Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The first Asian International Conference: "There is no justice without life" will be held in Manila on 27 and 28 October, and will focus on the campaign for the abolition of capital punishment. Ministers of justice of different countries, public officials, mayors, religious representatives, witnesses of the struggle for justice and human rights from different Asian countries like the Philippines, India, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and others will attend the conference.
As reported in a statement sent to Fides, the Conference - organized by the Department of Justice of the Philippines and the Community of Sant'Egidio, in collaboration with the Municipality of Mandaluyong, in Manila -aims to provide a platform for dialogue with countries that have started or are about to start a path toward a moratorium on executions. Dialogue, says the introductory note, aims at the restructuring of the system of justice in the various Asian countries: it should give priority to human rights and values, while fully respecting the cultural and religious heritage of Asia. Even the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino, Jr will be present.
The Conference, the first in Asia, is part of the global campaign launched in 2005 by the Community of Sant'Egidio, a lay international association with headquarters in Rome and present in several Asian countries. This campaign unites over 2,000 cities of 50 countries that have declared to be "Cities for Life" by creating an international network of people who say yes to life. Many Filipino municipalities have joined the network and intend to participate in the campaign to raise awareness on the abolition of the death penalty in Asia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2014)
