© UNHCR/Christine Carandang
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has brought its Hope Away From Home exhibit to the Philippine Supreme Court weeks ahead of the global and national commemoration that highlights the experience and resilience of the forcibly displaced and stateless.
Welcoming guests during the launch on 10 June 2024, Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization for Refugees and Stateless Persons, explained that the exhibit gathers the Judiciary “as one community to recognize the resilience, fortitude, and tenacity of the refugees and stateless individuals who have sought refuge within our borders and those of other countries.”
“We, in the Judiciary, are privileged to be able to serve, protect, and uphold the dignity of all people, regardless of race, nationality, religion, affiliation, and beliefs. This is in keeping with our commitment to serve justice to all, not just including, but most especially, the most vulnerable sectors of society, to which the refugees and stateless persons belong,” he added.
Stressing the key role of the Judiciary in naturalization, a pathway towards fully integrating to Philippine society and a durable solution for refugees and stateless persons in the country, UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo expressed the agency’s appreciation for the Supreme Court’s interest in the exhibit.
“UNHCR Philippines is grateful for the time and space generously provided by the Supreme Court. This will certainly allow us to reach more potential supporters and advocates for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, and internally displaced persons,” she said.
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González was also present and remarked how the Philippines continues to uphold its humanitarian legacy of opening its doors to the forcibly displaced.
“In a world of closing borders and shrinking spaces, we have the Philippines which has continued to serve as a beacon of light and have welcomed the vulnerable and marginalized with open arms. The bayanihan spirit and humanitarian tradition of this country is something that every Filipino should truly be proud of,” he said.
Jalal Aboughala, a former refugee who is now a naturalized Filipino also attended the event and shared with guests his good news of receiving his certificate of naturalization on the day of the exhibit launch.
“Actually, napaka-stressful for me to talk in front of you, kinakabahan ako. (Actually, it is very stressful for me to talk in front of you, I am very nervous.) It is a great honor for me to be in front of you today on this special day, as a former refugee and now proud to be a Filipino citizen of this great nation. I would like to thank everybody and shake the hands of everybody who helped. I would like to thank the Philippine Government agencies for giving us the hope and the comfort of being at home in the Philippines,” he added.
Bai Mina Madale, a community leader from advocacy group Ako Bakwit also shared the experience of internally displaced communities and urged for support to the rights-based IDP bills that are pending deliberation in the Philippine Senate.
“Anyone can become an IDP. It is not our dream to become bakwit. (It is not our dream to become evacuees.) It is very difficult for us to remember how we became bakwit. These are not stories, these are lives. Please pass the IDP bills,” she said.
Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization for Refugees and Stateless Persons, stressed the ongoing efforts of the Judiciary in ensuring justice for all, including the most vulnerable sectors of society. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González extolled the bayanihan spirit and humanitarian tradition of the Philippines in welcoming the forcibly displaced and stateless. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
Jalal Aboughala, a former refugee who is now a naturalized Filipino, thanked the Philippine Government, the Judiciary, and all those who have extended assistance for his naturalization. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
The Philippine Supreme Court hosts UNHCR's Hope Away From Home traveling exhibit from 10 to 18 June 2024, ahead of the commemoration of World Refugee Day and the country's first-ever National Refugee Day. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo emphasized the significant role of the Judiciary in ensuring the favourable protection environment for the forcibly displaced and stateless in the country. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
Bai Mina Madale, a community leader from advocacy group Ako Bakwit, called for the immediate passage of the rights-based IDP bills. © UNHCR/Christine Carandang
Attendees from the Judiciary and the Philippine Government included Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez who is also the Vice Chair of the Special Committee on the Facilitated Naturalization for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr., Human Rights Commissioner and retired Court of Appeals Justice Monina Arevalo Zenarosa, and Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan who heads the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU).
Zenarosa shared a message of support, emphasizing that “given the growing number of refugees globally, there is a pressing need for further action. As the National Human Rights Institution, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines protects and promotes the human rights of every person in the country, including those belonging to vulnerable sectors such as internally displaced persons, refugees, and stateless persons.”
On the part of the DOJ, Chan shared their “continued commitment and dedication to lead efforts on refugee protection and addressing statelessness and pursue long-term and sustainable solutions for and with our refugees and stateless persons through naturalization.”
The exhibit will be at the Supreme Court from 10 to 18 June and seeks to raise awareness on the stories of those forced to flee amid violence, war, and persecution, those who are stateless or at risk of being stateless, and their journey towards rebuilding their lives, achieving self-reliance and most of all being able to contribute to society.
The next stop for the exhibit will be at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde for World Refugee Day and National Refugee Day on 20 June 2024. Prior to making its way to the Supreme Court, the exhibit also had a successful run earlier this year at the Senate of the Philippines, where it engaged members of the Senate for legislative measures that seek to protect, promote, and uphold the rights of asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, and the internally displaced.
In particular, it drew legislators’ attention to and renewed their interest in the rights-based IDP bills that are pending deliberation in the Senate and which UNHCR hopes would be passed soon.
“We hope that this exhibit inspires more support for and with the forcibly displaced and stateless from the Judiciary, especially now that it is in the process of strengthening the capacity of judges on the Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons,” said Valdeavilla-Gallardo.
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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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