Philippines: Parliamentarians support Control Arms
Many parliamentarians in the Phillippines have joined the Million Faces petition for action to stop armed violence.
During 2006, the Philippines Action Network on Small Arms (PHILANSA) has been engaged in developing support for legal reform amongst national parliamentarians.
Several dozen parliamentarians have joined the Million Faces petition in support of the Control Arms campaign.
On 7 August a parliamentarian will give a speech on small arms control and PHILANSA will make use of the opportunity to further lobby parliamentarians on the objectives below.
PHILANSA will also be campaigning and lobbying for regional action at the Asian Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) Assembly in Cebu City, 10-15 September 2006.
Philippines parliamentary action
General campaign objectives:
To ensure there are adequate laws to improve state capacity and the government's own accountability to control arms transfers and protect citizens from armed violence, in line with international laws and standards.
To help lobby the executive to create or support regional arms controls that would address the flow of arms, instituting effective measures to limit supply and reduce demands for weapons, and also reduce the widespread availability of arms, striving to improve regional safety.
Specific campaign objectives:
1. Incorporate into domestic law the responsible use of arms by the AFP and the PNP, based on existing international human rights standards and principles of international humanitarian law. To abide by the UN Basic Principles for the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Geneva Conventions and other relevant international standards.
2. Enforce existing legislation or create new legislation to control the import, export, and transit of arms ensuring that human rights and international humanitarian laws do not suffer under commercial pressure.
4. Enforce existing legislation or create new legislation to control the production, sale and use of all arms.
5. Ensure transparency by creating laws that would provide regular and meaningful information to the public about the production, possession and transfer of arms.
6. Pass the Philippine Comprehensive Landmines Law (House Bill No. 2675 and Senate Bill No. 1861).
7. Pass the Act Regulating the Possession of Licensed Firearms and the Carrying thereof Outside of Residence and for Other Purposes (House Bill No. 2804).
8. Ratify the UN Firearms Protocol.
Other requests for Philippines lawmakers:
1. Ask parliamentary questions to find out whether the government supports the minimum universal standards for arms transfers based on IHL and human rights laws.
2. Form a parliamentary group to work on arms control issues
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