THE Netherlands Embassy in the Philippines and dignitaries presented on November 24 the Human Rights Tulip award to Fr. Flaviano Villanueva.
A priest from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Fr. Villanueva received the award in recognition of his work as cofounder of PAGHILOM: a Church-based support group working with families of victims of extrajudicial killings to enable them to find a safe space to cope with grief, while they connect with others who share their experiences.
PAGHILOM’s program is a vital component of the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center: a foundation that was also founded by Fr. Villanueva in 2016. He is also the first Filipino honored with the award.
The Netherlands has a long tradition of protecting human-rights defenders. Among its most visible programs is the annual Human Rights Tulip award. Every year human-rights advocates and institutions from around the world are recognized for promoting and supporting human rights in peaceful and innovative ways.
This year about 74 candidates from around the world were named as candidates. Of the number, only 10 were shortlisted—including Fr. Villanueva, who was bestowed with the first-ever local Human Rights Tulip award issued by the Netherlands’s Embassy, as it celebrates its 70th year of diplomatic relations with the Philippines.
“Father Flavie” dedicated the recognition to the memory of the thousands of lost lives, then stated that he wished that he could live in a world where he would not need to receive the award, but that he would continue helping the bereaved.
The award ceremony, held at the ambassador’s residence, was attended by envoys and representatives of the global community. There, Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit of the Commission on Human Rights emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting human-rights defenders in such a crucial time.
Also in attendance were Bro. Armin Luistro, former education secretary who nominated Fr. Flaviano, and Executive Director Edgardo Ligon of Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment, or IDEALS Inc.