The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed high hopes on the goal to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights with the “multilateral collaboration” among the United Nations (UN), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Last July 22, CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon and Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit took part in the signing ceremony of the UN Joint Program (UNJP) on human rights.
The UNJP was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, and UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez.
The UNJP’s main goal is to enhance the capacity of national government agencies and officials to promote and protect human rights. It also aims to strengthen the country's compliance with its international human rights obligations.
The CHR said the key activities under the UNJP are human rights-based approaches on countering terrorism, strengthening the conduct of investigations and filing of appropriate administrative or criminal charges on human rights violations, provision of treatment and care services for persons who use drugs (PWUDs), and establishment of a national referral pathway to address human rights concerns using appropriate domestic mechanisms.
It said that the UNJP is a welcome development especially after the UN Human Rights Office reported "widespread and systematic killing of thousands of alleged drug suspects" and other forms of human rights violations in the country.
"CHR expresses hope that this multilateral collaboration will lead to improved compliance with human rights standards and fulfillment of obligations as part of the government's commitments to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights," it said in its social media post.
"CHR sees this partnership as a welcome development in demonstrating the government's efforts to address the human rights situation in the Philippines," it said.
"As an independent national human rights institution, CHR continues to be open and willing to work with the government towards improving the situation on the ground," it added.