CHR urges Noy to sign treaty vs involuntary disappearances

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) led the families of desaparecidos in calling on President Aquino to sign an international treaty against involuntary disappearances.

CHR commissioner Cecilia Quisumbing called on Mr. Aquino to sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, an international human rights instrument of the United Nations that is intended to prevent forced disappearances.

“The Philippines has the chance to make history and be one of the countries to help make this treaty come into force around the world. Signing and ratification would be an immediate demonstration of President Aquino’s commitment to human rights at the national and international level,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing pointed out that a minimum of 20 countries is needed to ratify the convention before it can take effect. So far, only 18 countries are signatories to the treaty.

The Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) says that families of desaparecidos (disappeared persons) in the Philippines would be helped by the treaty. AFAD and the Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared (FIND) earlier met with then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who promised to include the country as a signatory to the treaty but failed to do so.

AFAD and FIND said they are hoping that Mr. Aquino would sign the treaty and make it part of the human-rights platform. – Rhodina Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Michael Punongbayan