The Commission on Human Rights strongly supports the passage of the proposed Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill filed in the House of the Representatives.

In a position paper dated Oct. 19, the CHR said that the implementation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law will provide protection and promote the rights of people belonging to the vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society.

These people include persons with disability, persons living with HIV, people belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex community, and people dealing with mental health issues.

In order to provide stronger institutional mechanisms for the effective implementation of the anti-discrimination law, the CHR has recommended an "express elaboration" of duties assigned to national government agencies.

-- In the workplace, the Department of Labor and Employment should take the initiative to formulate rules and regulations that would reduce discrimination against those belonging to vulnerable groups.

-- For the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education, the CHR recommended that they ensure that all of their books, reference materials, and other learning resources that portray indigenous peoples or discuss religious practices are free from any discriminatory content.

In cases where acts of discrimination have already taken place, the CHR sought said that there should be “guarantees of non-repetition” and “public apologies.”

"To end, the CHR, fully committed to ensuring the respect, protection, and fulfillment of the human rights of all persons, including the right to equality and against discrimination, expresses its full support to the enactment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that will give 'flesh and teeth' to the constitutional guarantee of equality and non-discrimination," the CHR said.

The paper was signed by Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon and Commissioners Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, and Leah Tanodra-Armamento.