National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines 11 “Unfortunately, IHL compliancein the Philippines DepartmentofNationalDefenseis 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 ofcourse the CHR. Let’s sacked oneofthe barangays in Davao and actually notforgetthe civil society. They are not part of took hostages, including children. We saw earlier the Committee but the civil society has a very vital this month bombingsin severalcities in Mindanao role. Firstof all, they are on the ground. They which affected lives and livelihood. There is a can look at situations and monitor them. Infact, continued use 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 armed conflict should not be used to Bangsa Moroancestral land agreement was justify 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 world, it is established and accepted that all assistance immediately even faster sometimes parties to an armed conflict have to respect the than the National Disaster and Coordinating rights ofcivilians and the protectedinstallations, Committee because they are already there. even those of non-combatants who used to be That’s whyit is very importantto recognize Civil combatants. Society. In fact, CSI-IHL is an umbrella organization of many groups here in the I say these in recognition of the AFP personnel Philippines. who are workingto protect the country, but also Initiativesfor International Humanitarian Law. feel that who dothis international standards seem They took the initiative. They contacted the to tie their hands, but not those of the other Commission on Human Rights and said they parties. Well, they do. They are supposedto tie want to partner with the CHR to celebrate the the handsof the other countries and when they 60% Anniversary of the IHL. And the AdHoc beheadtheir prisoners and when they hold Committee, the government groups, decided to people’s courts which are not established by adopt this Summit as the main activity for IHL - recognized law CSI-IHL stands for Civil Society and use those as reasons for Day. Andsoit is only fitting, true enough in executions, then they themselvesarein violation. bringing together the Civil Society, the They should also be condemned and brought to governmentand the independent CHR to mark justice and they should not gain any popular this important day. support because they are not showing that they can lead the country any better than animals. “We began the celebrations as far back as July 3", with the Kite Flying, symbolizingfirstofall, “The Philippine government recognizes IHL so our desirefor higher goals. And also thefreedom much so that Executive Order 134 established fromfear andsuffering that is caused by armed August 12 as IHL Day, and created a National conflict. To reach the higherlevel, however, we Adhoc Committee of several agencies towards need action, action that is coordinated, that is celebrating this every year. This year, it is cooperative and thatis constructive. Action that chaired by the DepartmentofForeign Affairs, the is hopefully planned so that we can also plan to