MEDIA ADVISORY: UN Press Briefing with Mr. Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extradudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions

MEDIA ADVISORY

From: The United Nations (UN)

PRESS BRIEFING OF MR. PHILIP ALSTON, UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITARY EXECUTIONS

Date:           Tuesday, 20 February 2007        

Time:          6 p.m. – 7 p.m.            

Venue:       Renaissance Room, Ground Floor, Renaissance Makati City Hotel (formerly New World Hotel)

Please confirm with suzette.imperial@undp.org or call tel. (+632) 9010405.

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Mr. Philip Alston completes his 10-day mission to the Philippines on 20 February 2007.  His team includes Mr. William Abresch, Director, Project on Extrajudicial Executions, New York University and  Mr. Ulrich Garms, Associate Human Rights Officer, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr. Alston has served in various capacities in the UN system, including as Chair of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 1991 to 1998, and as its Rapporteur from 1987 to 1990. In 1989 he was appointed by the Secretary-General, at the request of the General Assembly, as an Independent Expert to report on measures to ensure long-term effectiveness of the human rights treaty bodies.  In that capacity he presented reports to the General Assembly in 1989, the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, and the Commission on Human Rights in 1997. In 2002, he was appointed as Special Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mr. Alston is currently Professor of Law at New York University and Faculty Director of its Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. He was previously Head of the Law Department at the European University Institute in Florence and from 1996 to 1999 directed a major project on the European Union and Human Rights at the request of the European Commission. He has also been a visiting Professor at Harvard Law School (1984-1989, 1993) and was founding Director of the Centre for International and Public Law at the Australian National University.

Special Rapporteurs and other “mandate-holders” of the Commission are independent from any government and serve in their individual capacity. The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is mandated to examine the phenomenon worldwide and to submit his findings on an annual basis, together with conclusions and recommendations, to the Commission. He also submits every other year a report to the General Assembly along with his recommendations for more effective action to combat situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

UN SEEKS $46 MILLION FOR PHILIPPINES TYPHOON RELIEF

(Manila: 18 December 2006):  The United Nations today appealed for $46 million to meet the urgent relief and early recovery needs of the most vulnerable persons affected by the series of four typhoons that have hit the Philippines since the end of September this year.  Of all disasters in the Philippines, typhoons claim the most lives.

The four typhoons have affected almost eight million people, of the total population of nearly 90 million, in 62 of the country’s 79 provinces.  The impact of these typhoons has been so severe that resulting landslides, flash floods, massive mudslides and widespread flooding have caused a large number of casualties, buried a number of villages and caused widespread destruction.  As of mid-December, the Government has reported 942 deaths, 850 persons missing, and more than 2,800 injuries.  Nearly 440,000 people have been displaced:  more than 190,000 remain displaced in 652 evacuation centres. 

Throughout the affected areas, 512,000 homes have been completed destroyed, and a further 711,000 partially damaged, at an economic cost amounting to some $355 million. Infrastructure, agricultural crops, and schools have been damaged or destroyed, with losses estimated at $308 million.  Primary and secondary classes in the affected areas have been indefinitely interrupted.  Additionally, local government offices and medical facilities have also incurred major damage, seriously affecting the delivery of basic medical and emergency services.  Disrupted access to safe drinking water and the breakdown of waste management also represent a major threat, and the risk of outbreaks of water borne diseases is looming.

Initial and immediate emergency relief has been made possible through a grant of $2.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The Appeal launched today requests funding for continuing emergency relief work and early recovery needs over the next 12 months.  With their homes destroyed and no clear source of renewed livelihood, the affected population requires continued emergency relief, as well as emergency rehabilitation assistance that promote self-sufficiency, such as shelter and construction materials and food for recovery projects.  Priority needs include emergency shelter items, food, clean drinking water, paediatric medicines, water and sanitation assistance, and generator sets for hospitals, among others. 

Government authorities, United Nations agencies, and other partners in the Philippines are working together in the spirit of the humanitarian response reform. This has meant establishing a coordinated and inclusive approach to designating responsibilities, mobilizing partner agencies and resources, especially from among the NGO community, planning and delivery, and the engaging affected populations in decisions and activities which impact on their recovery.

