I'm posting some of my images on a photosite called Photoholik and thought I'd do some cross posting. You've seen some of the images here on my blog, but my write ups are new so check it out if you're interested:
Alex on Photoholik
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Children's Rehabilitation Center (Philippines):
The CRC provides psycho-social therapy for children and parents that are victims of state violence. The Philippines is one of the worlds most corrupt counties (taking over the #1 spot from Indonesia for Southeast Asia) and it's government is anything except a government for the people.
The current Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) administration is actually doing worse for human rights than the dictator Pres. Marcos for the length of time she's been in office. According to a recent UNICEF book ('Uncounted Lives: Children and Women in Conflict in the Philippines') over 200,000 women and children have been victims of military atrocities since GMA came to power in 2001.
According to respected human rights watchdog 'Karapatan,' the GMA regime (from 1 Jan to 31 October 2007) is accused of:
Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions… 68 // 209 in 2006, [Total: 887 (since 21.1.01)]
Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances… 26 // 78 in 2006, [Total: 185]
Torture… 29
Illegal Detention… 116
Forcible Evacuation or Displacement... 7542
UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston confirmed much of this and clearly points the finger at the government. For his final report please
click here.
The above numbers dipped for 2007 (and will probably continue to remain low for the first few months of 2008) most likely because of increased international attention and the visit of a UN Special Rapporteur. In early 2008 the Philippines, which ironically sits on the UN Human Rights Commission, is due for a periodic human rights review.
CRC webpage:
http://members.tripod.com/~childrehab/home.html
