In a joint letter to the President Arroyo, APT (the Association for the Prevention of Torture) and RCT (the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims) congratulate the Philippines for the historic adoption of the anti-torture law. By adopting the law, the Philippines have become an example internationally as only a handful of other countries in the world have adopted a similar stand-alone law prohibiting torture and ill-treatment.

The adoption of the anti-torture law is a significant progress towards combating torture and also towards implementation of the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). In the letter to the President, RCT and APT encourage the Philippine government and other relevant stakeholders to take prompt measures in order to ensure effective implementation of the law. President Arroyo and the Philippine government are also encouraged to secure prompt ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Such ratification would further demonstrate the Philippines’ leading role in the protection of rights of persons deprived of their liberty. Furthermore, ratification of the OPCAT would provide the Philippines with the opportunity to present a candidate for the forthcoming elections of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) in October 2010.

The APT and RCT offer their expertise and assistance to the Philippine government in relation to the effective implementation of UNCAT and the ratification of OPCAT.

Written by Dijana O. Aagaard-Poulsen