KAUGNAY Troops Attends Commission on Human Rights Consultative Meeting

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Selected soldiers of 7^th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division of Philippine Army attended a day of lectures and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) spearheaded by Commission of Human Rights (CHR) with regard to Security Sector Reform Institutional Framework, held at Hunters Valley Resort, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on December 18, 2013.

            The Officer and Enlisted Personnel from 7^th Civil-Military Operation (G.W.A.P.O.) Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Battalion, and 7^th Infantry Division Human Right Office participated in a one day consultative meeting together with Philippine National Police Region III. 

            The objective of the meeting is to strengthen the Security Sector Reform project that shall initially be aimed at strengthening core security sector’s capacity, organization and institutions to conform to the human rights standards and norms, towards ending impunity, preventing systematic and grave human rights violations, enabling civil oversight. Among the topics discussed were; Behavior of soldiers during combat operations, security threat, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Rule of Engagement (ROE), reasons to established military detachment, respect of ancestral domain.

            The discussion was facilitated by Atty. Glenda Titong, Security Sector Reform consultant, CHR under supervision of Atty. Tifanie Gerona, Executive Assistant, CHR.

            The leadership of “Kaugnay” Division of Philippine Army has been aggressively promoting and strictly implementing its policy on absolute respect of human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Rules of Engagement (ROE) in the performance of its mandate in its area of responsibility.

            The Armed Forces of the Philippines Center for Human Rights Dialogue was established beside the Aquino – Diokno Shrine to cater and serves a venue for dialogues on symposia for human rights issues. It was inaugurated by his Excellency President Benigno S Aquino III last September 21, 2012.    

            The activity is just one of the many activities in connection with Human Rights Consciousness Week  with the theme, Wakasan ang Kawalang Pananagutan, Tiyakin ang Tapat na Pamamahala”.