National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines 11 “Unfortunately, IHL compliancein the Philippines DepartmentofNational Defenseis the vice-chair isfarfrom perfect. The recent developments show and other agencies such as the DSWD take part this. We have reportsfor instance that NPAs have in that Committee and of course the CHR. Let’s sacked oneofthe barangays in Davao andactually notforgetthe civil society. They are not part of took hostages, including children. We saw earlier the Committee but the civil society has avery vital this month bombingsin severalcities in Mindanao role. First of all, they are on the ground. They which affected lives and livelihood. There is a can look at situations and monitor them. Infact, continueduse ofchild soldiers and even children as last July, the news about tens of thousands of messengers. people displaced by the renewedfighting caused by thefailed memorandum of agreement on the “Internal armedconflict should not be used to Bangsa Moro ancestral land agreement was stify violations of either human rights or reported to the CHR by NGOs. They alsopromote international humanitarian law. Around the IHL and Human Rights. They can provide vorld, it is established and accepted that all assistance immediately even faster sometimes rties to an armed conflict have to respect the than the National Disaster and Coordinating aghts ofcivilians andthe protectedinstallations, Committee because they are already there. n those of non-combatants who used to be That’s whyit is very importantto recognize Civil mbatants. Society. In fact, CSI-IHL is an umbrella organization of many groups here in the say these in recognition of the AFP personnel Philippines. CSI-IHL stands for Civil Society o are workingto protect the country, but also Initiativesfor International Humanitarian Law. i that whodo this international standards seem They took the initiative. They contacted the tie their hands, but not those of the other Commission on Human Rights and said they ies. Well, they do. They are supposedto tie want to partner with the CHR to celebrate the hands of the other countries and when they 60% Anniversary of the IHL. And the AdHoc head their prisoners and when they hold Committee, the government groups, decided to seople’s courts which are notestablished by adopt this Summit as the main activity for IHL ognized law and use those as reasons for Day. Andsoit is only fitting, true enough in cutions, then they themselves are in violation. bringing together the Civil Society, the ey should also be condemned and broughtto governmentandthe independent CHR to mark tice and they should not gain any popular this important day. port because they are not showing that they lead the country any better than animals. “We began the celebrations as far back as July 3", with the Kite Flying, symbolizing firstof all, e Philippine government recognizes IHL so ourdesirefor higher goals. And alsothefreedom ch so that Executive Order 134 established from fear and suffering that is caused by armed gust 12 as IHL Day, and created a National conflict. To reach the higherlevel, however, we oc Committee of several agencies towards need action, action that is coordinated, that is lebrating this every year. This year,it is cooperative and thatis constructive. Action that ired by the DepartmentofForeign Affairs, the is hopefully planned so that we can also plan to