Communita di Sant' Egidio and EU together with Philippine Department of Justice , Repubblica Italiana, Philippine Department of Justice Parole and Probation Administration , City of Mandaluyong hosted the 1st Asia Pacific on Human Rights and Respect for the Dignity of Life with the theme " No Justice without Life" from 27th to 28th 2014 of October ,held at EDSA Shang-La Plaza Hotel , Mandaluyong City , Metro Manila Philippines.

Today's opening session is being graced with the presence and a welcome address by Hon. Benjamin " Benhur" Abalos , Jr., Mayor , City of Mandaluyong , Metro Manila .,Massimo Roscigno , Ambassador of Italy to the Philippines , Brenda Caldries Program Officer , European Union Delegation to the Philippines .

Messages from the World via a video presentation Pope Francis about the declaration for the abolition of the death penalty in the world, Ban Ki-Moon , Secretary -General of the United Nations. Sotheavy Chan Secretary of State, Department of Justice of Cambodia personally delivers her message and her country's view for human rights and respect for the dignity of human life , her opinion against capital punishment.

Mr. Alberto Quattrucci ,Secretary General for People's and Religions Community of Sant Egidio explained the practicability of the the said event.

Leila M. De Lima , secretary of the Department of Justice , Philippines delivers a key note address on behalf of President Benigno C. Aquino ,President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Mario Marazziti , president of the commission for Human Rights of the Parliament , Co-founder of the World Coalition against Death Penalty, Italy gave his message on " The global campaign for the abolition of the death penalty ".

Personal testimony as a witness was given by Arthur Laffin , founder of the Association Murder Victims Family for Reconciliation , USA , and George Kain , Police Commissioner , Town of Ridgefield, CT Professor , Division of Justice and Law Administration is given from the plenary with deep conviction from their personal conviction.

Religions authority , talks on the Value of the Life and their stands on the abolition of capital punishment , from the chairman , Permanent Committee o Public Affairs , Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Bishop Broderick Pabillo , D.D.

Buddhist Monk, Schweitzer Temple ,Japan Ryuki Furukawa talks their contribution effort in easing the Japanese Judicial system to abolish death penalty, Sudheendra Kulkarni , Chairman of Observer Research Foundation in Mumbai , India invited todays participants to join him in convincing the government of India to abolish capital punishment . Abdulhusin M. Kashim ,former Dean and Lecturer of Islam and Muslims in the Philippines , Expert on Islamic issues and Muslims in the Philippines defines life and Justice on the perspective of Muslims way life, culture based on on their holy book "Koran".

Henry Estipona
Philippines