In August a cathedral in Baguio received bomb threats, allegedly from ISIS affiliates. In meetings with religious groups, the government, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), embassy representatives highlighted the importance of religious freedom and interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Isang Mensahe Para Kay Mocha Uson, Ang Bagong Myembro Ng MTRCB - January 6, 2017; 3 Steps To Finding Success And Happiness In One’s Life - December 24, 2016; How Pinoy Over-Romanticism Destroys Us As Persons - December 19, 2016; Why I Think The Catholic Church In The Philippines Is Doing More Harm Than Good - December 6, 2016; No More Nonsense Films For This … ( Log Out /  Other notable posts included an ambassadorial tweet and embassy Facebook and Twitter posts publicizing the statement of the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS; an embassy tweet on the confirmation of the identity of Maute group leader Abu Dar; ambassadorial and embassy tweets of condolences for the victims of the Jolo Cathedral Bombings; and an ambassadorial tweet on the Bangsamoro plebiscite and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Since start the modern life discrimination has given different destines for people the entire world. The government continued sustained military, law enforcement, and counterterrorism operations against the Maute Group, ASG, and other ISIS-related groups. NC: [17:03] Well, speaking of messy realities and contentious issues about the use of the human body, the Philippines is also in the middle of heated debates about the Anti-Discrimination Bill. During the year, EmpoweringME introduced a module on social inclusion, which added matters relating to religious tolerance to its curriculum. The NCMF reported no formal incidents of discrimination during the year, but stated that subtle forms of anti-Muslim societal discrimination existed throughout the country. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom, Section II. There were some incidents that pointed out what kind of people some Muslims are; a lot of them did bad things or illegal things to other people, to our country and also to other countries. The suffering of Muslims in the Philippines is inhumane. ( Log Out /  The Anti-Discrimination Law in Cebu is the first law in the Philippines to fight discrimination which is merely based on ignorance, prejudices and negative stereotypes. By 1983, 80% of the population of Mindanao was Christian. by Jack Miller. The NCMF’s Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment continued to administer logistics for the Hajj, such as obtaining flight schedules, administering vaccines, coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to process Hajj passports, filing Hajj visa applications at the Saudi embassy, and conducting predeparture orientations for pilgrims. But all people have their own beliefs, values and opinions on what they think are right. Following the attacks, members of the Catholic and Muslim communities gathered in the cathedral to show solidarity against terrorism. Many private madrassahs, however, choose to remain unregistered rather than allow government oversight, according to Department of Education representatives. Although the referendum was widely backed by national Muslim and Christian groups, some local religious minorities continued to express concerns about the new authority. People still face racism in most countries as USA, Africa and Brazil, even with the end of apartheid have a high difference between black and White. This law is now imposed in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The embassy regularly highlighted support for religious freedom and the protection of civil liberties for people of all faiths on its various online platforms. The basic requirements for registration include a name verification of the religious corporation, articles of incorporation and bylaws, the name of a director, list of members, and a list of financial contributors. The organization reported that Muslims received stares in public for wearing hijabs, particularly in schools and banks. Though an Anti-Discrimination bill was first introduced to Congress twelve years, the Philippines does not have Anti-Discrimination legislation. The NCCP, one of the largest associations of Protestant and non-Roman Catholic denominations in the Philippines, described the listing as an “attack on [their] Christian faith and tradition.”. If you are a tattooed individual in the Philippines, you are discriminated. A number of priests critical of the government’s drug war received explicit death threats and raised concerns that the president’s negative statements promoted attacks against clergy. PHILIPPINES 2013 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT . ISIS claimed responsibility for a January suicide bombing at a cathedral in Jolo that killed 20 persons and wounded several others. The NCMF also stated that subtle forms of anti-Muslim societal discrimination continued to exist throughout the country, particularly among detainees in correctional institutions. The individual spoke on university campuses and at American Centers to engage emerging leaders on current issues in the BARMM. In a four-year study of religious discrimination around the world (2006-2010), Christians were the … He spoke about the importance of religious tolerance and emphasized the U.S. government’s support in rebuilding the Islamic city of Marawi, as well as other forms of assistance across conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. On March 29, President Duterte led the inauguration ceremony of the BARMM. ( Log Out /  The BOL provides the framework for the transition to greater autonomy for the area’s majority Muslim population. It should never be the basis to judge a person. The federal religious discrimination lawsuit was filed this week by D. James Kennedy Ministries of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, against the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center. The NCMF distributed books in April in order to alleviate community concerns that all traditional Muslim schools bred violent extremist ideologies. International Alert Philippines Project Officer for Women and Youth Program Nina Bahjin Imlan told ANC's Early Edition that Muslims in cities outside Sulu and Zamboanga, the site of recent bombings of worship sites, would likely experience discrimination. Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, Office of the U.S. No religious test is required for the exercise of civil or political rights. AN ACT PROHIBITING ETHNIC, RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS PROFILING AS WELL AS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS ON ACCOUNT OF ETHNIC OR RACIAL ORIGIN AND/OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION OR BELIEF. