Women’s groups open discussions on Justice and Healing for VAW victims

As part of the women’s month celebration, the Justice and Healing Project Team hosted a forum-launch on its project Justice and Healing for Victim-survivors of Gender-based Violence on March 28, 2012 at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City.

The forum aims to engage various groups – the police, barangay officials, and women’s rights advocates in a discussion to address violence against women (VAW) and the long journey in seeking justice and healing.

The program also served as the launch some of its project publications: “Springboards for Women’s Journeys Toward Justice and Healing: A Baseline Report” on the experiences of survivors and service providers including lawyers, prosecutors and judges with VAW laws, conducted by Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) and Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy and Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD); “Compendium of Laws and Rules on VAW Litigation” compiled by WomenLEAD for the Paralegal Skills Training in VAW Litigation for Community Service Providers, and; “Inviolability versus Inalienability” a legal monograph on Article 36 of the Family Code or psychological incapacity and its implications on the rights of women in abusive marriages — the first of three legal monographs on gender controversial aspects identified by WomenLEAD that need to be addressed.

The event gathered leading advocates against gender-based violence, namely Olivia Tripon of Women’s Feature Service (WFS), Atty. Claire Luczon of Women LEAD, Theresa Balayon of WCC. A response was given by Winnie Penaredondo, a VAW survivor/advocate .

The Justice and Healing project seeks to strengthen the components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the Justice and Healing perspective with respect to the VAW cases.

Funded by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the project is implemented by WFS, WCC, WomenLEAD, and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).#

ASSIST accepts donations to flashflood victims

ASSIST extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of flashfloods in Mindanao last December 18.

We are also accepting donations in kind until tomorrow, December 22. Especially needed are ready to eat food, blankets, medicines and clothes which will be coursed through our partner NGO, Balaod Mindanaw (Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc.).

To coordinate, please contact our Research and Knowledge Management Director Sheena Opulencia, 4038668 loc. 539 or email sheena@assistasia.org.

For other avenues to send help, please visit this link: http://www.adlsu.com/2011/12/18/15-ways-to-help-sendongs-victims-in-cdo-iligan/.

News Commentary: Inequality and Gender-based Violence Mark the Plight of South Asian Women

by Paula Bianca Lapuz

South Asia is notorious for gender-based violence (Population Council 2004). Not even those who migrate abroad can escape such a destiny (Warsi 2011). These issues can be considered detrimental to national progress if women, who have great potential to contribute economically and politically, are constrained by various social norms (International Labour Office 2004).

In Afghanistan, Gulnaz, a young unmarried woman sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment after being raped by her cousin’s husband, was freed but not vindicated (Walsh and Basu 2011). In fact, she still faces threats to her life. Tremendous pressure from the international community elicited by a European Union-funded video containing Gulnaz’s story forced the government to pardon her.

Two years ago, instead of garnering sympathy, Gulnaz incurred the ire of her family and of the conservative Afghan society. She was accused of maligning her family’s honor and for bringing this fate upon herself. To complicate the situation, Gulnaz bore her perpetrator a child.

To regain her honor, she agreed to marry her abuser. While this serves towards her release, this does not guarantee her safety, as honor killing is permitted in communities in Afghanistan. Authorities say that there are hundreds of similar cases in the country (Walsh and Basu 2011).

Nearby, Pakistani women also face issues on gender inequality. Family planning is a taboo in Pakistan, where families with ten or more children are not unusual according to the Washington Post. Today, it is the sixth most populous country in the world.

In addition, women’s opinions are hardly ever considered by their husbands and his family, who live with them. Marginal improvements in fertility rates were recorded in recent years, but these still do not meet the annual targets towards a 2.2 children per woman ratio by 2020 (Brulliard 2011).

In India, around 500,000 female babies are aborted each year – almost the same number of babies born in the United Kingdom annually. This reflects how many in the Indian society still regard a girl offspring as inconsequential to achieving a better socio-economic status for the family (The Guardian 2011) (Boseley 2011).

Analysis:

The world is just four years away from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Deadline, the world blueprint for development, agreed upon by all member states and institutions of the United Nations. On women and children’s rights in particular, MDG hopes that by 2015, the child mortality rate is halved, women are empowered, gender equality is achieved, and maternal health is improved.