“The cumulative impact of these disasters will require longer-term recovery efforts over the next twelve months to address immediate needs and, in parallel, help restore the capacity of the authorities to respond, and of communities to help themselves, said the United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Philippines, Ms. Nileema Noble. “It is crucial that humanitarian relief efforts and early recovery measures are closely linked, to ensure the people and the Government of the Philippines are better prepared to meet the challenges of the disasters they regularly face.”
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For media inquiries, please contact: 

Agnes Aliman, UN Information Centre for the Philippines
Tel No. +63 2 338-5522, +63 2 338-5520,
Fax No. +63 2 338-0177
E-mail: alimana@unicmanila.org

Or

Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.  OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

UNITED NATIONS ASSISTING PHILIPPINES AFTER TYPHOON

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(New York:  5 December 2006):Typhoon Durian has caused widespread destruction across 13 provinces of the Philippines, affecting more than 1.5 million people in 125 municipalities and 10 cities, with 526 confirmed deaths, 740 people missing, and some 1,000 injured according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). 

The typhoon, which lashed the country at the end of last week, destroyed more than 76,000 homes and damaged nearly 154,000 additional residences.  Some 83,000 people have sought shelter in 29 evacuation centres.  And while main roads have been cleared, widespread power and communications outages continue in most of the affected areas.  The disruption of the water supply also remains a major source of concern.  On 3 December, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national calamity and authorized the release of one billion Philippine pesos to fund relief and rehabilitation efforts to repair the damage sustained due to the onslaught of three successive typhoons  Xangsane, Cimarron and Durian. 

The Government has also indicated its readiness to accept assistance from the international community, identifying priority needs as: drinking water and water purifying tablets; medical teams, social workers and medicines; food; blankets and mattresses; tents and tarpaulins; and generator sets.  However, the NDCC has stated that there is no need for international search and rescue teams.  The international community is providing emergency relief assistance. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is considering an application for funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the purchase of emergency supplies. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has dispatched emergency health supplies for 10,000 people for three months, as has provided 4,000 family packs consisting of rice, canned goods, mattresses and blankets. 

The UNICEF also led a joint United Nations inter-agency assessment mission to Albay province today. Additional cash and in-kind contributions have been provided by Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States, as well as the Saipan Filipino community and Telecoms sans Frontières,. 

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has despatched a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to support the Philippines Red Cross Society to assess the situation in the disaster-affected areas.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.  OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

RP Exceeds Target in Stand Up Campaign: 2.4 Million Filipinos Stood Up Against Poverty

In a feisty show of unity and strength  2,411,121 Filipinos from Baguio in Northern Luzon to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Southern Mindanao joined the Tumayo Tayo Pilipinas Campaign (Stand Up Against Poverty) in numerous events held by the UN System in the Philippines and its partners from the government, non-government organizations, private sector, academe and media on the eve of Oct. 15 up until the eve of Oct. 16.

The UN in the Philippines and its partners had initially aimed to have at least 1 million Filipinos joining the campaign.  Instead, they breezed past their target by 100% at the close of counting on Oct. 16.  Even after the official receipt of reports from across the country had ended, numerous organizations still continued to send in their attendance reports, signifying huge support from various stakeholders from all walks of life.

Stand Up Against Poverty, the rallying event of the United Nations’ Millennium Campaign to raise awareness on the Millennium Development Goals, now holds the official record title in the Guinness World Record for having the most number of people to “Stand Up Against Poverty” in 24 hours on 15-16 October with a total of 23,542,614 people from 87 countries who participated in 11,646 events around the globe. 

The bulk of the numbers came from Asia and the Pacific, with an aggregate total of 18 million who rallied behind the MDG awareness campaign.  In Asia and Pacific, India topped the race for the number of people at 9,731,983.  Nepal came in second with 3,131,584 while the Philippines was third at 2,411,121.  Other countries in Asia Pacific which participated included Bali, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal, Republic of Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and others.

Topping the list for the top 10 organizations which had the most number of participants in the country was DepEd, Region 3-Central Luzon, with 1,772,202 participants, followed by Dep Ed Region 3-Bulacan, 358,300; DepEd Region 9-Davao, 220,568; DepEd Nueva Ecija, 190,470; DepEd Region 10-Davao Oriental, 83,191; Philippine UN White Helmets Commission and Association, 80,560; DepEd-Nueva Ecija (2nd report) with 43,717; DepEd Region -Dagupan with 29,313; DepEd Zambales with 25,582 and DepEd-Gapan City, 22,377.
 
