Marcos creates body to protect human rights in PH

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has formed a special committee to further strengthen the human rights protection and promotion in the country.

Based on Administrative Order No. 22, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 8, the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination was created, tasked to sustain initiatives and accomplishments of the United Nations for the Joint Programme (UNJP) on Human Rights in the areas of law enforcement, criminal justice, and policy-making.

The committee would be chaired by Bersamin, and co-chaired by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. Other members of the body were heads of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“[I]t is imperative to sustain and enhance the accomplishments under the UNJP, which is set to expire on 31 July 2024, through institutionalization of a robust multi-stakeholder process for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines,” the AO read.

The Philippines is a state party to several international human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Philippines has also established the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) to formulate a National Human Rights Action Plan, and ensure the country’s compliance with its obligations to international human rights groups.

The PHRC Secretariat was thus tapped to also serve as the secretariat of the special committee to provide the necessary technical, administrative, and operational support.

Duties and functions of the committee include efforts to conduct investigation and accountability, data-gathering on alleged human rights violations by law enforcement agencies, and expanding civic space and engagement with the private sector.

It should also implement a human rights-based approach towards drug control and counter-terrorism.

The committee was also ordered 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.”

The funding for the initial implementation of the AO, meanwhile, would be charged against the current and available appropriations of the member-agencies of the special committee. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News