ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Church and civil society mobilise for World Day Against Death Penalty 10 October

Monday, 9 October 2006

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October will be celebrated in the Philippines with widespread mobilisation of human rights groups, Catholic associations and movements, civil society bodies, in order to say no to capital punishment and to work for its abolition all over the world. The Philippines abolished the death penalty in the Spring of this year 2006.
The “World Day Against the Death Penalty” was started by a coalition formed in May 2002 by NGOs, human rights groups, trade unions and other organisations working to abolish capital punishment everywhere.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines issued a statement in support of the initiative calling on dioceses, parishes and church movements to organise initiatives in support of life.
The theme is “Healing and restoring hope and dignity to the community”. Reflection with focus on justice and peace, protection of human life, recalling also that the country has to deal with organised crime hence the need to study new ways to eradicate this evil. The bishops say the first urgent step is to intervene to reduce the unemployment rate and provide jobs for young people, the first victims of recruitment by criminal gangs. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2006 righe 25 parole 243)


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