WeDpro, Inc. A feminist collective working for women’s empowerment

November 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

President Arroyo signed the Anti-Torture Bill into law last Tuesday, the 10th of November, two days earlier than our announcement. The Freedom from Torture Law in the Philippines has been assigned the Republic Act 9745.

Kindly find attached the Joint Public Statement of the OMCT (World Organization Against Torture) and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), on the passage of the Anti-Torture Law.

We have also been informed that the sponsorship speech on the OPCAT at the Philippine Senate will most likely take place sometime after the 1st of December. We are very optimistic that its ratification is within grasp since Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, the Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations and strong willed legislator is championing the instrument.

As you all know, the next step for all of us is to work on the formulation of a strong Implementing Rules and Regulations fr the measure but it is important to bear in mind that it remains necessary to strengthen the Anti-Torture Law in the near future, through other avenues, for the protection and redress of all torture victims in the Philippines. We hope that we can continue our partnerships, exchanges and dialogues towards this end.

Our best wishes to all!

Budit

Ellecer Ebro Carlos
PDRP-STOV Team
BALAY Rehabilitation Center, Inc.

URL: www.balayph.net & www.opcatph.org
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PUBLIC STATEMENT

November 15, 2009

The Philippines: A Considerable Step Forwards thanks to the President Arroyo:
The Anti-Torture Bill was signed!

Copenhagen - Geneva, 13 November 2009. The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) welcome the signing yesterday by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Act Penalizing the Commission of Acts of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, prescribing Penalties Therefore and for Other Purposes. The signing of the Act is a considerable step forwards in preventing and eradicating all forms of torture and ill-treatment in the Republic of the Philippines.

OMCT and IRCT, along with national, regional and international NGOs and other stakeholders, had urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to sign without delay the Act that had recently been adopted by the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives [1]. Both organisations particularly wish to congratulate its member organisations in the Philippines, members of the Government and all those
stakeholders who have been involved in drafting the Act and supporting the process of its adoption.

We also thank the President for taking such a significant decision in support of the fight against torture. By enacting the Bill criminalising torture and other forms of ill-treatment the Philippines has made important progress towards implementing the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 23 years after having ratified the Convention.

OMCT and IRCT now call on the competent authorities to take prompt measures to fully and effectively implement this Act, including by approving the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Act in accordance with the Convention against Torture.

Contacts:
IRCT – Sune Segal, Head of Communications, Tel. +45 36 93 87 12, Email: sse@irct.org
OMCT – Alexandra Kossin, Coordinator, Tel. +41 (0) 22 809 49 39, Email: omct@omct.og
1 See IRCT –OMCT joint letter addressed to the President on 27 October 2009.
[1] Furthermore, participants in the Asian Regional Seminar on addressing the economic, social and cultural root causes of torture and other forms of violence organised in Manila from 26 to 30 October 2009 by OMCT and the Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) in cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines also issued an appeal on 30 October to the President.