Dear friends,
Greeting of Peace!
Peace advocates have every desire to pursue a just and enduring peace in the Philippines. Despite the current impasse in formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), we are determined that gains of the peace talks can flourish with persistence and creativity by peace advocates and support by schools, churches people’s organizations and civil-society groups.
With this in mind, you are invited to a gathering of peace advocates on the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law(CARHRIHL).
Uphold CARHRIHL: Creating the atmosphere for Just Peace
9am-noon, March 16, 2018
Sr. Kuniberta Strathmann Hall, St. Scholastica’s College
2650 Leon Guinto St, Malate, Manila
The historic success in the crafting of CARHRIHL should continue to be matched by commitment and fervor for its implementation. Intended to generate the atmosphere needed for pursuing a just and lasting peace in the Philippines, CARHRIHL is potent as a mechanism that sets conditions for abating violence on both sides. With robust implementation, CARHRIHL can be significant in lessening violence on the ground. At the same time, pushing CARHRIHL will highlight the people’s clamor for peace-building as well as CARHRIHL’s intended purpose for redress for violations of human rights as well as international humanitarian law.
We are hopeful that the March 16, 2018 event will be a kick-off to a broad and dynamic campaign of peace advocates wishing to promote human rights. We ask you to help us gather as many individuals as possible from different organizations to flesh out and unify the direction, activities and components of a vibrant campaign that we can undertake together. At the moment in history when the skies become overcast, peace advocates have often stepped forward to brandish the torches of hope and possibility. We must stand the gap, continue the climb and forge the way for creating the atmosphere needed for building peace in our land.
We appeal for your participation in the March 16 activity that will be a celebration of CARHRIHL’s anniversary as well as an occasion to craft a common campaign to push for the honoring of previously signed agreements and the full implementation of CARHRIHL.
For any question or for more information, please contact:
Ms. Ofelia Cantor, Program Secretary of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform
Ms. Rebecca Lawson, Coordinator, Pilgrims for Peace
Phone: 0928-385-4123 Email: UpholdCARHRIHL@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
MOST REV. DEOGRACIAS S. IÑIGUEZ, JR, D.D. , Head of Secretariat, PEPP
BISHOP REUEL N.O. MARIGZA, Convenor, Pilgrims for Peace
BENJAMIN ALFORQUE, MSC, Convenor, Kapayapaan
JOEVEN REYES, Exec. Director, Sulong CARHRIHL
REY CLARO CASAMBRE, Exec. Director, Philippine Peace Center
