Moro groups form human rights center to address issues in ARMM

By ALI G. MACABALANG

October 27, 2009, 7:10pm

COTABATO CITY – Moro organizations are launching here this week the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MHRAC) to address related issues in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), for which the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) does not have a regional office.

The launching rites are set on Saturday, October 31, at the Pacific Heights and Marqueza hotels in this city, the 19-year temporary seat of the ARMM government.

The MHRAC is designed to “foster respect for human rights, constitutional rights, and promote the rule of law in Mindanao; monitor and expose human rights violations; and promote critical human rights awareness among the people through education, training, research and documentations,” organizers said in a press statement.

Behind the MHRAC are the: Bangsamoro Lawyers’ Network; Institute of Bangsamoro Studies; Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum, Inc.; Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc.; Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society; United Youth for Peace and Development; United Youth of the Philippines; Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace; Kangudan Development Center Inc.; IPRC; Bangsamoro Center for Law and Policy; and the Al Ihsan Foundation.

The center will also “promote cooperation and solidarity among regional, national and international organizations active in the field of human rights,” they added.

CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima, who was invited to talk on “Human Rights for All” at the ceremonies, is expected to forge a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the MHRAC organizers during the rites. However, the nature of the MoA was not given.

MHRAC executive director Paisal Abdul will give the welcome remarks and present delegates during the launch, while lawyer Anwar Malang, MHRAC chair, will give an overview of the center.

Other speakers are Christina Haw Tai-Jover of the CHR office here (human rights situation in the region), CBCS secretary-general Sammy Maulana (realities of human rights violations in Mindanao), and Abdulbasit Benito, executive director of the Bangsamoro Center for Just Peace (closing remarks).