A Philippine Human Rights NGO providing Psychosocial Services and Rehabilitation to Internally Displaced Persons and Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence.
Around 7,000 Muslim men and women gathered at the Mahad Mindanao, Pikit, North Cotabato to participate in a peace rally last June 15 during the Ei'dul Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan. The peace rally calls on the government to restore the original version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) crafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
Balay Rehabilitation Center and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have formalized their commitment to promote human rights and freedom from torture of persons deprived of liberty for the next three years. This was contained in a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the heads of both organizations in the BJMP National Headquarters on June 4, 2018.
Ninety six detainees charged with political offense gained their freedom after nearly five years of imprisonment from the Security Intensive Care Area 2 in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan on May 28, 2018. The Regional Trial Court Branch 158 in Pasig City ordered their release after they agreed to a plea bargaining agreement that lowered their charge of rebellion to being accessories to sedition.
The wanton disregard for law, rising criminality, terrorism and insurgency has created in the public mind an impression of a chaotic and dangerous society. Reports about murder and other crimes – many of which are related to drug use and abuse - have become staple news that tend to jar one’s senses, resulting either to a feeling of helplessness or to utter loss of trust on authorities to protect the right of citizens against lawless violence.
For more than thirty years DIGNITY – the Danish Institute Against Torture – has specialized in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, and the rehabilitation of torture survivors. International collaboration with human rights organizations like Balay, aimed at diminishing the after-effects of torture and preventing the use of torture and ill treatment, is at the heart of DIGNITY’s work.
“Today, the IRCT joins hands with Balay and the United Against Torture Coalition in commemorating the UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims. We honour the memory of all those who are no longer with us, and continue to support those who still are. We pay tribute to the commitment, tireless effort and excellent work done by NGOs and civil society organisations in the Philippines in fighting torture and impunity.
