The series of capacity building initiatives rolled out earlier this year to strengthen access to justice of refugees and stateless persons through the Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons has reached full-circle with its second and third sessions reaching judges across the Philippines.
Organized by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA) and the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), the latest sessions followed the design of the inaugural training for the Judiciary back in March.
UNHCR and partners sit down with judges from various provinces in Luzon to discuss naturalization case studies during the two-day training in Metro Manila. Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Judges from various Regional Trial Courts in Visayas and Mindanao participated in the second batch of the series of trainings on the Rule on facilitated naturalization for refugees and stateless persons. Photo © UNHCR/Ri Rizare
The UNHCR Philippines Team with Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, who leads the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons. Photo © UNHCR
The recent sessions in Cagayan de Oro and Manila were attended by a total of 64 judges, 31 from Visayas and Mindanao and 33 from the National Capital Judicial Region and Luzon. The participants undertook learning sessions with resource persons from the Supreme Court and the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons, UNHCR, the DOJ-RSPPU, legal counsel Atty. Rosalino C. Candoy, and Mr. Jalal Aboughala, a former refugee who is now a naturalized Filipino.
Recounting how he became a refugee and eventually his experience in applying for naturalization, Aboughala told the judges, “I am so happy to be a Filipino right now. The Philippines is like my adoptive mother. I lost my country, my mother, and I need a mother to accommodate me. I promise to be a good son, a good citizen for this mother.”
Overall, the entire training series has enhanced the skills and capacity of 99 judges to make well-reasoned, fair, and legally sound judicial decisions in naturalization cases, in consideration of the refugees and stateless persons’ specific needs, circumstances, and vulnerabilities.
“UNHCR has always regarded the Judiciary as a key partner in the efforts to ensure that refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons have access to justice. Each one of our judges play a critical role in finding long-term solutions for and with people who do not have a nationality and those who have been forcibly displaced. We are all here because we want to work together in support of this vulnerable sector of the society who face unique challenges that are very different from those faced by migrants,” shared UNHCR Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo.
This was echoed in the message from UNHCR Philippines Assistant Protection Officer Lindsey Atienza who said that the Judiciary’s comprehensive understanding of the legal framework for refugee protection and addressing statelessness would be valuable given the growing number of people forced to flee globally.
“With this partnership with the Judiciary, UNHCR Philippines remains optimistic that the Philippines will continue to ensure access to justice, a fundamental principle of the Rule of Law and essential for protection,” she added.
Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons, emphasized the significance of the series of trainings on the Rule for judges nationwide.
“The laws governing naturalization have evolved over the years, reflecting our growing understanding of human rights and the need for inclusivity. The Rule recognizes that refugees and stateless persons may lack the required documents and resources to complete the regular naturalization process. Judges at the Regional Trial Courts stand at the forefront of justice, serving as beacons of hope and fairness,” he shared in his speeches before the participants.
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan who leads the DOJ-RSPPU, highlighted the important role of judges as “pivotal in providing opportunities for refugees and stateless persons to become Filipinos, thereby ensuring their full integration into the communities their live in.”
“The Rule on Facilitated Naturalization is more than just a legal framework, it is a lifeline for those forced to flee their homes who may have also lost or were deprived of their nationality,” he said.
Furthermore, Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Vice Chair of the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization for Refugees and Stateless Individuals told the judges, “For years, these persons of concern have been denied access to justice, basic human rights and safe haven where they can start a new life with dignity and security. Through th[e] two-day seminar, our understanding on the vulnerabilities and plight of refugees and stateless persons has been enriched.”
“As members of the Judiciary, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our legal system is equipped to effectively respond to the needs of those who have been forcibly displaced and those who find themselves without a nationality,” he urged.
It was not an easy journey for Mr. Jalal Aboughala, but through perseverance, he can now say that he is a Filipino citizen and a “good son” to the Philippines which he considers his adoptive mother. Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo, Vice Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Vice Chair of the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Individuals Photo © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan, Head of the Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit Photo © UNHCR/Ri Rizare
A pathway to durable solutions, naturalization allows refugees and stateless people access to full rights as Filipinos and enables their integration into Philippine society.
The Philippines, as a State Party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, has the obligation to “facilitate their assimilation and naturalization.” Naturalization is also a means to reduce statelessness as outlined under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and fulfils the Philippines’ commitments to the 2019 and 2023 Global Refugee Forum and the 2019 High-Level Segment on Statelessness Pledges.
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ABOUT UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
In the Philippines, UNHCR has maintained a presence for over 40 years, working on providing durable solutions to refugees, ending and reducing statelessness, and empowering displaced families.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Cepeda
External Relations Associate
[email protected]
(02) 88172398
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