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OPCAT Campaign Updates Philippines. 5 th EU OPCAT Project Regional Working Group Meeting Goldiana Hotel Phnom Penh 24 January 2009. Status of the Philippines’ Adhesion to the instrument. Remains 3 rd in Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ Priority List
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OPCAT Campaign UpdatesPhilippines 5th EU OPCAT Project Regional Working Group Meeting Goldiana Hotel Phnom Penh 24 January 2009
Status of the Philippines’ Adhesion to the instrument • Remains 3rd in Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ Priority List - Overtaken by 2 other treaties - CSO’s see three avenues for Advancement • Declaration attached • No official UN signature deposit
Tally of Efforts being undertaken to advance the OPCAT’s installment • EU Philippine Delegation, Royal Netherlands Embassy & French Embassy have keen interest in its ratification • Actively urging the Philippine Government • EU coordinates with BALAY through Deputy Head of Misson, Mr. Gabriel Munuera- Vinals
Tally of Efforts being undertaken to advance the OPCAT’s installment • Commission on Human Rights studied announcement of Exec. Sec. Ermita on possibility of GRP to seek deferment. Has sent advisory to the Executive Secretary - clarifications on 1+3+2 formula under article 24 of the OPCAT - Reaffirmation of CHRP’s central role in future of NPM - Recommendation to ratify and fully implement the OPCAT
Avenues for the Ratification of the OPCAT • Person to Person Lobby of 16 members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations • Find direct line to Sen. Miriam Santiago • Lobby PHRC to ask Executive to certify OPCAT as urgent legislation • International Pressure
BALAY initiatives to advance the anticipatory work for NPM establishment • Publication of Sept. 2008 NPM workshop (BALAY-CHRP) • Round Table Discussion on Domestic Preparations and Timeframe needed to establish NPM (PHRC-BALAY-AFAD). • NPM workshop + RTD results = General Plan of Action for post adhesion work • Establishment of the Philippine OPCAT Working Group (PHRC-DILG-BALAY-CHRP++) • Inclusion of OPCAT implementation and Istanbul Protocol in the National Human Rights Action Plan • Joint Civil Society draft NPM bill. We have requested Chairperson of House Committee on Human Rights, Rep. Erin Tanada to sponsor the legislation (UATC-PAHRA-CHRP-HORCOHR) • Philippine OPCAT Working Group’s implementation of the General Plan of Action to be included in the National Human Rights Action Plan
Other important concerns • Timeline for OPCAT ratification and NPM establishment to be asked as part of the List of Issues during Philippine CAT review • Still unclear whether it is article 3 or 4 that is indicated in the declaration • BALAY included in GRP CAT Report and List of Issues pertaining to UNCAT Article 14 • UATC & PAHRA constructing Alternative Report -Working with CHRP to amplify most important concerns during intervention proper in Geneva