A recent study named India as among the top 20 countries that have made progress in areas of poverty/child mortality reduction and maternal health improvement (United Nations Millennium Campaign 2011) However, data also show that at least 37% of India’s population live below the national poverty line and 41.8% of its rural population are poor (UNDP n.d.).

These numbers are still high and women are especially vulnerable in this situation. And though efforts to prevent selective abortion have been in place for years, its continued occurrence exposes the need for a more effective approach.

If the government should succeed in its MDG targets by 2015, it must strengthen its education-information campaign on women’s rights. Punishing some people for child-slaughter without educating the society cannot alter well-entrenched cultural beliefs . Thus, education is still the long-term solution for this social ill.

Moving to Afghanistan and Pakistan, extreme conservatism and sectarian beliefs make it even more difficult for women to rise from their predicament. Although incremental efforts are being launched by the government to tackle women’s rights violations, drastic changes need to be seen.

In both countries, leaders need to address not only questions of national security, but moreso, issues of vulnerable groups. Their governments should to step up in their initiatives to close gaps on gender equality because inaction can only mean worse suffering for the marginalized.

Works cited

Boseley, Sarah. The Guardian/News/World News/India. May 24, 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/india-families-aborting-girl-babies (accessed December 15, 2011).

Brulliard, Karin. The Washington Post. December 15, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/family-planning-is-a-hard-sell-in-pakistan/2011/11/08/gIQANeGcuO_story.html (accessed December 15, 2011).

International Labour Office. Global Employment Trends for Women. Evaluation, International Labour Office, 2004.

Population Council. “Population Council.” Population Council. June 2004. http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/popsyn/PopulationSynthesis1.pdf (accessed December 15, 2011).

The Guardian. The Guardian/News/Global Development/Poverty Matters Blog. 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/22/india-sex-selection-missing-women (accessed December 15, 2011).

UNDP. United Nations Development Programme/Poverty Reduction. http://www.undp.org.in/whatwedo/poverty_reduction (accessed December 15, 2011).

United Nations Millenium Campaign. End Poverty: 2015 Millenium Campaign. June 22, 2011. http://www.endpoverty2015.org/en/node/896 (accessed December 16, 2011).

Walsh, Nick Paton, and Moni Basu. CNN/ASIA. December 15, 2011. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/14/world/asia/afghanistan-rape-victim/index.html?hpt=ias_c1 (accessed December 15, 2011).

Warsi, Sayeeda. The Guardian. December 14, 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/14/forced-marriage-illegal-uk (accessed December 15, 2011).

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Remembering the (un)Forgotten: A Commentary on the Maguindanao Massacre

News Commentary from the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) Research and Knowledge Management (RKM) Team

by Paula Bianca Lapuz

This year marks the second anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre which resulted in 58 deaths, 32 of whom were media members and 26 others were civilians. Worldwide, November 23, the date of the bloodbath, has become the International Day to End Impunity (Malig 2011).

The Philippines has been tagged in the recent years as the most dangerous place for journalists (Gonzaga 2010 and Papa 2009). A study published in 2008 noted that half of the 77 media killings since 1986 were committed from 2001 to 2008 alone (Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility 2008). Indeed, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibilityargues that while the Philippine press enjoys the freedom of expression as with any other democratic society, killing of journalists persists especially in rural areas (CMFR 2008).

The Ampatuan massacre demonstrates the power and vulnerability of the media. Journalists were not killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao by chance. Thinking that a media convoy can shield them, the kin of then aspirant for governorship Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu faced the odds to submit the certificate for candidacy. In what is now an infamous massacre, they were all killed on their way.

Mangudadatu has since burned bridges with the Ampatuan clan, the ruling family in the province. The Ampatuans are being tried, but the murder remains unresolved. Families of the victims still bear the torment of injustice.

Ampatuan province is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, an area ceded to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the former rebel organization that sought its creation, in 1992.

Analysis

More than anything else, the one glaring message of the Ampatuan massacre is that democracy has failed in ARMM. In fact, ARMM is a failed project altogether.

The media is said to be the watchdog of the society. This is why in every attempt at declaring a martial rule, the first enterprises and institutions to be seized by the State are the media establishments.

Information is power, and it is the media that provides information. And because a free press is one of the measures of a mature democracy, the Ampatuan massacre is the ultimate proof that our national government has failed in ensuring the emergence of a democratic local government in the ARMM.