The official counting in the Philippines was validated and officiated by representatives from the Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. accounting firm, a UN partner for the Philippine campaign dubbed Tumayo Tayo Pilipinas.  Details and photos of the campaign may be downloaded at www.millenniumcampaign.ph

The Tumayo Tayo Pilipinas campaign aimed to raise awareness on the state of poverty in the country in the context of meeting the MDGs by 2015.  The campaign also celebrated the significant local gains made for the achievement of the MDGs and called on duty-bearers to hurdle the complex challenges facing the country ahead. 

In September 2000, 191 UN-member countries, rich and poor alike, reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security, good governance and attention to the most vulnerable with the adoption of the Millennium Declaration.  Containing commitments to achieve the eight MDGs, the declaration reflects the vision of entire nations, working together with international and country-based organizations to wipe out poverty and the worst forms of human deprivation and lay the foundations for sustainable human development by 2015.

Tumayo Tayo Pilipinas featured a lead flag-raising ceremony integrating the Tumayo Tayo pledge, read in Filipino by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  It was organized by government officials led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Office of the PA on Culture, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the League of Municipalities, among others.  Similar Tumayo Tayo moments were integrated in flag-raising ceremonies held at the Senate, Congress and Supreme Court, demonstrating the full participation of the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government.

On center stage was the MDG Festival held in Marikina City, an MDG resource city.  An MDG Rock Concert was held on Oct. 15 at Freedom Park in Marikina, followed by the Marikina City flag-raising Tumayo Tayo moment, partners exhibitions, social artistry programme showcase, the launch of the UN’s World Investment Report 2006, a Konsyertong Bayan Laban sa Kahirapan and the UNDP’s Galing Pook Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations for the MDGs.

 The UN’s various partners for the campaign staged their own events.  In Baguio City, the Philippine Non-Government Organization Council  had comedians, clowns and artists painting sad faces to get people to sign a petition condemning widespread poverty.

In Quezon City, the Global Call for Action Against Poverty, another UN partner for the campaign, formed a human chain, signifying unity against poverty.  Other events were also held in Los Banos, Laguna, Pampanga, Eastern Samar, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and various parts of the country.
 
Source: UN Philippines 

A Million Pinoys to STAND UP Against Poverty

For one entire day – from 6 p.m., October 15 until 6 p.m., October 16 – one million Filipinos from all walks of life – students, teachers, priests, nuns, government workers, private employees, indigenous peoples, musicians and artists – will join millions of others worldwide to pledge themselves to make poverty history by 2015. This event is part of the UN month celebration.

Launched by the UN Millennium Campaign, STAND UP is a global advocacy effort to have the greatest number of people ever to STAND UP Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Within a 24-hour period, people from all over the globe will physically and symbolically STAND UP to communicate their desire to fight poverty. This is also expected to set an official Guinness World Record.

The Millennium Development Goals or MDGs are a set of eight time-bound, concrete and specific targets to halve extreme poverty by 2015. These goals are: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop global partnerships for development.

The Philippine campaign, dubbed TUMAYO TAYO: Labanan Ang Kahirapan, Tuparin Ang MDGs is spearheaded by the United Nations System, together with partners from government, civil society, NGOs, the business sector, academe and the mass media. Tumayo Tayo is only one of many events connected with the commemoration of the UN month this October. Activities on the ground will consist of:

• Tumayo Tayo Moments during Flag-Raising Ceremonies in Malacañang, government agencies and schools – Through the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), there will be simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies to be conducted on the morning of October 16. At 7:30 a.m., President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead a flag-raising ceremony in Malacañang (attended by the UN Country Team) with a Tumayo Tayo Moment which features reading the pledge to stand up against poverty. At 8:30 a.m., simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies will take place in the Senate, Congress and the Supreme Court with a Tumayo Tayo Moment.

• The Tumayo Tayo Festival, as the central event from October 15-16, at the Marikina Freedom Park. This will consist of cultural shows; concerts with local pop bands, performers, artists, and dancers; exhibits; workshops; and presentations – all highlighting the MDGs. There will be Tumayo Tayo Moments all throughout the Festival, with the audience standing up and pledging to make poverty history. News feeds, greetings and official counts from the other Tumayo Tayo events around the country will also be flashed from time to time in the Festival venue.

