Franciscans International has contributed to the fifth report of the International Coalition for Papua (ICP), a new publication covering events from January 2015 to December 2016.
Author: communications
Read the new Case Studies on Mining and Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Peru in the context of the adoption of the Treaty on Business and Human Rights.
From May 23, 2017, the Islamic City of Marawi, the capital of the predominantly Muslim Lanao del Sur province in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, in the Philippines, has been the epicentre of violence.
On that day, the Philippine Army and a local radical Islamist entity, allegedly affiliated to ISIL, the Maute Group, began a battle in the city. This action soon became a siege and, as of June, official data report that over 400,000 people were internally displaced to neighbouring provinces.
Local Franciscans have been some of the first to bring humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Marawi in the form of food, medical assistance, and livelihood support. Franciscans also organised psycho-social interventions (similar to group counselling meetings) to help IDPs deal with their trauma.
Norly Sara Paingco, 24, was present at one of these meetings. Until May 23 she was a student in the city of Marawi. On that day, she had to leave her city, her house, and her school. She now lives in an evacuation center in Baloi, in the Lanao del Norte province, some 30 km north of Marawi city.
“Why are we being evicted from our houses? Why are we considered terrorists?” she asks in tears. “Now I cannot study. My future is destroyed.”
Since May the crisis in Marawi has intensified and the martial law, initially proclaimed for the city of Marawi only, was extended to the whole island of Mindanao on July 22.
The living conditions of IDPs in the country is increasingly worrying and Sen. Leila de Lima, former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, requested the Duterte administration to formally invite the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs, Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, to look into the growing number of citizens displaced by this crisis. As reported by The Philippine Star, “The senator said the government, as the ‘legal protector of Filipinos who are unable to protect themselves,’ has the duty to pursue an impartial investigation through an independent commission of inquiry to be conducted by the UN special rapporteur.”
Budi Tjahjono, Franciscans International’s Asia-Pacific Coordinator, was recently in in Iligan City—40 km from Marawi—to attend a meeting with the JPIC of Franciscans in Mindanao, titled “Franciscans, ONE with Marawi.” In the context of this meeting, that aimed to consolidate Franciscan responses to the crisis, Mr Tjahjono also visited one of the evacuation centres where local Franciscans are engaged in humanitarian assistance and advocacy. His assessment of the situation is similar to the one provided by Sen. De Lima. He said, “It is very important to address immediately the IDPs situation through the lenses of the UN guiding principles on internal displacement.” And he further added that “the Philippines should invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs to visit Marawi and the region. And the Government should also reconsider their position in regard to Bill 1142 on IDPs rights.”
Author: Paolo Cravero, FI Communications Officer
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On Friday, 16 June on the side of the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Franciscans International, together with the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and Amnesty International, organised an event focusing on the issue of the freedom of expression in the island of Okinawa, Japan. With a rich panel representing local civil society and media as well as the United Nations, the debate has touched upon many crucial elements relating to both the right of free speech and the Okinawan situation.
To read a full account of the side-event, please click here. To see the webcast of the event (in Japanese) follow this link
On June 20, parallel to the 35th session of the Human Rights Council, Franciscans International and other international organizations held an event discussing the political deadlock and deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Currently the DRC is in a political paralysis where the electoral process is in a standstill and democratic elections are dangerously threatened.
In light of President Kabila’s unconstitutional stay in power past his final mandated term on 19 December 2016, opposition forces, civil society and the Government reached an agreement on 31 December 2016, the Accord de la Saint Sylvestre (the New Year’s Eve Agreement). At the core of this document is the imposition of a tangible commitment to hold democratic elections prior to the end of 2017.
Nevertheless, progress in the implementation of the Agreement has stalled, undermining the electoral process and a peaceful, democratic transition of power, as well as fuelling opposition and animosity towards the Presidential Majority.
Consequently, the absence of a prompt implementation of the New Year’s Eve Agreement has had irrefutable repercussions on the security and human rights situation in the country. There has been an increase in violations of the rights to liberty and security, freedom of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly. Cases of arbitrary detention, excessive use of force and mass arrests have also risen in a country where the United Nations estimates at least 2.7 million internally displaced persons and approximately 450,000 DRC refugees in other nations.
In this context, Msgr. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Vice-President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), outlined the impediments and challenges faced in the absence of the implementation of the New Year’s Eve Agreement. He said, “We have encountered ourselves in front of a wall, witnessing a global process of destabilization.” He also acknowledged the effects of mass poverty and weakening of the opposition forces in contributing to the deteriorating situation in the DRC. In concluding, he called for the need to conduct an independent international investigation on the atrocities committed in Kasai and on other major cases.
Mr. Fred Bauma, member of Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA), highlighted the lack of concrete action taken by the international community in regards to the political crisis and recurring human rights abuses. Further, he urged states to combat impunity.
Ms. Ida Sawyer, the Central Africa Director of Human Rights Watch, shed light on the violent tensions in the Kasai region—situated in the centre of the country—and stressed the responsibility and duty of states to take effective action.
Mr. José Maria Aranaz, Director of the UN joint Human Rights Office, Kinshasa, underscored the lack of political will to bring perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice. He challenged the international community to establish accountability through exercising its political responsibility.
Mr. Carl Hallergard, Deputy Head of the European Union to the United Nations in Geneva, concluded the dialogue highlighting the importance of interaction between the international community and the Government of the DRC in overcoming this political and human rights crisis.
Author: Uendi Begaj
See the webcast of the event on Franciscans International’s Facebook page.
Please read the Joint ecumenical statement for World Refugee Day 2017 by clicking here.
Join Franciscans International and partners for an event focusing on the crisis of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This side-event to the 35th Human Rights Council will take place on June 20 at 09:30 in Room XXIV at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Join Franciscans International and partners on June 16 at 12:00 in Room XXIV at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for this side-event to the HRC35. The speakers will include: Mr David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr Hiroji Yamashiro, Okinawa Peace Movement Centre, Mr Nozomi Kanetaka, Defence Lawyer for Mr Yamashiro, Mr Takeshi Abe, Okinawa Times. The event will be moderated by Ms Jane Connors, Amnesty International.
On June 15 at 16:00 (CET) in Room XXVII at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, join Franciscans International and partners for this event focusing on migration in Central America. The live webcast of the event will be available on Franciscans International Facebook page.