Furthermore, political stability is a pre-condition for economic growth. Unless political issues are addressed, it is certain that ARMM will not see better days ahead. In fact, it remains to be among the poorest regions in the country, slipping to the second spot in 2009, following the CARAGA region (Macabalang, 2011).

It has been two years since the massacre,  but no one has been punished for the atrocity. For a very high-profile case committed in broad daylight, how hard can it get to arrive at the truth? The Philippine justice system has been disappointing time and again, and one can only hope that before the year ends, significant progress should have been made on the investigation.

Works cited:

Macabalang, A. G. (2011, July 13). Main News. Retrieved December 08, 2011, from Manila Bulletin: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/326662/caraga-now-poore

Malig, J. (2011, November 23). ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 24, 2011, from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/11/22/11/ampatuan-massacre-becomes-global-focus-journalists

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. Philippine Press Freedom Report 2008. Assessment, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, 2008.

Gonzaga, Robert. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 24, 2010. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101124-304957/PH-Most-dangerous-place-for-journalists (accessed November 24, 2011).

Papa, Alcuin. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 25, 2009. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20091125-238302/RP-most-dangerous-place-for-journalists-to-workwatchdog (accessed November 24, 2011).

Justice and Healing Project goes to Davao

The Justice and Healing (J&H) Project launched back to back activities in Davao City last December 2 and 3, 2011 for the Mindanao leg of its visibility and education campaigns.

J&H is a project funded by the EU’s (European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Programme and implemented by the Women’s Feature Service (WFS) – Project Lead, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) , Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), and 3) Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy & Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD).

It seeks to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver human rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to VAW cases, and recognizes the crucial role of barangay-level service providers and duty-bearers in creating a violence-free community.

This approach to dealing with survivors of gender-based violence was introduced in a visibility campaign for women advocates, law enforcers and lawyers held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Matina, Davao City, and a forum held at the barangay hall of Brgy. Buhangin.

ASSIST was represented by Communications and Visibility Associate Meg Yarcia. #

ASSIST Justice and Healing initiative featured on GMA 7

The Justice and Healing project co-implemented by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) was cited on GMA 7 as another initiative that contributes to the campaign against domestic violence in Cebu City, where the Project Team held a barangay forum, media campaign and legal clinic last November 24 and 25, 2011.

Designed to “educate and capacitate the various components of judicial systems so as to be able to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services with respect to VAW cases”, the J&H Project is an initiative funded by the EU’s (European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Programme and implemented by the Women’s Feature Service (WFS) – Project Lead, ASSIST, Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), and 3) Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy & Defense Foundation, Inc. (WomenLEAD).

To view the coverage, click here: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/100421/kampanya-vs-domestic-violence-mas-pinaigting-sa-cebu

Rethinking the All-Out-War Strategy in Mindanao

photo from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com

 

News Commentary by Paula Bianca Lapuz

You know that things have taken a turn for the better when your president decides against proclaiming an “all-out-war” strategy to resolve an incident like the bloodbath in Al-Barka, Basilan, last October 18, at least from a peace advocate’s perspective.

The Philippine Military’s Special Forces sustained 19 casualties after that encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Reports stated that the MILF fired in response to what they believed was a clear attempt at an assault by the military. The military had vehemently denied the accusation and said that it was the MILF who violated the ceasefire agreement, as the members of the Special Forces were well out of the designated “area of temporary stay” when the MILF attacked them (Alipala 2011).

Five days after the Basilan episode, seven more soldiers were killed in what was again suspected as an MILF attack (Alipala, et al. 2011).

Legislators lambasted the rebel group for its inability to police its rank (Yamsuan 2011). Fuming, Senator Miriam Santiago declared her disappointment over the recent Ceasefire Agreement provision on “areas of temporary stay” which, in her view, severely limited the capacity of the Philippine government to respond to unexpected events, such as the October 18 bloodbath. She also noted that if MILF leaders claim that the assaults were carried out by renegade members, then it would be futile to negotiate with them (Press Release 2011).

Further complicating the issue is the news circulated shortly after the atrocities in Basilan of the government purportedly releasing five million pesos worth of grant to the MILF during the August peace talks, for the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI).

