National Summit on International Humanitarian Law in the Philipppines 61 Program on IHLforit is not the priority of the is in the legal process where the observance governmentspecifically to promote IHL. So they and implementation of IHLin the Philippines were able to draw a very positive example from are founded. China where their country is very committed to 4) To bring IHL educationto the grassrootslevel. promote IHL. Thus, their armed conflicts were It must be promoted with an approach that lessenedalso. would be understood and appreciated by, and successfully disseminated to commonpeople. The group cameup with recommendations,to wit: 5) Toinitiate efforts whereby both state and non- state actors understand, appreciate and 1) To standardize IHL programs in the school acknowledge IHLfor them to have a sense of curricula. Examples cited were the Reserved accountability in the event ofviolation during Officers Training Course (ROTC)and National their military operations. Service Training Programs (NSTP). With this 6) To commit themselves in disseminating and two programs, they observed, the ROTC and educating IHL to the armed groups. NSTP would only conductdrills to the students 7) To build up consolidated efforts among actors underthe heat of the sun. They clean up the to promote IHLso as to come up with better streets, roads, instead of having a real or results. tangible education. So it would be better to 8) To push the government andothersectors to suggest this to the Departmentof Education make them get involved by providing adequate or the Commission on Higher Education to resources in promoting IHL. have the study of IHL beincorporatedin their curriculum in ROTC and NSTP. Ms. Karen Tafiada: 2) Tobuilda broad and consolidated constituency “I think that last point is quite important, the onIHL promotion whereit includes as many resources to makethispossible is very important. agenciesas possible. So our 3) To lobby for the enactment of IHL lawsforit last group will be discussing Harmonization ofIHL and Domestic Laws.” Group VII HARMONIZATIONOF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS AND DOMESTIC LAWS Rapporteur: Atty. Gemma Parojinog CHRCentral Office Atty. Parojinog introduced the membersof her As explained byher, while internationaltreaties, group, namely: Director of the Legal and specifically International Humanitarian Law, is Investigation Office, Atty. Flora C. Atilano; Ms. legally binding in our domestic sphereoflegal Becky Lozada, and our documentor Ms Candy Diez administration of justice, it is necessary to and Mr. Darwin Mendiola and herself. She first inculcate them in our national laws in such a way gave a background on whythereis a need to that our prosecutors aswell as thejudgescan easily harmonize IHL with domestic laws. apply these lawsin our courts.