• Local Tumayo Tayo Events in different regions and provinces, including Baguio City, Los Baños, Laguna, Sultan Kudarat, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

For those who want to join the Tumayo Tayo Event, please register your organization’s name
at http://www.millenniumcampaign.ph.

The Philippine STAND UP network consists of all United Nations organizations in the Philippines and 64 partner organizations and institutions. Further inquiries can be directed to: Ms. Agnes Aliman (UNDP) – 901-0230/ agnes.aliman@undp.org; Mr. JP Agcaoili (UNDP) – 901-0241/ johnpete.agcaoili@undp.org; Ms. Charmaine Cu-Unjieng (UNRC) – 901-0401/ charmaine.cu-unjieng@undp.org; and, Ms. Mari Achacoso – 338-5522/ achacosom@unicmanila.org.

Tumayo Tayo Rock Concert. 4 p.m. at Freedom Park, Marikina City

Launched by the Millennium Campaign, STAND UP is a global advocacy effort to set an official Guinness World Record – the greatest number of people ever to STAND UP Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals – on October 15-16 2006. Within a 24-hour period, people from all over the globe will physically and symbolically “STAND UP” to communicate their desire to fight poverty and to hold governments and leaders accountable for promises to end poverty by 2015. The purpose of this action is to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to publicly demonstrate to policy makers the growing global support for the achievement of the MDGs and for the strengthening of development policies worldwide.

STAND UP is a mobilization initiative designed to coincide with global mobilizations around the International Day of Poverty Eradication and the White Band Day of the Global Call to Action against Poverty. It relies fully on citizen participation in that it mobilizes all individuals everywhere to take part in local, group events around the world through which they use their bodies (aside from their voices) as concrete symbols of MDG advocacy. To ensure the inclusion of those not physically able to stand up, a symbolic act of raising a hand, wearing a white band (the symbol of the global fight against poverty), or holding up a banner with the “Stand Up Against Poverty“ message will also be counted.

Tumayo Tayo Flag Raising Ceremony in Malacañang

 Tumayo Tayo moment with Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Malacañang staff and employees, Cabinet Secretaries with UN family in the Philippines.

Tumayo Tayo Marikina Flag Raising Ceremony at Freedom Park, Marikina City. Tumayo Tayo moment with LGU officials and employees .

Tumayo Tayo MDG Fair, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. at Freedom Park, Marikina City. – MDG Programme to include videos, cultural shows, booths, arts and culture show, livelihood booths.

UN Celebrates International Youth Day

Mr. Colin Davis, UNICEF Senior Programme Officer, spoke on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the role of the youth in helping keep the MDG promise during the commemoration of International Youth Day held Aug. 10 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The occasion also marked the launch of the UN’s MDG Viewpoints, a forum on issues and challenges relating to the MDGs

The conference was organized by the United Nations Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with the UN System in the Philippines, Youth Federation for World Peace and World CARP.

Pop rock singer Ms. Kitchie Nadal sang the song “Kalinga,” a song on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases during the launch of the UN’s MDG Viewpoints. Ms. Nadal was one of many featured artists who sang for the MDG album entitled Tayo-Tayo Rin sa 2015.

In 2005, she received two Awit Awards for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist and Best Ballad for the song “Huwag na huwag mong sasabihin.”

She also received the Nickelodeon Channel’s Kids’ Choice Award as well as two Aliw Awards as The Most Promising Entertainer and Best Female Concert Performer.

UN agency turns to Pinoy music to fight poverty

The inspiration came form a videoke-hooked VIP from the United Nations. If the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) sound too bureaucratese to hold your attention, maybe recording stars like Sharon Cuneta, Lea Salonga and Gary Valenciano, or the comic Ai Ai de las Alas, could help put you in the mood to support these noble causes.

The UN office in Manila on Friday launched a compact disc featuring original Filipino compositions designed to popularize the MDG’s-the UN’s 8-point mission to significantly reduce global poverty by 2015.

The MDG album, titled “Tayo Tayo rin sa 2015 (No One Else But Us in 2015),” contains tracks conveying each of the eight targets. Lending their voices to the project were A-list performers in the local music industry, who did the recording sessions for free. The album has Gary V. leading off as the ambassador for Goal No. 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, exhorting all to work “For a Better Life.”

Source: INQ7.net
Read More: http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=54211