The government admitted that there was indeed a check made for the BLMI and said that such agreements were made during the previous administration and that President Aquino merely honored former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s promise (CALONZO 2011).

All these issues put Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles in the hot seat. Senator Chiz Escudero asks the government to hold Deles accountable, saying that she was and is responsible for the negotiated grant to the MILF because she served the Arroyo administration as well. He also said that there was no proof that the MILF spent the money for its intended purpose (Cruz 2011). Deles, however, explained that the government usually required liquidation of funds only after six or 12 months, following the release of the money.

Former President and retired army general, Fidel V. Ramos agrees with President Aquino against declaring a war in Mindanao. He said that the Mindanao situation should not be likened to a movie because peoples’ lives are at stake. He emphasized that the military is only “carrying out government instructions” to achieve “enduring peace and sustainable development,” and that people should remember this. He likewise mentioned that the all out war launched by ousted president and former action star, Joseph Ejercito Estrada against the MILF in 2000 only displaced at least one million civilians and left families of slain soldiers in grief (Dizon 2011).

On the contrary, Estrada once more defended his decision in several interviews, saying that his action was merely prompted by the rebels’ repeated violation of agreements while peace talks were ongoing during his time.  He also reckons that the present administration should do the same, noting that four decades of peace talks has not contributed at all to the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. He firmly believes that the Philippine government cannot and should not grant the request of the MILF for a “sub-state” (Dizon, ABS-CBN 2011) (Cheng and Hernandez 2011) (Tan 2011).

New developments, on the other hand, suggest that MILF leaders are hesitant to surrender their members who are allegedly responsible for the attacks (Pasaylo 2011).

Analysis

“If war is your answer, then you probably asked the wrong question,” says the Generation Peace for its “One Million Voices for Peace” campaign which ASSIST took part in. The campaign was launched on September 21, in commemoration of the International Day of Peace.  Generation Peace urges the government to follow the United Nations declaration by dedicating the same day annually as a day of “non-violence and ceasefire (Manila Bulletin 2011).”

Weeks after the celebration, however, the Basilan chaos happened. And it all the more showed that there is no perfect formula for peace. Peace and diplomacy can sometimes make it difficult to reach an agreement, but they are the only means we have under our democracy. Guns and violence, after all, are not in any way synonymous to freedom, love or equality.

What is important is that President Aquino is probably using the right framework for his administration’s response. His government’s strategy is on the safe side. It sends out a strong message to the rebels: we will talk, but we should respect agreements.

He has since directed his officials to implement an “all-out-justice” strategy which meant that MILF rogue members will be brought to justice, whatever may be the cost, but peace talks will go as planned (Bordadora, 2011).

While it is important to have an uninterrupted peace process, the way to achieve this can be really challenging, tricky and may even mean damage on both sides. Being outsiders, we can only speculate. We can only hope for a non-violent resolution to the conflict in Mindanao, and not abandon our support for the peace process.  After all, wars can only result into deaths and losses to the country and to its people.

Works cited:

Alipala, Julie. Inquirer. October 20, 2011. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/78739/19-soldiers-slain-in-basilan (accessed November 02, 2011).

Alipala, Julie S., Jeoffrey Maitem, Hernan dela Cruz, Dona Z. Pazzibugan, AFP, and AP. Inquirer. October 24, 2011. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/81839/new-milf-attacks-kill-7 (accessed November 02, 2011).

Bordadora, Norman. Inquirer. October 30, 2011. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/85167/how-all-out-justice-call-came-to-be-president-aquinos-strategy (accessed November 02, 2011).

CALONZO, ANDREO C. GMA News. October 27, 2011. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/236743/nation/deles-milf-has-6-12-months-to-liquidate-p5-m-grant (accessed November 02, 2011).

Cheng, Willard, and Zen Hernandez. ABS-CBN. October 21, 2011. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/21/11/erap-still-wants-all-out-war-vs-milf (accessed November 11, 2011).

Cruz, RG. ABS-CBN. October 27, 2011. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/27/11/chiz-raps-deles-milf-ats (accessed November 02, 2011).

Dizon, David. ABS-CBN. October 21, 2011. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/10/21/11/fvr-tells-war-advocates-were-not-movie (accessed November 11, 2011).

ABS-CBN News. October 24, 2011. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/24/11/erap-milf-showing-no-sincerity-peace-talks (accessed November 11, 2011).

Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Editorial. September 20, 2011. http://mb.com.ph/node/335046/international-day-peace-2011 (accessed November 11, 2011).

Pasaylo, Jun. The Philippine Star. November 02, 2011. http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=200&articleId=743864 (accessed November 02, 2011).

Press Release. Senate Website. November 01, 2011. http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2011/1024_santiago1.asp (accessed November 02, 2011).

Tan, Kimberly Jane. GMA News. October 21, 2011. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/236121/nation/erap-all-out-war-vs-milf-solution-to-minadanao-conflict (accessed November 11, 2011).

Yamsuan, Cathy. Inquirer. October 24, 2011. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/81849/rejection-of-all-out-war-divides-senators (accessed November 02, 2011).

ASSIST joins MTV EXIT and Visayan Forum in conducting Media Camp on Human Trafficking

Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) joined MTV EXIT Foundation and the Visayan Forum Foundation in conducting a media camp for the Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (MATA) at the JesCom Media Center of the Ateneo de Manila University from October 26 to 29, 2011.

Highlights of the media camp include lectures on the value of digital activism, media resources available for human trafficking advocates, strategic media campaign planning, and workshops based on their interests: advocacy video-making under filmmaker and musician RA Rivera, songwriting under lawyer-musician Pochoy Labog, theater under Kiko Miranda, Graphic Design under Micheline Rama, and journalism under journalist and filmmaker Jim Libiran.

On the final day, let the group polish their anti-trafficking campaign material: for graphic design, catchy and meaningful template design and logo; for songwriting, a song in Filipino that tells the story of a distraught survivor; for theater, a performance about a victim of cybersex trafficking; for film and journalism, a short video on the power of the media in promoting the anti-trafficking advocacy among the youth.

The activity is organized in partnership with Dakila, Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and supported by AustralianAID and USAID.#

 

Arab Democracy: The Tunisia Experience

by Paula Bianca Lapuz

Mohamed Bouazizi would have been proud. Bouazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, set himself ablaze last December 10, 2010, which served as the precursor for the Tunisian revolution.

October 23, 2011 was a proud day for all Tunisians. This day saw democracy in practice; some 4.4 million registered voters cast their ballots for the constituent assembly that will draft Tunisia’s new charter.

The test of democracy in Tunisia is just beginning. The transition government is expected to deliver tangible results while the rest of the world waits.

Partial election results suggest the victory of moderate Islamist group, Ennahda, which has expressed its willingness to work with all different parties to form a coalition government that will push for the much needed reform measures in the country (Chrisafis 2011).

Many Tunisians are pinning their hopes on this election. Some say this is a proof that Islamist values can coexist with democracy (Fadel 2011), and some say that this is a historic moment for their nation, which they thought will never come (Ryan 2011).

The revolution ended the more than two-decade dictatorship of Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali. From June to July this year, former President Ben Ali and his wife Leila Ben Ali were convicted of possessing illegal drugs and weapons, and embezzlement and misuse of state funds (BBC 2011). The couple was tried in absentia, after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which provided refuge to the ousted dictator and his family, failed to grant Tunisia’s extradition request in February (BBC 2011).

Prior to the extradition request, an international arrest warrant against Ben Ali and his family was already issued by the Tunisian interim government who sought the cooperation of all states via the International Police. Ben Ali was a military man and statesman who rose to presidency in 1987 following the coup against former President Habib Bourguiba (Newsweek 2011).

Many have set their eyes toward the Tunisian election. The European Union, particularly the United Kingdom’s David Cameron, praised Tunisia for leading the Arab region in transitioning to democracy. However many still state their reservations over the winning of, Ennahda, out of fear that progressive laws on women and families might be repealed once the group takes majority of the seats in the constituent assembly. Ennahda, on the other hand, dismissed the suspicions. It said that it will uphold the values of democracy and pluralism in their governance (Ryan 2011).

Analysis

Boudreau said that state repression “shape institutional and political options available to people,” some engage in armed and underground struggle, some form civil associations, while others go through unpredictable waves of popular unrest (Boudreau 2004).

The long painful experience of the Arab peoples translated into violent, spontaneous, and radical forms of protests, which could only mean that the people are desperate for change. The test of democracy in Tunisia is just beginning. The transition government is expected to deliver tangible results while the rest of the world waits.

