Advocacy
Peacetahan: Kabataan, Tayo Naman!
In its efforts to involve the youth in the call for peace and CARHRIHL, SUlong created the PEACEtahan 2008 campaign, a year-long series of activities including a poster/infomercial/songwriting and music video contest. PEACEtahan aims to develop advocacy materials for and by the youth, giving us a glimpse into their hopes and ambitions for a peaceful nation, a nation where basic human rights and the rights of civilians even at wartime are respected.
The Awards Night was held on April 19, 2008, 6 p.m. at the UP Film Center, with performances by Imago, Bayang Barrios, Reggae Mistress, Teatro Kolehiyo ng Miriam with Pinay and Jeepney Joyride.
Rommel Ramota won for his poster Wall of Peace, Roxanne Paraguison for her infomercial CARHRIHL, tied with John Chris Crisostomo's Lakad Kabataan, Purebliss for their song Pilipinas, and Lilcoli for his music video Kabataan.
For the whole PEACEtahan story, complete with photos, videos, and the complete entries to the contest, visit the Sulong Youth Network blog.
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The Sulong Youth blog with PEACEtahan entries and winners. (click image)
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Tikada: Broadcasts for Peace
Sulong CARHRIHL, in partnership with Pathways Production and with the support of the Government of Norway, produced 18 Tikada infomercials this year. These three-minute radio spiels were aired nationwide on Radio Mindanao Network in the first two months of 2006, during Radyo Pitlag’s time slot (Monday-Friday, 6:00-6:30 pm). The Tikada infomercials tackle several topics including the causes and impact of armed conflict on civilian communities, the need to observe and respect human rights and international humanitarian law, the importance of peace-building efforts and the active involvement of the actors for peace. Several spiels address specific issues like the use of landmines and child soldiers.
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Social Radio Dramas: Pitlag!
Sulong CARHRIHL is reaching out to a wider audience via the airwaves. Pathways Production, Inc. produced for Sulong CARHRIHL four radio drama sets highlighting the impact of war on communities, the need to promote respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and people’s various responses to the armed conflict in their midst. They were aired as commissioned Radyo Pitlag social drama-forum series. Pathways Production created Radyo Pitlag and owns the block time on Radio Mindanao Network from Monday-Friday, 6:00-6:30 pm.
Each drama set was broadcast nationwide on five consecutive days for 30 minutes each day. The fifth broadcast closes the story and is followed by a 20-minute discussion with guests from Sulong CARHRIHL.
Radyo Pitlag has been awarded Bronze Medalist in the 2003 New York Festival for Best Radio Information program in History and Best Radio Drama Series in the 2001 and 2004 Catholic Mass Media Awards. The funding for the Radio Pitlag series commissioned by Sulong CARHRIHL came from the Royal Norwegian Government.
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Education
Sulong CARHRIHL’s training module is unique in that it provides an intimate linkage between the promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law and peace building. The module thus develops and depends understanding of the network’s slogan, “Our rights, our peace”.
Six topics make up the complete module:
- Introduction: Objectives & Expectations of the Training, Sulong CARHRIHL
- Human Rights
- Effects of Armed Conflicts and the International Humanitarian La
- Sulong CARHRIHL Orientation
- Causes of Armed Conflicts, Peace and the Peace Process
- Peace Building
training concept paper >>
trainers' training 2007>>
Documentation and Monitoring
One of the network’s primary objectives is the monitoring of the compliance of the two signatory parties to the CARHRIHL. Sulong CARHRIHL will document violations by both parties of human rights and international humanitarian law with its partner organizations, particularly the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), with whom Sulong CARHRIHL collaborated in 2007 to develop documentation templates and a database of documented cases.
Through the documentation and monitoring program, Sulong CARHRIHL aims to:
- Develop the database as a source for alternative reports on human rights and international humanitarian law violations for comparison with the periodic reports the government submits to the international community.
- Formulate appropriate interventions or actions for the victims of CARHRIHL violations. Though SULONG CARHRIHL will not file cases on behalf of the victims, we will help them seek protection and justice.
- Use the data gathered for advocacy, education and policy intervention in order to prevent further violations of the CARHRIHL.
Networking
Public forums and/or consultations are held in affected communities and/or with prospective partners in different provinces, especially those affected by the armed conflict. In these events, the network and its work are introduced to participants. The local situation or specific concerns of the community or organization are discussed. Communities and partner organizations are encouraged to undertake advocacy, preventive action and monitoring of the observance of CARHRIHL. Activities that will address violations or respond to pressing concerns are planned.
The need to hold such consultations was identified in the network’s National Strategizing workshop held in February 2006. Consultations were identified as a means to build new partnerships to expand the peace and human rights constituency nationwide and develop the capacity to respond to the impact of the armed conflict.
consultation concept paper >>
Special Projects
Sulong CARHRIHL builds partnership in Arakan and Davao (Miriam Coronel Ferrer)
Sulong CARHRIHL’s involvement in Arakan, North Cotabato began in February 2006 when Bae Magdalena Suhat, a Manobo-Matitsalog tribal leader, requested assistance to facilitate the return of seven families to their communities. The heads of the seven families applied to join the government’s Citizens Armed Forces Geographic Unit (CAFGU). Although they were not recruited, they feared retaliation from the New People’s Army (NPA). Thus, they decided to stay in Kidapawan for the time being.
Bae Magdalena was part of the delegation of the Mindanao People’s Peace Movement (MPPM), which visited the UP CIDS Program on Peace, Democratization and Human Rights. A case documentation was made by Sulong Secretariat chair Jovy Reyes, and arrangements were made to hold a consultation in Kidapawan.
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