The young generation of Baguio is ready to face the New Year with the resolve to forge a group of human rights defenders this 2009.

BY THE NORTHERN DISPATCH
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Posted by Bulatlat

BAGUIO CITY (246 kms. North of Manila)— The young generation of Baguio is ready to face the New Year with the resolve to forge a group of human rights defenders this 2009.

Anjo Rey Cerdeña, chairperson of the Baguio chapter of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), said they want to provide avenues for the promotion of human rights.

Cerdeña is a member of the committee formed to prepare for the first general assembly of Young Defenders.

He said that their generation ‘has read, heard and seen so much about the country’s poor human rights record in the past years.’ “It is a record too dirty to reflect our generation’s history. We thought it is about time we forge a wide network of young and fresh defenders who would take on the task of countering this bad record,” he said.

Before the Christmas break, Cerdeña said, the committee had already mapped out preparations for the assembly. These include the release of promotional materials and the first wave of invitations through campus visits early this year.

“Human rights is a matter of life and dignity. It is everybody’s concern and we aim to involve a broad spectrum of the youth sector in this cause,” Cerdeña said.

The group aims to involve indigenous youth, students, out-of-school youth, civil society, and religious youth.

The initiative is a brainchild of the Indigenous Peoples Day Youth Coordinating Committee (IPDYCC), which gathered different indigenous youth groups in the city in August 2008. The IPDYCC met again in December for the Youth Leadership Training on Human Rights Education and Advocacy. Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat.com