Manila, Philippines - The United Kingdom will provide funds amounting to £59,131.72 (P4.19 million) for a project that will train Filipino health professionals in providing proper documentation and expert testimony in human rights cases.
The P4.19 million grant will be provided by the British embassy through its Human Rights and Democracy Program.
The program is expected to improve the quality of medical evidence presented in court, thereby increasing the likelihood of prosecution.
The British embassy in Manila recently signed a contract with the non-governmental organization Medical Action Group (MAG) to carry out the project, which will address the lack of medical documentation standards for torture cases, often resulting in the rejection of medical evidence by the courts on grounds that it was not “scientific” enough.
“The effective prosecution of the perpetrators of human rights violations is essential in upholding justice and human rights in the country. This project will have a direct impact on the ability to investigate and secure prosecutions by improving the quality of medical evidence in court cases,” said British Ambassador Stephen Lillie.
“We will continue to support the Philippines in its efforts to implement international human rights standards,” Lillie added.