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights The former Philippine Organic Act of 1902. The embassy also sponsored the visit of two scholars known for their work on religious tolerance and social inclusion to the United States for a three-week course on law and leadership. The effect of racial, sexual or religious discrimination has a big impact in the society. But I also believe that our Muslim brothers and sisters from other parts of the world are even more oppressed. After conducting an investigation into a refusal to erect a mosque by local officials in Panagasinan, the NCMF determined that local officials halted construction because residents cited concerns that having the religious structure in their community might incite terrorism. Here in Davao City, Indians are also being discriminated. Approximately 6 percent of the population is Muslim, according to the PSA; the NCMF estimates that 10 to 11 percent of the population is Muslim. Religious discrimination is treating a person or group differently because of the particular beliefs which they hold about a religion. The attack reportedly unfolded as soldiers dismounted from a military truck to provide security for a Mass taking place at the cathedral. The embassy featured all these programs in press releases and on social media. Muslim girls may wear the hijab and are not required to wear shorts during physical education classes. The result is presented herewith. Some clergy continued to raise concerns that the manner in which the president denounced the Church promoted violence against its priests and leaders. Because of this, the government became primarily Catholic and has had antagonism from many Muslim groups. It also covers private employers with at least 15 employees. The NCMF noted that this secondary identification helped overseas Filipino workers who found themselves in precarious labor situations. The NCMF received several formal complaints of discrimination on the grounds of Muslim religious identity during the year. The Department of Education’s Office of Madrassah Education managed local and international financial assistance to the private madrassah system. Sharia does not apply in criminal matters and applies only to Muslims. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. In a public speech in February he said Catholicism may disappear in 25 years because of various criminal allegations, such as corruption and sexual abuse. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. ( Log Out /  Religious scholars and leaders within the Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant communities stated relations among religious groups were generally amicable, but they reported some tensions between different religious and ethnic groups, especially in conflict-affected areas such as Marawi City and Sulu. Therefore, your view that an employer could simply claim management … Christian Filipinos- When the Philippines gained independence in 1946, the Christian settlers became the majority in Mindanao. Citizenship derives from birth to a citizen parent. The embassy sponsored the visit to the United States of two scholars, who had advocated religious tolerance and social inclusion, for a three-week law and leadership program, and encouraged a local NGO to incorporate a religious tolerance module into its teaching curriculum. The CHR Mindanao regional office expressed concern over reported cases of church leaders and faith-based organizations being publicly labeled as members or supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed insurgent wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Duterte added in a speech in September that he would not support the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) celebration in 2021 of 500 years of Catholicism in the country. The arrests, harassment, and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Philippines demonstrate the urgent need for the Government of the Philippines to act. In February the senate adopted a resolution filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto declaring the first Thursday of February “Synchronized National Interfaith Prayers for Peace and Reconciliation.” The resolution aimed to encourage Filipinos of all religious groups to participate in a universal prayer for peace. Although the move was widely backed by Muslims and Christians nationwide, some local religious minorities continued to express their concerns about the new authority. The government permits religious instruction in public schools with written parental consent, provided there is no cost to the government. We can all be better if only we choose to do what we think is righteous. The results of a January plebiscite added Basilan and Cotabato City to BARMM territories. To register as a nonstock, nonprofit organization, religious groups must meet the basic requirements for corporate registration with the BIR and must request tax exemption from the BIR. The government initiated a pilot program in Metro Manila that provides undocumented Muslim Filipinos with an identity card – the Muslim Filipino Identity Card– stating that it was intended to help them access services, since many in this population did not have a birth certificate. Based on a traditional policy of promoting moral education, local public schools give religious groups the opportunity to teach moral values during school hours. In June the embassy organized a forum with BTA representatives and legislative branch staffers to discuss the implementation of the BOL, including its implications for religious minorities and the importance of supporting all communities of faith, particularly in conflict areas, as the BARMM moved forward. Muslims and indigenous peoples are also victims of discrimination. If their employers confiscated their passports, these secondary IDs could speed the government’s citizenship assessment, thus providing fast repatriation services. Although the president agreed to stop denouncing the Church in 2018, he continued to express his displeasure with the conduct of its clergy. The Office of the President’s National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) continued to promote the rights of Muslims at the national and local level. Religion is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Leaders from the Islamic Information Center, along with Muslim politicians, demanded an apology from the police, citing religious discrimination. Sharia courts are organized into five sharia districts, all located