Democracy, as seen in other post-dictatorship countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar, will probably be different in Arab countries. For instance, the Arab revolutions are not defined by personalities. There are no opposition figures that are strong or popular enough to pursue the transition to social order.

On the one hand, this is really a potent platform for genuine change, because the people are excited to participate in the political processes in their countries and are mindful of the next steps of their governments. Educated young people are now returning home and are eager to contribute to nation-building. There is so much hope and passion. On the other hand, the only sure thing in this part of the world is uncertainty. The culture of violence has permeated so deeply into the society that it stays as a threat to democracy and peace.

Transition governments must be extremely cautious on the roads that they are to take. The Arab people are adamant, and will not accept lapses in judgment and errors. But genuine lasting changes do not just happen overnight. It will take years. Civil war is a possibility, should the new governments fail to respond to the needs of the people.

Democratic institutions must be created and strengthened. Freedom of information and expression must be legislated. These are just some of the preconditions for stability which Tunisia and many in the Arab region must deal with decisively in the coming years. Nevertheless, the recent election in Tunisia is a hard-won victory for its citizens, and is worth commending. Indeed, October 23, 2011 was a proud day, not just for the Tunisians, but for all freedom-loving people in the world.

Works cited:

BBC. BBC News Africa. July 04, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14014757 (accessed October 26, 2011).

—. BBC News Africa. February 20, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12520040 (accessed October 26, 2011).

Boudreau, Vincent. Resisting dictatorship : repression and protest in Southeast Asia. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Chrisafis, Angelique. The Guardian. October 24, 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/24/tunisia-elections-an-nahda (accessed October 26, 2011).

Fadel, Leila. The Washington Post. October 25, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/moderate-islamists-lead-in-early-counting-of-tunisian-votes/2011/10/24/gIQATmp1CM_story.html (accessed October 26, 2011).

Newsweek. The Daily Beast. January 23, 2011. http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/01/23/a-dictator-dispatched.html (accessed October 26, 2011).

Ryan, Yasmine. Al Jazeera. October 22, 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/201110234363997851.html (accessed October 26, 2011).

ASSIST helps conduct National Youth Summit on Anti-Trafficking

Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is proud to be part of the National Youth Summit of the Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates organized by the MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) and the Visayan Forum held at the Ateneo de Manila University last October 24 to 25, 2011.

Supported by the USAID, AustralianAID and organized in partnership with Dakila (Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the event gathered a hundred youth leaders from all over the Philippines.

The two-day summit opened with solidarity messages from MTV  EXIT Campaign Director Matt Love, Visayan Forum Deputy Executive Director Roland Pacis, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Hon. Leslie A. Bassett, and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith. Keynote Address was delivered by Sec. Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice, which is also the Designated Chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

MTV EXIT showed its documentary entitled Enslaved which delved on the realities of trafficking in the Philippines. United Nations Children’s Fund’s (Unicef) Jesus Far presented on the children’s rights code (CRC), while VF Policy Center Jerome Alcantara presented on how human trafficking is a challenge for the youth. A human trafficking survivor also shared her experience to provide an insight on the experience.

For Day 1′s afternoon session, participants were divided into groups, within which they shared their organizations’ current efforts to fight human trafficking. They also learned how to influence the Sangguniang Kabataan with the Anti-Trafficking advocacy, through the sharing of experience by SK Cebu Provincial SK Federation President Aladin Wilyamie Caminero.

For Day 2, Filipino youth champions provided insights on leadership and innovation. Mr. Harvey S. Keh, ADMU’s Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship discussed the youth’s great potential in sparking change, while Anna Meloto-Wilk, President, Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. discussed her experience in helping prevent trafficking by employing best labor practices in her company.

Rommel Juan, President of Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc. also narrated his business’s corporate social responsibility practices, but also delved on how ingenuity in strategizing works as well in business as in advocacy. Finally, Called to Rescue Director Anthony Pangilinan talked about the importance of persistence and not fearing failure in ensuring the success of campaigns.

The afternoon featured another breakout session for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao groups to discuss 10 things that the youth can do to fight trafficking. The two-day summit ended with a networking session and a solidarity night for all participants as well as the organizers to express commitment to unite against human trafficking.#