E/CN.4/1991/17 page 78 3. Contacts with non-govermental organizations and with alleged victims of torture 248. In keeping with a practice established in previous country visits, the Special Rapporteur dedicated much of his time to meetings with representatives of non-governmental human rights groups (this applies, of course, only to countries where such groups can operate legally and freely, which is indeed the case in the Philippines) and individuals who alleged having been tortured, both former detainees and persons still in detention. As may be seen in the introduction, the number of non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights, and in particular with detainees and their specific problems, is considerable. In fact, all the groups whose representatives met with the Special Rapporteur, with the exception of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), operate within the network of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), which is an umbrella organization, founded in 1986. It appears that FLAG and PAHRA are recognized by the authorities as representative of the community of non-governmental human rights groups in the country, since both were invited to participate in the Presidential Committee on Human Rights. Among the groups which the Special Rapporteur met the following are concerned with the conditions of persons under detention, and in particular with alleged cases of torture: Task Force Detainees of the Philippines which was founded in 1974, has links with the Catholic Church and deals with protection of political prisoners and other victims of human rights violations; Medical Action Group (MAG), founded in 1982 and made up of physicians and lawyers, concerned with health and human rights; MAG carries out medical missions to affected areas and helps torture victims and political prisoners in general; KAPATID, founded in 1978 and composed of relatives of political prisoners; their programmes include welfare for relatives of political prisoners and campaigns to improve conditions of political prisoners; SELDA which deals with ex-political prisoners. Their programmes include rehabilitation, welfare, education and assistance to children of former prisoners; Gabriela, a coalition of about 100 women's organizations and groups, including peasants and urban poor, concerned with specific problems of female detainees; and Balay, founded in 1985 as a relief and rehabilitation centre for former political prisoners. The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) was founded in 1974. It is composed of lawyers who, on a voluntary basis, provide free legal assistance to political detainees who cannot find competent legal advice and representation. FLAG is well represented throughout the country and is the largest human rights lawyers group in the Philippines. During his visit to places of detention in Cebu City the Special Rapporteur was accompanied by a FLAG lawyer, Attorney A. Arnado, who also acted as an interpreter. FLAG, as well as MAG and TFDP provided the Special Rapporteur with very well documented information, including lists of alleged cases of torture over the period 1987 to 1990, corroborated by affidavits and medical certificates. 249. In a round-table discussion held on 2 October 1990 with representatives of the various non-governmental organizations operating under the PAHRA network, the following points were made by the participants: human rights violations have increased in recent months. This is due to the intense militarization of society and the role played by vigilante groups and CAFGUs. But the Government itself, with its "total approach strategy", which really means a total war policy, also greatly contributes to this deterioration. Victims of such violations are principally the displaced populations, whose