A Philippine Human Rights NGO providing Psychosocial Services and Rehabilitation to Internally Displaced Persons and Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence.

news and events

Balay Held HR Seminar for AFP Intel Officers

Balay representative, Mr. Carlos receiving a certificate of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Bambao for giving out a lecture about torture in the Philippine context and a discussion about the Anti-Torture Law of 2009Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City – a human rights seminar for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Intelligence Officer was held. Balay Rehabilitation Center (Balay), represented by Mr. Ellecer Carlos, was also invited to discuss the newly passed Anti-Torture Act (RA 9745) of 2009. Ms. Loretta Rosales, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), was likewise present in the said forum and discussed human rights violations situation in the Philippines from the immediate past to the present.

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Public Statement for the Commemoration of the June 26 UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The use of torture must cease to be commonplace. Freedom from torture, not free to torture!

Torture continues to be routinely practiced in the Philippines despite the country having been a state party to the UN Convention Against Torture, the fact that the 1987 Philippine Constitution explicitly prohibits the use of torture and the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009. A handful of small organizations have since the time of Marcos dictatorship been documenting cases of this abhorrent practice and with them effectively brought to light that the state, as the overarching institution of authority, has fallen short in exercising the political will needed to abate its use in law enforcement and military operations. Nevertheless, the cases these groups have been able to document are but the tip of the iceberg. Innumerable individuals, mostly coming from the poorer sections of Philippine society are victimized by this human rights violation everyday in the name of crime prevention or political stability. The two common kinds of torture victim, the suspected criminal and the person who seeks change by expressing dissent, undergo horrific life-changing ordeals because shortcutting their responsibilities has become prescriptive amongst state security forces and law enforcers. Torture of course persists because poverty and other social ills remain unresolved by the primary duty bearer – the state. After all, civil and political rights violations are mere manifestations of the social injustices, in human rights parlance defined as economic, social and cultural rights violations. To provide examples, the root cause of torture of a suspected pickpocket and a social activist demanding change is the same, widespread abject poverty. It is safe to assume that the social and economic disparity has alienated our police and military public servants from the ensuring safety of common citizens. Therefore systemic change in their practice must become a high priority in this administration.

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CSOs and Gov't Run Against Torture

Basta Run Against Torture V participants, led by civil society organizations prepare to brave the rain and run to campaign for a torture free Philippines.Despite a stormy weather, close to a thousand people from public and private institutions went in front of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) office along EDSA to join and express their solidarity to the Basta Run Against Torture V (BRAT V). Participants to the BRAT jogged for almost seven kilometers to until they reached the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office along Commonwealth Avenue where a short program was held. While jogging, participants flashed their shirts and raised their banners to publicly express the call of the activity: "FREE FROM TORTURE, NOT FREE TO TORTURE". During the brief program held at the CHR grounds, leaders of civil society organizations, government agencies, military and the police expressed their solidarity to the advocacy of promoting the right of every individual to be free from torture.

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