Sulong CARHRIHL

Teachers play a vital role in our society because they have the noble task of shaping the hearts and minds of our future generation, our children- to become responsible and peace loving citizens. In recognition of this important role, Sulong CARHRIHL and the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC), a teacher’s group working for the advancement of teacher’s rights and welfare, started a partnership in mid-2008 in peace building advocacy. This partnership is in line with the thrust of Sulong CARHRIHL to strengthen its relationship with sectoral groups such as women, youth, indigenous peoples, media and teachers for the purpose of helping build their capacities towards peace building and advocacy.

The TDC and Sulong CARHRIHL, with support from the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus, conducted a series of trainings on Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, CARHRIHL and Peace to public school teachers nationwide.

The trainings were held in various areas. A three-day Mindanao-wide training was conducted in Davao City last October 29-31, 2008 brought together public school teachers from Region IX- Zamboanga Peninsula, Region X- Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental, Region XI- Davao del Sur, Digos City, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Tagum City, Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Compostela Valley (COMVAL), cities of Panabo and Mati. Another training was conducted in Baguio City last January 19-21, 2009 with public school teachers from the provinces of Benguet, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Aurora, Isabela, Tuguegarao, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and La Union in attendance.

Leaders of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, headed by their Chairperson Benjo Basas, made the partnership with the public school teachers possible through the CARHRIHL and Peace Training conducted in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The training for public school teachers from Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas and Metro Manila was conducted last February 12-14, 2009 at the Oblate Missionary Center (OMC) in Quezon City. The last leg of the training for teachers in the Visayas was held at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) building in Dumaguete City on February 23-25, 2009. Public school teachers from Tacloban, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Antique and Iloilo took part in the said training.

In the situational analysis workshops, the participants were divided into groups according to geographical areas, common concerns were shared on the worsening problem of poverty as the root cause of the growing numbers of out-of-school youth, child laborers, children trapped in prostitution and youth involvement in illegal drugs. This situation of poverty, according to participants, is aggravated by corruption, poor governance, environmental destruction caused by illegal logging, illegal fishing and large-scale mining, and the continuing armed conflict in their areas.

The participants raised their concern about the presence of armed groups in their areas such as the military, police, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), New People’s Army (NPA), private armies and other paramilitary and/or vigilante groups, especially in Mindanao. In some areas the presence of other rebel groups such as the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB) and the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Mapagpalaya was also mentioned. According to the participants, it is a well-known fact that the common activities in the communities especially the military and the NPA rebels are recruitment, indoctrination, military trainings and exercises and grounds patrolling. Some armed groups, according to the participants, are resorting to harassment of communities, compulsory curfew and extortion.

The presence and activities of these armed groups have caused fear as the human rights violations and abuses that accompany this presence are evident. The normal day-to-day activities of the local folks have been disrupted. Properties have also been destroyed. In one instance, the military elements had set-up a camp near a school. Such had caused a stir among teachers and students. They paid dearly from this military operation as they were forced to stop going to school out of fear. The continuing armed conflict between the two parties is not only destroying the lives of the people in the communities but also their future, especially the future of their children.

Mindanao-wide TDC Leaders gamely introduced themselves in the CARHRIHL and Peace Training held in Davao City last October 2008.

As Sulong CARHRIHL discussed human rights, international humanitarian law, CARHRIHL, peace process and peace-building, concrete experiences shared in the situational analysis were given as actual examples to give a deeper understanding of these principles. The inputs and results of the situational analysis became the bases in the formulation of plans by the public school teachers in relation to the advocacy for peace and CARHRIHL.

Several action points were planned. One of them is to find ways to mainstream the issues of human rights and peace in teaching and in the curriculum. Information dissemination activities such as the holding of fora, essay and slogan writing activities were also planned.

The concrete action points from the series of trainings conducted will serve as challenges both for TDC and Sulong CARHRIHL to continue its commitment in building the capacity of our teachers so that they can take an active role in the promotion of teacher’s rights and welfare, human rights and peace.