in the south of the country; Muslims residing in other areas must travel to these districts to pursue an action in a sharia court. You can add more than one country or area. Some Catholic clergy who vocally criticized extrajudicial killings attributed to the war on drugs under President Duterte or who stated their opposition to the reinstatement of the death penalty reported being harassed, intimidated, and threatened with death by unknown perpetrators following Duterte’s threats against them in late 2018, which sources stated he and his government subsequently tried to walk back. This includes instances when adherents of different religions, denominations or non-religions are treated unequally due to their particular beliefs, either before the law or in institutional settings, such as employment or housing. The NCMF reported that 7,232 individuals made the pilgrimage during the year, lower than the 8,000-limit set by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj for pilgrims from the Philippines, but an increase of 1,419 persons from the previous year. The CBCP collaborated with other Christian groups and civil society networks to prepare for the implementation of the BOL. Other Christian groups include locally established churches such as the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan), Members Church of God International, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the Name Above Every Name. The new entity has jurisdiction over five provinces and three major, noncontiguous cities. The embassy also supported an interfaith forum to highlight the plight of the internally displaced persons of the Marawi siege and international religious freedom issues. Media reported that the criticism could relate more to the Church’s criticism of human rights abuses in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. “From these, the Philippines’s policy is one of tolerance and nondiscrimination for religious beliefs unless they will bring harm to the common good and for which the state can intervene.” Gana reiterated that the right to worship or belief remains a universal human right, the news release said. In October the embassy hosted a U.S. Muslim for five days of speaking engagements in Manila and Mindanao and programs on conflict transformation. Initially, the local government stated that the structures did not meet building codes, but after public pressure, it relented and allowed the mosque projects to move forward. According to the PSA, approximately 4 percent of those surveyed in the 2015 census did not report a religious affiliation or belong to other groups, such as animism or indigenous syncretic faiths. In August a cathedral in Baguio received bomb and terror threats from alleged ISIS affiliates. Just like what happened in Marawi, it became a site of a bloody urban battle between ISIL fighters and government forces. The nature of exclusion and discrimination among different societies hinges on how the majority perceives the minority group and in what area or aspect one becomes a threat and/or can be dominated. The law forbids public officials from interrupting religious worship, as well as any person “notoriously” offending religious feelings during such services or in a place of worship. In order It seeks an unspecified amount of money. Some Muslim leaders, including an NCMF official, expressed concern about the low percentage of Muslims in senior government and military positions. There were 13 Muslims in the 301-member House of Representatives and one Muslim cabinet appointee. Religious scholars and leaders within the Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant communities stated relations among religious groups were generally amicable, but they reported tensions among different religious and ethnic groups, especially in conflict-affected areas such as Marawi City and Sulu. Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the Philippines. The constitution provides for the free exercise of religion and religious worship and prohibits the establishment of a state religion. discrimination in the matter of religious rights and practices by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, and was authorized to present a programme for action with a view to eradicating such discrimination. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Office of the U.S. The constitution provides for the free exercise of religion and religious worship and prohibits the establishment of a state religion. And there’s a huge catalogue of hate crimes targeted against LGBT communities in the Philippines. Eleven soldiers and nine civilians were wounded in a December 22 grenade attack adjacent to a radio station and a Catholic cathedral in Cotabato City. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. A study by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance showed that 90 percent of 169 madrassahs surveyed in 2018 sought government recognition and support; however, the study stated that complicated accreditation processes and requirements hindered them from registering. Racial and Religious Discrimination. A lot have experienced discrimination, violence or worse, persecution. According to the 2015 census (the most recent) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 79.5 percent of the population is Roman Catholic and 9 percent belong to other Christian groups, including Seventh-day Adventists, United Church of Christ, United Methodists, Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Bible Baptist Church, other Protestant churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The law mandates that government agencies address religious issues and consult recognized experts on Filipino Muslim beliefs, as well as the history, culture, and identity of indigenous peoples, when formulating the national history curriculum. The government recognizes sharia in all parts of the country through a presidential decree. An increasing number of Muslims are migrating to the urban centers of Manila, Baguio, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, and Davao, a trend that accelerated after the May-October 2017 siege of Marawi in which local residents fled to other provinces for their security. By law, only registered schools/madrassahs may receive financial assistance from the government. Religion is one of the most important aspects of our lives. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, … Although most are practitioners of Sunni Islam, a small minority of Shia Muslims live in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur on Mindanao. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Religious discrimination is the adverse work treatment of an individual based on religious beliefs or practices. Efforts to address discrimination against LGBT people have met with resistance, including by religious leaders. Freedom of religion in the Philippines is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Philippines. The government also allows groups to distribute religious literature in public schools. The House of Representatives recently approved on second reading a bill which will ban discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion. In January the Department of Tourism announced plans to make the country a significant “religious pilgrimage destination” by restoring and developing historic churches and Christian shrines throughout the country. The BARMM government continued to reinforce existing legislation that governed the application of sharia and provided an alternative dispute mechanism for non-Muslims seeking redress in the courts. On several occasions, President Duterte expressed disapproval of the Catholic Church, despite his 2018 vow not to do so. The Ambassador posted tweets for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, while the embassy posted Facebook and Twitter content for the celebrations. Racial discrimination is when a person is treated differently because of their actual or perceived race, skin color, native language, ethnic or national origin, and nationality. Sharia courts handle only cases relating to personal laws affecting family relations and property. This piece of legislation: Outlaws religious discrimination in hiring, firing, promoting, compensating, and training. The government attributed several killings, attacks, and kidnappings in the south of the country to the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) – both designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State – the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and other ISIS-related terrorist groups. The Philippines is said to be the most religious country. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom, Section IV. The Department of Education continued to support its Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) program for Muslim students in private madrassahs and public elementary schools with a Muslim population of 10 percent or greater. The state court system hears cases involving Muslims and non-Muslims, and national laws apply in those cases. The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. ISIS claimed responsibility for several attacks, including a January suicide bombing at a cathedral in Jolo that killed 20 persons and wounded several others. The overall funding for and attendance at private madrassahs increased by 25 percent from the previous year. On January 21, citizens of the five provinces and three major cities of western Mindanao ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), creating a new Muslim-led autonomous region and abolishing the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Religious communities continued to participate in interreligious efforts to alleviate friction, foster connections, and address discrimination. Executive Summary . Other interfaith efforts by the CBCP, but not limited to religious freedom issues, included multi-sectoral consultations and meetings with provincial and local governments on localizing humanitarian coordination and collaboration against human trafficking. Madrassahs continued to have the option of registering with the NCMF and Department of Education, both, or neither. Registered madrassahs received government funding and produced curricula that were subject to government oversight. It should never be the basis to judge a person. The survey also conveyed the concerns of Muslim school leaders about the perception that terrorist groups used traditional madrassahs for recruitment, especially after the Marawi siege. It prohibits religious discrimination, establishment of a state religion, and formation of political parties based on religious affiliation. Requires employers to offer a reasonable accommodation unless doing so creates an undue hardship. [ Our Vision ] ⚓︎ The Interfaith Youth Council of the Philippines envisions a healthy and well-educated society that shares values and understanding where religious backgrounds and discrimination is apprehended, a society where people can coexist and flourish together amidst the diversity. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. The BARMM government designated two seats, one for a Christian and one for an indigenous delegate, to its council to allay minority community concerns. Change ), on Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the Philippines. People living with HIV-Aids are discriminated. BARMM authorities, an amalgamation of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and presidential appointees, continued setting up their government, establishing budget priorities, staffing offices, and implementing infrastructure projects. NCMF officials said that anti-Muslim discrimination continued to occur in government offices but cited no specific examples. But all people have their own beliefs, values and opinions on what they think are right. Most of it caused a huge destruction or severe loss of lives which is prohibited by the law of man and the law of God. As a kid, that story might seem imaginative and entertaining, but as an adult, you realize: “Well, shit. For the 2018-19 school year, 1,686 public elementary schools administered the voluntary ALIVE program for 145,591 students, compared to 1,622 schools and 158,093 students the previous year. The BOL ratified on January 21 creates the BARMM, a new Muslim-led autonomous region. The NCMF attributes the higher estimate to a number of factors: the reluctance of Muslims to officially register with the civil registrar office or to participate in the formal survey, the community’s transience due to internal movement for work, and the government’s failure to survey Muslim areas and communities thoroughly. In the Philippines one could of course pursue legal action against an institution practicing such discrimination, but religious discrimination isn't officially codified in Philippine law. Muslim officials reported that while Muslim prison detainees were allowed to engage in religious observances, Roman Catholic Mass was often broadcast by loudspeaker to both Catholic and non-Catholic prison populations. Authorities suggested the attack, which came on the eve of a planned visit by President Duterte to Cotabato, may have been linked to ISIS-linked groups operating in the area, though no one claimed responsibility by year’s end.
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