ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that marginalized sectors in Western Visayas region are still prone to human rights abuses.
CHR says marginalized sectors in Western Visayas prone to human rights abuses
By Tara Yap
COMMISSION on Human Rights-6 Regional Director Jonnie Dabuco (right) with Amnesty International Philippines acting Director Jepie Papa (center) and Lorena Navallasca of PROCESS Foundation-Panay. (Tara Yap)
CHR-6 Regional Director Atty. Jonnie Dabuco said that Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, and the urban poor remain vulnerable sectors.
While there is no exact data, Dabuco said that they often become victims of human rights violations mainly due to lack of resources and representation.
The CHR-6 and the non-government organization PROCESS Foundation Panay discussed these concerns during a recent briefing on the State of the World’s Human Rights by the Amnesty International Philippines.
PROCESS Foundation-Panay Executive Director Lorena Navallasca noted how government programs for the marginalized sector often lack funding and programs are only good in paper.
To reverse this, Dabuco urged the private sector and government to do more for marginalized sectors.
Dabuco said one key strategy to empower the marginalized sectors is by making them more aware of their rights, especially those in far-flung communities.
Navallasca urged the government to allocate more funding for these marginalized sectors for the realistic implementation of programs.
Amnesty International Philippines acting Director Jepie Papa urged the “protection of land and environmental human rights defenders, including Indigenous Peoples leaders, from attack or any state-sponsored violence.”