Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, September 21 filed the bill seeking to define the rights and fundamental freedoms of the country’s human rights defenders (HRDs).

Hontiveros, in filing Senate Bill No. 2447 or the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Act, stressed the importance of the role of HRDs as they protect, promote, and strive for the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and welfare of the people.

The opposition senator filed the measure even after the two environmental activists who were allegedly abducted by the military more than two weeks ago were freed last Tuesday.

“It is alarming how HRDs are often targets and victims of harassment and persecution. They are treated with contempt, even threatened with violence,” Hontiveros said.

“HRDs are often subjected to summary execution, enforced disappearance, false labelling and red-tagging and malicious prosecution,” she pointed out.

SB No. 2447, she said, seeks to guarantee the protection of the rights and fundamental freedom of HRDs, specify the obligations of the state to ensure the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms, and impose appropriate sanctions to counter impunity.

Among the rights and freedoms of HRDs that the bill seeks to protect, respect and uphold include their right to promote, and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, right to form groups, associations and organizations, right to peaceful assembly, right to seek, receive, and disseminate information, right to privacy, right to develop and advocate human rights ideas.

The bill also seeks to protect HRDs’ right to solicit, receive and utilize resources, right access, communicate and cooperate with international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms, right to effective remedy and full reparation, the freedom from intimidation and reprisal, and freedom of movement.

Under the bill, the state and all public authorities would be mandated to respect, promote and protect and fulfill the rights of HRDs and facilitate the activities and work of HRDs.

They would also be mandated to refrain from derogatory and unfounded labeling, and ensure the protection from arbitrary or unlawful intrusion or interference.

The bill also seeks to mandate the government to conduct an investigation and to ensure effective remedy and full reparation for HRDs who would be wronged.

The measure also obligates the government to facilitate human rights education and to adopt a human rights-based governance.

“The rights of HRDs must be fully recognized and the duties of public authorities be institutionalized. Human rights are fundamental anchors of our democratic society. The mission to protect those who defend our rights must persist,” Hontiveros stated in the resolution.