Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Torture violates an individual’s right to safety and denies the inherent dignity of the human being. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed annually on June 26 to raise awareness on the prohibition of all forms of torture and in remembrance of victims and survivors of torture. Despite the absolute prohibition of torture in international and domestic law, torture continues to be a prevalent problem.

Here in the Philippines, despite the enactment of the Anti-Torture Law or Republic Act (RA) No. 9745 on November 2009, which prohibits and criminalized torture and other forms of ill-treatment against persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), reports of torture and abuse of detainees and persons accused still persist.

With several jails housing more than 5 times their intended capacity, widespread congestion not only violates the rights and dignity of PDLs—it also falls short of meeting the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners as well as BJMP‘s Manual on Habitat, Water, Sanitation and Kitchen in Jails. Overcrowded jail cells and detention facilities is akin to cruel, degrading, inhuman treatment or punishment. It increases the likelihood of transmission of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which places the lives of the old and immunocompromised inmates in peril. It is a welcome development that the Supreme Court recently fast-tracked decongestion efforts for the compassionate and temporary release of qualified PDLs.

Considering the already dire situation in jails, the proposed Anti-Terror Act could further regress efforts on torture prevention. Provisions in the Act that allow arrest of individuals without judicial warrant and prolonged period of detention without charges may endanger the rights of the accused to due process and make them vulnerable to cruel, degrading, and inhumane treatment. We reiterate call for the amendment of these provisions that are prone to abuse.

As we commemorate this day, let us uphold the ideals of restorative justice—being deprived of liberty does not deprive an individual of dignity and rights. ###

Articles, Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of the CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the current health situation and allegations of non-frontliners jumping Covid-19 vaccination queue

Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the the labor advisory urging employers to provide paid isolation and quarantine leave for workers

Press Release, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR Executive Director, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the proposed increased budget allocation for climate change spending for 2023

Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the killing of ex-Batangas Congressman

Brief Statement, Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on death threats against a UP faculty criticising the health situation in the country

Latest Post

Press Statement, Statements

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Related Post

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

Statement of the CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the current health situation and allegations of non-frontliners jumping Covid-19 vaccination queue

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the the labor advisory urging employers to provide paid isolation and quarantine leave for workers

Statement of CHR Executive Director, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the proposed increased budget allocation for climate change spending for 2023

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the killing of ex-Batangas Congressman

Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on death threats against a UP faculty criticising the health situation in the country

Latest Post

CHR continues grassroots human rights campaign through LaKarAn in Eastern Visayas

CHR brings ‘Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan’ to Kalinga

Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Observance of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week

CHR issues advisory on protecting the rights of children affected by armed conflict

CHR backs Universal Social Pension bill

Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month

Other Stories

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on allegations of corruption and irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

Read More >

Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the discovery of a corpse bearing torture marks in Davao del Sur

Read More >

Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged strip search of political prisoners’ wives at the New Bilibid Prison

Read More >

Position Paper on the Anti-Elder Abuse Bill

Read More >

Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the directive to submit a list of drug personalities at the barangay level

Read More >

Pahayag ni Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR Spokesperson, kaugnay ng naging aksyon ng CHR sa Tondo secret jail

Read More >