemio Panganiban, inspired everyone in his speech “Strengthening Democratic Institutions – “I believe that the citizens’ role is not to substitute for and do what our officials should be doing. The citizens’ job is to perform oversight functions, that is, to demand that only the most qualified are elected or appointed, and then to insist that these public officials perform their duties ethically, courageously and competently. Otherwise, if these officials cannot or would not do their jobs properly, the citizens should ask for their resignation, impeachment or dismissal and their replacement by the ethical, the courageous and the competent.”

Each one is responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights!

- Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA

Last March 4, 2009, Sr. Ma. Victoria Sta. Ana, Laura Vicuña Foundation (LVF) Executive Director, visited Laura Vicuña Women Development and Training Center, Malihao, Negros Occidental with Ms. Hoa Tu Duong, the Program Officer of Global Fund for Children for East and Southeast Asia. They dropped by Cuaycong Elementary school for the Program Director to meet some of the scholars their foundation is supporting. Due to lack of time, she did not have the chance to visit the other scholars in Alfonso Sta. Ana Memorial High School, Nanca Elementary School, and Victorias National High School. They had lunch with the community of Sisters wherein Ms. Hoa Tu Duong had the chance to evaluate the other components of the program that they are funding. She was happy to know how much their fund was put to good use and how it effected change in the community.

To express their gratitude, the trainees presented two dance numbers and a declamation from Ryan Azucena from the Garment Trade class. She shared her story to the trainees when they asked her why she joined the organization which gives support to programs for children. She was of Chinese descent and was herself a migrant in Vietnam, then in the United States. She experienced all kinds of discrimination and insecurities in foreign lands. These experiences influenced her decision to work with the Global Fund for Children.

After the program, she had the chance to meet the PES (Parent Effectiveness Seminar) volunteers. Even in their simple English, they were able to express how much they have been helped by PES and are glad that they are now empowered not only to give seminars but also to be active advocates of human rights especially of children.

Ms. Hoa Tu Duong was very much satisfied with the proper implementation of the program in Malihao and she promised to look for other funding agencies to help support the LVF program in Malihao.

- Sr. Theda Dela Rosa, FMA