Amnesty International Philippines

National Capital Regions

Membership-In-Training Project

Background

The membership-in-training (MIT) project aims to provide an in-depth discussion and discourses on
human rights with AI NCR members, potential members, and the general public. It has four sessions to
be conducted every after week within two months. AIPH NCR MIT includes a module on human rights
essentials, two special topics on human rights, and human rights mobilization and community
engagement.

The AIPh NCR group intends to engage 20-25 participants in each batch coming from various local
groups and individual members.

Aside from the primary goal which is to deepen members’ understanding of human rights, the MIT
project can also serve as a venue for organizing and mobilization after the training.

Facilitation Methodology

The group will use Activity-Discussion-Input-Deepening-Activity-Summary/Synthesis (ADIDAS) as the

primary flow of the discussion. AIPh NCR group puts a premium on participatory approach wherein the
group values existing knowledge and experiences of participants with regard to human rights and
guarantees that each and everyone has an equal voice regardless of their background and status.

The AIPh NCR group upholds the principles of safe and brave spaces wherein all are safe and secure to
voice out and challenge everyone’s knowledge and opinions without any fear of reprisal.

All four sessions will be conducted synchronously using an online platform. AIPh NCR group will provide
reading and video materials to supplement the discussion. Facilitators may give take-home activities for
participants to practice what they have learned from the discussions and to reinforce their knowledge
retention.

Proposed Date of Batches and Sessions

Batch 1 March – April Batch 2 May – June

March 12 Session 1 (2 hours) May 11 Session 1 (2 hours)
March 26 Session 2 (2 hours) May 28 Session 2 (2 hours)
April 9 Session 3 (2 hours) June 11 Session 3 (2 hours)
April 23 Session 4 (2 hours) June 25 Session 4 (2 hours)

MIT Content

1. Foundational knowledge on Human Rights

2. Special Topic on Human Rights 1
3. Special Topic on Human Rights 2
4. Human Rights Mobilization and Community Engagement
 Session 1
Human Rights Essentials1

Objectives:

After the discussion, learners will be able to:

1. Articulate the importance of life, dignity, and development as foundational concepts of human
rights;
2. Identify that we, as humans and citizens are the ‘rights holder’ who must stand and assert our
human rights;
3. Express the spectrum of rights –civil, political, economic, social, and cultural and illustrate some
cases or examples;
4. Determine the United Nations as a supranational body, that keeps the international human
rights standards and monitors how the member states fulfill their human rights obligations;
5. Recognize and explain the human rights principles;
6. Identify the obligations of the state as ‘duty bearer’ and articulate how the state violates human
rights; and
7. Appreciate the role of human rights defenders in human rights promotion and activism.

1. Activity and Discussion: Baby in the Picture

1.1. See Annex A: Structured Participatory Activity

2. Input

Concepts Outline and Key Messages Summary

Definition of Human Show the video entitled “What is
Rights Human Rights?” by Amnesty
International available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
time_continue=1&v=bkdmRmg_MPA
Dignity is fundamental to human
rights (UDHR Preamble)
Dignity is the core of human rights
Dignity is a prerequisite for the
development of life
Human rights are rights must be
enjoyed by all human beings

It is necessary for the development of

Human Rights

Each one of us no matter who we are

or where we are born is entitled to
the same basic rights and freedoms2

Human Rights are basic freedoms and

protection that belong to every single
1
Adapted from AIPh Human Rights Educational Materials
2
What are the universal human rights? Accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgIVseTkuE&vl=en
 one of us3

Simply, Human rights are rights

belong to human beings by being a
human being
Principles of Human Universality – They belong to all of us Human rights must be practiced
Rights – everybody in the world and enjoyed by all human beings in
the world. It cannot be taken away
Inalienability – They cannot be taken and it comes as a whole.
away from us

Indivisibility and Interdependence –

Governments should not be able to
pick and choose which rights are
respected, protected, and fulfilled
Human Rights Show “The Story of Human rights” International and National Legal
International and Instruments mandating
National legal UDHR – Universal Declaration of international and national actors to
Instruments and Its Human Rights respect, protect, and fulfil human
History rights
ICCPR – International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights Different kinds of rights:
1. Civil
Civil and Political rights lie under the 2. Political
so-called negative notion of rights. 3. Economic
The state shall not intervene in the 4. Social
exercise of these rights. (ex. freedom 5. Cultural
of speech, due process of law, right
to life, freedom from torture, right to UN and different states are Human
liberty and security, etc.) Rights Actors

ICESCR – International Covenant on

Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

Whereas, Economic, Social, and

Cultural Rights lie on the so-called
positive notion of rights. In this case,
the government shall take positive
actions for the people in fulfillment
of these rights. (ex. Right to property,
right to work, right to a decent wage,
reasonable working hours, an
adequate standard of living, right to
participate in cultural activity, etc.)

