Marcos forms special human rights committee
At A Glance
- Based on the AO, the special committee shall take charge of sustaining initiatives and accomplishments of the United Nations for the Joint Program on Human Rights (UNJP) in law enforcement, criminal justice, and policy-making.
To promote and protect human rights in the Philippines, President Marcos has issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 22, which forms the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination that would strengthen existing mechanisms that champion human rights.

The four-page AO No. 22, published on Sunday, May 12, was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 8 and would take effect immediately.
The special committee is chaired by the Executive Secretary and the Justice Secretary. The secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are members of the committee.
The secretariat of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), tasked to formulate a National Human Rights Action Plan, will serve as the committee's secretariat.
Based on the AO, the special committee shall take charge of sustaining initiatives and accomplishments of the United Nations for the Joint Program on Human Rights (UNJP) in law enforcement, criminal justice, and policy-making.
Its other duties are:
- Conduct investigation and accountability
- Data-gathering on alleged human rights violations by law enforcement agencies
- Expanding civic space and engagement with the private sector
- National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up
- Human rights-based approach towards drug control
- Implement a human rights-based approach towards counter-terrorism
- Facilitate access to redress mechanisms by victims of human rights violations
The Special Committee is also tasked to "monitor and ensure effective implementation of government policies and programs aimed at upholding and protecting human rights of persons deprived of liberty, particularly in guaranteeing that no one is subjected to torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of punishment."
In his AO, President Marcos highlighted the significance of maintaining and intensifying the accomplishments of the UNJP, which expires on July 31, through the institutionalization of a strong and healthy multi-stakeholder process for promoting and protecting human rights in the Philippines.
The Philippines is a State Party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
This prompted the creation of the PHRC to comply with its obligations to international human rights groups.