7th Infantry Division: the newest human rights advocates in Central Luzon

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, May 27 (PIA) -- The 7th Infantry (7ID) Division wants soldiers and civilian paramilitary units to lead in the promotion of human rights.

“We will invest extensively in human rights education and values formation. Military and para-military personnel should be guided with the right values and advocacy on this (human rights),” 7ID Commander Brigadier General Alan Luga said recently.

The 7ID, also known as Kaugnay Division, has been conducting human rights fora for soldiers.

Most recent was the three-day training project on Human Rights-International Humanitarian Law-Rule of Law for 24 soldiers who are now part of the Mobile Training Team for Non-Formal Education, Advocacy, and Information Dissemination for CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) Active Auxiliary.

Among the topics discussed were the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), a peace agreement signed by both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, a framework developed by various sectors to promote peace and order.

The program encourages the use of indigenous languages in target communities for easy understanding and eventually bonding among and between civilians and soldiers.

Implementing the program will likewise empower communities to settle differences peacefully in the light of human rights and the prevailing law thus creating an environment fit for children and families to live in.

The training was led by the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Human Rights Office (AFP-HRO), the Government of the Philippines Monitoring Committee (GPH-MC) and Lawyers' League for Liberty (LIBERTAS).

Resource persons were AFP-HRO Chief Colonel Domingo J. Tutaan Jr. and LIBERTAS Executive Director Roberto Cadiz. (WLB/LDRP-PIA3, Nueva Ecija)


(2012-05-27/pia)