conflict

01/11/17: Social Reconstruction in Iraq post-IS

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The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) held a joint off-the-record roundtable in conjunction with the Iraq All-Party Parliamentary Group on 1 November on Social reconstruction in Iraq Post-IS.

We would like to thank Rt Hon. Ann Clwyd MP, PHRG Chair and Chair of the Iraq APPG, for chairing this event.

This off-the-record event with humanitarian, human rights and peace building organisations, UK Government officials from the FCO and DFID, and Iraqi Embassy officials, focused on exploring the role of the Iraqi Government, its allies and civil society, in creating a holistic approach to reconstruction, with a specific focus on social reconstruction, following the defeat of IS in Iraq.

The PHRG will continue to monitor the situation in Iraq closely and to raise its concerns with relevant interlocutors.

13/03/17: Colombia – Women survivors of sexual violence and HRDs

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The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised a meeting, in conjunction with RAW in War (Reach All Women in War), on 13 March 2017, with Colombian journalist and campaigner on women survivors of sexual violence, as well as RAW in WAR’s 2016 Anna Politkovskaya Award Recipient, Jineth Bedoya Lima, to discuss the current political situation in Colombia, those who continue to be in danger because of their political/human rights activities, and the on-going struggle for justice for women survivors of sexual violence in the conflict.

We would like to thank Lord Judd for chairing the meeting.

The main points raised were as follows:

  • Sexual violence in Colombia is one of the worst crimes committed there.  With the end of the conflict, more information is coming out about the extent to which sexual violence was perpetrated.  What has happened in Colombia has also happened in other conflicts: armed men often consider women as just another weapon of war.  Raping women is a means of intimidating an entire community.  More people need to speak out about this.  
  • Though crimes of sexual violence are non-pardonable under the terms of the peace agreement, the challenge will be addressing impunity. Jineth’s own case serves to illustrate the difficulties involved.  She continues to try and get justice for herself, but is also committed to campaigning on behalf of the many other victims of sexual violence, many of whom face even greater obstacles.
  • There are 8 million Colombians officially registered as victims of the conflict, with half a million having received redress or reparation from the state.  
  • There are over 10,000 registered victims of sexual violence, with some of them having received some form of state compensation.  The number of victims is believed, however, to be dramatically higher – with Oxfam, in its report on violations committed in Colombia between 2001 and 2009, asserting that only a small minority of women had reported sexual violence perpetrated against them.  There has been very little assessment of sexual violence carried out by the FARC in rural areas, which could also increase numbers.
  • With the end of the conflict and conclusion of the peace agreement, the problems are not over – what lies ahead could be the most difficult phase.
  • There has been an increase in the cultivation of illicit crops.  This is worrying because narco-trafficking fuelled both guerrilla and paramilitary activity.
  • In the last few months, approximately 40 Human Rights Defenders (“HRDs”), including 28 women, have been murdered in Colombia and there is total impunity for these killings.
  • The land previously occupied by FARC is now being taken over by paramilitary groups.
  • The challenges in dealing with impunity are numerous – including an ineffective judicial system, lack of resources, protection of perpetrators by state institutions, lack of protection for witnesses.
  • The international community’s continued engagement will be very important, including to ensure that the post-conflict funds are spent properly; the UK has an important role to play as one of the main contributors to the Fund for Peace.
  • It will also remain vital for the international community to continue supporting and strengthening social organisations and the grassroots, so guerrilla groups can be reintegrated; justice done; reconciliation properly undertaken; and the terms of the peace agreement practically implemented.
  • The international community must also raise concerns about negative developments, especially the increase in killings of HRDs; there is a need to consider, as a matter of urgency, how HRD protection could be improved.
  • With the 5th anniversary of the UK Government’s PSVI initiative, it is important and timely to explore what more could be done to address impunity and to protect HRDs and victims.

The PHRG will continue to follow developments in Colombia very closely and to raise its concerns with relevant interlocutors, including to ensure civil society organisations are supported, HRDs protected and the needs of victims of the conflict, including those of sexual violence, addressed.

30/01/17: Philippines – conflict and human rights

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The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised a panel event on “Conflict and Human Rights in the Philippines” on 30 January 2017 to raise greater awareness about the current situation in the Philippines as regards violations of fundamental rights in the context of the armed conflict against insurgency movements and President Duterte’s “war on drugs”, and to explore how UK Parliamentarians and the UK Government could help support on-going peace talks, as well as civil society and human rights defenders more generally.

