MCCID contributes to Philippine Human Rights Action Plan

Dec 10th 2009
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NHRAP 09

Sir Ervin posts his message on the Rights of Disabled Persons wall.

Sir Ervin, Cultural Music Icon Joey Ayala and Sir Jojo Esposa

Together with Liliane Philippines National Correspondent Tess Dela Cruz

Commitment Signing of Key Government Stakeholders and Implementors

Sir Ervin being interviewed inside the Rights of Disabled Persons Presentation Room

Lucky Paltep and Sir Ervin pose in Rights of Disabled Persons Booth.

NCDA Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz sings together with Mr. Joey Ayala.

Cultural Music Icon Joey Ayala together with Lucky, Sir Ervin, Sir Jojo and Director Gigi Ruiz

(Seated) Philippine Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Atty. Renato Corona, UN Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock (Standing) Sir Ervin, Lucky and NCDA Chief Nelia De Jesus

Sir Jojo, Human Rights Commissioner Leila De Lima and Sir Ervin

Sir Ervin and Lucky together with Kasamaka CBR Director Gerry Mariano

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa together with Deaf Coordinator Ervin Reyes and Student Organization President Lucky McGill Paltep were invited to attend the National Human Rights Forum for the formulation of the Second National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) from December 10-11, 2009 at Manila Grand Opera Hotel.

The activity was spearheaded by the Presidential Human Rights Committee in cooperation with Commission on Human Rights Philippines and the United Nations Development Programme. This year’s theme is “Building a Positive and Proactive Culture of Human Rights”. The approved action plan will be implemented from 2010 to 2014.

MCCID College of Technology is one of the organizations selected by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to represent the persons with disabilities sector specifically the deaf organizations. NCDA was the lead agency tasked to draft the action plan for the disability sector in line with the Philippines’ ratification of the UN International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).

The NHRAP Writing Team that drafted the action plan in line with UN CRPD was lead by NCDA Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz together with Ms. Ruth Tacujan, Ms. Cynthia Barriga, Mr. Steve Alcantara, Ms. Flerida Labanon and Mr. Miguel Limon. Covered by the action plan was the inclusion of unhampered access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which was partly contributed by MCCID through its Training Director Jojo Esposa during the 1st National Disability Summit held last September 2009.

MCCID College has been one of the forefront in pushing for ICT and Web Accessibility for Persons With Disabilities since 2003 by participating in inter-regional and international workshops as well as organizing web design accessibility workshops and advocating barrier free access to the web through the establishment of the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG). Mr. Esposa is one of PWAG’s founding members and its current president. MCCID has also included web accessibility in its web design curriculum and training programs.

Highlight of the NHRAP activity was the commitment signing and sustaining Human Rights Mainstreaming Initiatives. Those who signed were UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan, CHRP Chairperson Leila De Lima and PHRC Undersecretary Severo Catura. Executive Secretary and PHRC Chairman Eduardo Ermita gave his keynote message. Popular Filipino cultural music icon Joey Ayala was the master of ceremonies.

The participants were given a chance to tour the presentations of each committee who were tasked to draft the action plan based on the eight pillars of human rights. These are Civil and Political Rights, Economic Social and Cultural Rights, Against Torture and Other Inhuman Punishment, Rights of the Child, Discrimination Against Women, Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families, Elimination of All forms of Racial Discrimination and Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Each pillars has a corresponding international conventions and treaties all of which are ratified by the Philippine government.