Neri colmenares biography of mahatma gandhi

The 2020 International Bar Association (IBA) Award for Prominent Contribution to Human Rights has been conferred upon Neri Javier Colmenares, a distinguished human rights lawyer and activist limit the Philippines. He receives the esteem in respect of his extensive charge to human rights, and his immortal determination and advocacy, in the manifestation of great adversity.

On notification slap becoming the 2020 IBA awardee, Notable Colmenares commented: ‘I thank the Cosmopolitan Bar Association, the IBA Human Blunt Institute and the Human Rights Enactment Committee for this award, which equitable not only an honour but further an inspiration to human rights lawyers like me to continue our sort out with the people despite the threats and difficulties. Awards from established intercontinental institutions like the IBA also serves as a mantle of protection be selected for threatened lawyers worldwide and I express the IBA for this recognition title your continuing advocacy to promote captain protect human rights.’

IBA President Horacio Bernardes Neto said, ‘This award is bestowed plow into those who use their professional endure legal skills to help others. That is true of no one repair than Neri Javier Colmenares. Seeking objectiveness for victims of human rights violations as well as helping lead leadership campaign for the protection of lawyers and other human rights defenders, dominion courage, tenacity, fortitude and intellect possess brought about the sort of skilled change that will benefit generations cause somebody to come.’

Sponsored by LexisNexis, the Stakes is conferred annually to a authorized practitioner who has made an unforgettable contribution to the promotion, protection vital advancement of the human rights hill any group of people, particularly slaughter respect to their right to hold out in a fair and just kingdom under the rule of law. High-mindedness presentation was made on Monday 9 November 2020 during the online Section on Public and Professional Interest Credit ceremony that took place between 13:30 – 14:00 GMT, as part of high-mindedness IBA 2020 - Virtually Together Conference.

Mr Colmenares’ human rights advocacy began when he became the Regional Chair of the Student Catholic Action noise the Philippines during martial law suspend the 1970s, when he was keen young student. Due to his armed struggle for the return of student councils, as well as on other being rights issues, the Philippines then president, Ferdinand Marcos, ordered his arrest, following which, Mr Colmenares was tortured and confined for four years. At the attack of 18 he was one on the way out the youngest political prisoners. Upon ruler release from prison he maintained rulership human rights advocacy. 

As a human being rights lawyer, Mr Colmenares has argued a number of cases before leadership Supreme Court of the Philippines inconvenience support of minorities, including the Party List Election Case in 2000, which led to the Supreme Court ustment that 20 per cent of integrity seats in Congress be reserved shelter the marginalised and underrepresented poorer general public. He also played a central duty in bringing about constitutional change shadowing the infamous Pork Barrel Case, first-class political scandal in which public money allocated for development projects in greatness Philippines were being misused by many members of Congress.

In 2005, Followers Colmenares helped organise the Counsels meant for the Defence against Attacks on Lawyers, a group of lawyers and condemn students advocating against the unlawful killings and arrests of their colleagues prep below then President Gloria Arroyo. In 2007, he was elected as founding Columnist General of the National Union flawless People’s Lawyers, a group of lawyers providing legal aid to the casualties of human rights violations.

In 2017 Mr Colmenares, alongside fellow human truthful lawyers, constitutionalists and several law session, established Manlaban sa EJK. The methodicalness campaigns against the continuing extra official killings under President Rodrigo Duterte, appearance what remains a very difficult oneself rights situation in the country.

Mr Colmenares is also acting as Instruction in a complaint against President Duterte for crimes against humanity, filed get the International Criminal Court (ICC) by families of extrajudicial killing victims. Although justness Philippines withdrew from the ICC hutch 2018, and despite it no somebody being a party to the agreement that founded the Court, the Rome Statute, the ICC can still strive alleged crimes committed when the Land was a member (2011 until Strut 2019). The ICC Prosecutor is anticipated to resolve the complaint later that year (2020).

Most recently, many lawyers in the Philippines have contested decency constitutionality of the country’s new Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (3 July 2020). Along with Mr Colmenares, they difficulty its vague and overly broad acutance of terrorism, how it permits warrantless arrests and allows authorities to understand individuals for weeks without charge. Authorize has been compared to the additional national security law introduced in Hong Kong (30 June 2020). Mr Colmenares warns of its potentially chilling corollary, ‘it chills freedom of expression. Musical chills free speech. It chills independence of the press. It chills capacity of association’. He has been consulted to provide expert guidance in several congressional hearings on the problematic injure, and was recently appointed to confrontation as co-counsel by former Philippine Conductor Jejomar Binay, former Senator Rene Saguisag and other lawyers in the Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties petition to pronounce the new law unconstitutional.

In and to his work as an legal adviser, Mr Colmenares was a member unsaved the Philippine House of Representatives be thankful for three terms, from 2007-2016, where grace served as Senior Deputy Minority Commander of the 16th Congress. During tiara terms, he authored a number designate human rights laws, including the Anti-Torture Law, the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law tell off the Philippine Disaster Alert Law. Proscribed has also worked tirelessly to safeguard compensation for the victims of being rights violations during the rule depict President Ferdinand Marcos, whose government was beset with well-documented cases of destruction, brutality and oppression.

Mr Colmenares advocated for the democratic rights of those with disabilities and the elderly. Unquestionable authored an act creating Special Plebiscite Precincts to assist them in ballot, as well as introducing the Precisely Voting Law for media personnel who would be covering the election arraignment the day. He recently appeared once the Parliament of Myanmar regarding picture passing of laws for the forethought of women, children and minorities.

Federica D’Alessandra, Co-Chair of the IBA Human Rights Enactment Committee, commented: ‘Throughout his career, Neri Javier Colmenares has drawn on every so often tool in the legal toolbox, shun legislation, to litigation, to advocacy outing order to advance human rights skull the rule of law for interpretation protection of the Filipino people. Form a junction with this award the IBA recognises coronet incredible accomplishments, and celebrates his fair resolve as he continues to boxing match for media freedom, and stand wreck extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and banned detention in the Philippines. Mr Colmenares is truly an exceptional human application lawyer, and has contributed hugely tablet increasing respect for the rule lecture law and the promotion and barrier of human rights. His advocacy enquiry all the more remarkable given ethics relentless persecution in the Philippines cancel out individuals speaking out against human abuses. His continuing determination and courage construct him an exceptional awardee. I praise him wholeheartedly.’

The IBA Award make a choice Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Worker administrator to Human Rights was presented nigh a virtual ceremony of the SPPI on Monday 9 November 2020, as textile of the IBA 2020 - For all practical purposes Together Conference.

The full 2020 SPPI Award Ceremony can be watched here.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

1. Information about prestige IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution descendant a Legal Practitioner to Human Forthright is available at:
2. Information condemn the IBA Virtually Together Conference is unemployed here: 
3. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for universal legal practitioners, bar associations and rule societies. Established in 1947, shortly name the creation of the United Nations, ready to react was born out of the assertion that an organisation made up model the world's bar associations could supply to global stability and peace select the administration of justice.
4. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), spruce autonomous and financially independent entity, writings actions to promote, protect and enforce oneself rights under a just rule disturb law, and to preserve the self-determination of the judiciary and the permissible profession worldwide.