The speakers were:

  • Jonathan Cohen (JC) – Executive Director, Conciliation Resources – which has been, inter alia, supporting on-going peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
  • Carlos Isagani Zarate (CZ) – Philippine Congressman, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in Congress, and observer of the recent officially sanctioned peace talks in Rome, between the Government of the Philippines and the NDFP.
  • Consuelo ‘Coni’ Ledesma (CL) – Philippine Activist and member of NDFP peace negotiating panel.
  • Rachel Chhoa Howard (RH) – Amnesty International Researcher on the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and co-author of the recent AI report on the Philippines – “Philippines: “If you are poor, you are killed”: Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines’ “War on Drugs“: https://www.amorg/en/documents/asa35/5517/2017/en/.

The main points made were as follows:

  • The communist insurgency began in 1969 during President Marcos’ repressive regime; it was particularly strong until the mid-1980s but has since continued to be very resilient. Up until 2014, there have been around 200 battle-related deaths.  There have been continuing human rights and IHL violations, by both sides, though also an absence of independent, comprehensive and reliable data on the conflict and its consequences.(JC)
  • In the Philippines, there are a number of significant human rights issues: e.g., marginalisation of ethnic minorities; child rights violations and child labour; attacks on the media; and, use of death squads. Extra-judicial killings and security sector abuses have been on-going for some time, given the absence of political will to address them and investigate.  Under President Benigno Aquino, 300+ leftist activists were killed in impunity between 2010 and 2016, which went largely unnoticed by the international community. (JC)
  • The peace process between the communist insurgents and the Government of the Philippines which began in the 1980s is currently entering its most dynamic phase; since last August there have been three rounds of talks in Europe with a substantive agenda discussed. There is recognition that after 50 years of armed conflict, there will be no armed solution. Unlike the Mindanao peace process, this is a lonely process, with a committed but small peace constituency in the Philippines, and Norway as the only international player. (JC)
  • There is a paradox about the peace process: President Duterte is the first President to take the peace process seriously and yet a conflict that is about the absence of social justice is being progressed at a time of unprecedented HR violations. (JC)
  • There are many firsts in the current peace process, including the fact Congress is represented and officially observing. With the Mindanao peace process, Congress was presented with a law which they then rejected, setting things back; lessons have been learnt. (CZ)
  • Congress is also campaigning for the release of political prisoners, which would build confidence amongst the NDFP; any amnesty would require Congress’ approval. If there is an agreement on socio-economic reform, Congress could adopt relevant legislative measures, e.g., agrarian reform law.  The peace process needs to address root causes of violence. (CZ)
  • It is important to expand the peace constituency and explain the complexities of the peace process so expectations can be managed and more support generated. (CZ)
  • One of the roots of the conflict is inequitable land ownership; others are environmental concerns, the needs of indigenous people and women and children’s rights. There has not been as much divergence between the two sides on these issues as had been thought. (CL)
  • The 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the first and so far only substantive agreement, sets out a logical four point agenda and provides for monitoring of the agreement by a Joint Monitoring Committee, set up in 2004 but still unable to perform joint tasks. The JMC’s Joint Secretariat receives complaints but has not dealt with them. The international community could assist with investigations into complaints. (CL)
  • There is greater trust now between the two sides and more interest generally. (CL)
  • Though Amnesty International welcomes efforts to push the peace process forward, it is very concerned about the violent anti-drugs campaign waged by President Duterte, resulting in 7000 drug-related killings. Of the 30+ killings AI investigated in its recent report, most were extra-judicial killings carried out by or with the complicity of the authorities. The war on drugs is a war on the poor as most of those killed are from poor communities.  The deliberate and systematic killings may amount to crimes against humanity. (RH)
  • AI calls for, inter alia, an end to police operations involving unnecessary/excessive use of force; holding to account those responsible for killings; and an invitation from the Government to UN Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on the right to health. (RH)
  • Recent developments, involving the disbandment of the police anti-drugs squad, raise more questions than they answer. It provides, however, an opportunity to rethink policy and to set up an independent body to investigate the killings. (RH)
  • An attendees from the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines UK highlighted the large Philippine diaspora in Europe, many of whom work in the health care industry. Their MPs here should acknowledge problems there, and support the peace process and development.

 

The PHRG will continue to raise greater awareness about the situation in the Philippines, to monitor developments there closely and to raise its concerns with relevant interlocutors.  Mark Durkan MP, PHRG Officer, has also tabled EDM 927 CONFLICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES – http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/927 – and welcomes support for the EDM from Parliamentary colleagues.