3
What are human rights book? Accessed at https://www.amnesty.org.au/how-it-works/what-are-human-rights/?
utm_source=booklet&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=HR101
 Philippine Constitution – The
Philippines renounces war as an
instrument of national policy, adopts
the generally accepted principles of
international law as part of the law of
the land, and adheres to the policy of
peace, equality, justice, freedom,
cooperation, and amity with all
nations. (Art. II Sec 2 1987 Philippine
Constitution)

Through these legal instruments, the

UN and different states have the duty
to respect, protect, and fulfill human
rights
Duty-Bearer and Rights Duty-bearers shall Duty-bearers and Rightsholders
Holders duties and responsibilities
Respect – the duty to respect means
that the states must not act to State
intervene with the enjoyment of - Respect
human rights - Protect
- Fulfil
Protect – the duty to protect requires
states to ensure that others do not Rights-holders
infringe or block access to human - Claim their rights
rights - Respect

Fulfill – the duty to fulfill means that

States must take positive action to
facilitate better enjoyment of human
rights

Rights holder shall

- Claim their rights

- Respect other people in their
exercise of rights
Human Rights Violations HRV – states’ failure to comply with Human rights violations are actions
its duty and obligations to respect, or inactions of the government that
protect, fulfill human rights put the human rights situation of a
human being in peril
Types of violations
Omission – the inaction or non-
interference of the state in any
situation that requires action to
respect, protect and fulfill human
rights.
 Commission - any act by the
government in violation of any
covenant or instrument on human
rights which the state is committed to
uphold.

Arbitrary derogation – violation due

to arbitrary suspension of liberty
(emergency rule, martial rule,
authoritarian regime).
Human Rights Defenders Human Rights Defender refers to HRDs are people who act to
people who, individually or with promote and defend Human Rights
others, act to promote or defend
human rights.

Human rights activists, human rights

advocates are human rights
defenders.

Basis of Defending Human Rights:

Defending and promoting human

rights is a human right enshrined in
the Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders (DHRD)
What is life without Stereotype (Mind) – Sweeping It is important at this point to
human rights? generalization about a group; maybe emphasize the significance of
attitudes, characteristics, or behavior human rights to the life of a person.
(Ex. Blue is for boys, barbies are for
girls) We cannot simply imagine and live
a life without human rights.
Prejudice (Mind – Pre-judgment) –
Negative attitude or affective 1. Stereotype
response toward a certain group and 2. Prejudice
its individual members. (ex. Women 3. Stigma
cannot lift weights, women cannot 4. Discrimination
drive, gays are all sexually active) 5. Dehumanization

Stigma – disapproval of a person or

group based on socially characteristic
grounds. (ex. ex-convicts, drug-
dependent who undergone
rehabilitation)

Discrimination (Action) – unfair

treatment, negative behavior, non-
acceptance of members of a
 particular group based on their
affiliation on that group (ex. Refused
to be accepted in a job because of
gender, not being provided of social
services because of their race)

Dehumanization – Human beings are

seen not as humans anymore
Misconceptions about - HR is a western concept? Answer common misconceptions
Human Rights  Universality of Human Rights about human rights
 Kartilya ng Katipunan by  HR is a western concept
Emilio Jacinto – articulated  Protector of criminals
HR principles  Anti-government
 Carlos P. Romulo worked  Partisan
with Eleanor Roosevelet who  Focused only on civil and
finalized UDHR which was political rights
adopted in 1948
- Protector of Criminals
 Uphold rule of law
 Must prosecute outlaws with
due process and in
accordance to the law
 Show infographic of CHR
- Anti-Government
 Human rights organizations
and advocates only make
sure that the state as a duty-
bearer will be true to their
obligations to respect,
protect, and fulfil human
rights
- Partisan
 Human rights have no color
 It respects the diversity of
thoughts
 Reports, documents, and
criticizes states that violate
human rights regardless of
who is holding the power.
 Human rights organizations
and advocates exist in any
kind of government

- Focused only in Political and Civil

Rights
 Human rights are inclusive
 From ICCPR to ICESCR
3. Deepening and Analysis
3.1. The facilitator shall ask the participants if they were able to get the main points of the
discussion
3.2. The facilitator shall welcome questions and clarifications from the participants

4. Synthesis
4.1. Ask at least 5 participants what are their take-aways from the discussion
4.2. Re-state the inputs’ key messages
4.3. Provide a sensitizing (conscientizing) soundbite
 ANNEX A

Topic: Human Rights Essentials

Activity Baby in the Picture
Title:
Objective/s: At the end of this session, the participants shall:
1. Learn the concept of human rights through their own articulation
2. Understand that human rights are inherent in human beings and benchmark
for living
Duration: 30 minutes

Guide:
Process: 1. Divide the participants into 4-5 groups using the breakout session
2. Tell each group to choose a facilitator for the activity/discussion
3. Let each group choose a reporter to take note of and share their output and
discussion in the plenary
4. All participants must give their answers. No member shall question or interrogate
any answer provided by their groupmates. (All members shall have the liberty to
provide answers without being disregarded by the group)
5. Activity proper: Ask the participants to draw a baby (online) and let the group
answer each question:
 Write down what the baby needs in order to have a full dignified life
 Why do you think the baby needs all those?
 How about you? Do you deserve those too?
 What will happen if babies are deprived of those or they only
access/enjoy half of those you’ve written?

Materials:
Internet
Breakout session
Discussion: 1. After the activity, the facilitator shall convene all the participants.
2. The facilitator shall determine the order of the presentation of each group.
3. The team will share their outputs and their discussions during the breakout
session
4. After the presentation of each group, the facilitator must connect the outputs and
discussions to the meaning and principles of human rights
5. The facilitator will now start the discussion of HR essentials

Session 2
Special Topics on Human Rights 1
 Session 3
Special Topics on Human Rights 2
 Session 4
Human Rights Mobilization and Community Engagement