As the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) celebrates its 37th founding anniversary on Sunday, May 5, it reiterates its commitment to pursue its mandate of promoting, upholding and protecting human rights of Filipinos, particularly the disadvantaged, marginalized and vulnerable.
“CHR has prevailed over challenges in the past and will consistently strive to improve and adapt to advance the rights of all individuals across all sectors and spectrum,” said CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc in a statement.
The CHR is a constitutional body that was formally organized under Executive Order No. 163 issued in 1987 by the late then President Corazon C. Aquino.
Its vision is "a just and humane Philippine society of persons equal in opportunity, living a life of dignity, and forever vigilant against abuses and oppression,"
As "conscience of government and the people," the CHR seeks truth in human rights issues and makes "people aware of their rights, and guide government and society towards actions that respect the rights of all, particularly those who cannot defend themselves -- the disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable."
“Pursuant to our mantra, ‘CHR ng Lahat’ (CHR for All), our pledge is to provide excellent and compassionate public service always: Narito ang CHR na handang maglingkod – saan man, kailanman, maging sino ka man (the CHR is here ready to serve – anywhere, anytime, whoever you are),” Palpal-latoc said.
As part of this effort, he said the CHR will launch this May 13 the CHR MISMO, the commission’s online complaint portal "in response to the fast-evolving digital world where emerging issues on human rights continually surface."
He explained the online complaint portal will enable the CHR “to reach our clients, especially the most vulnerable ones, real time, anywhere in the country, including remote areas.”
He pointed out that the CHR has made key progress in its various flagship programs under its four key mandates, namely, protection, policy, promotion, and prevention.
He said the commission has launched the “Alisto! Alert Mechanism” which is an initiative to notify cases of alleged human rights violations against media workers.
The commission has strengthened its efforts on media safety through the Expanded Media Task Force on the Safety of Journalists from the original Task Force on Media-Related Extra-Judicial Killings, he also said.
It has also enhanced collaborations with various government agencies by entering into memorandum of agreement (MOA) with them, he added.
Cited by Palpal-latoc were the MOAs on Data Sharing Agreement with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in response to the provisions of Executive Order No. 23 (EO 23), or the Interagency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise of Workers, to ensure effective response to labor-related concerns and expedite processes, with the Department of Justice"s Board of Claims (DOJ-BOC), and with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to ensure the humane and dignified treatment of persons deprived of liberty.