Statement of the Commission on Human Rights supporting Philippine National Bank’s training on Business and Human Rights
The Philippine National Bank (PNB) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) co-hosted a forum on Mainstreaming Business Sustainability and Development Framework on 12 December 2023. CHR expresses its full support for the PNB and other stakeholders in this endeavor to recognise the need for a Business and Human Rights (BHR) framework, which stems from […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the Executive Order creating a special committee on LGBTQIA+ affairs
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes Executive Order (EO) No. 51, series of 2023, creating the special committee on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) affairs. According to the EO, the creation of the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ aims to strengthen existing mechanisms to address the continued discrimination against the community […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the celebration of International Human Rights Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Today, we put primacy into championing human rights the same way it was championed 75 years ago when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris. In light of its historical significance to all individuals across the globe, the Commission on Human Rights is enthusiastic in […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the bombing of a Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi City
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) strongly condemns the attack carried out in the gymnasium of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City during a Catholic Mass on 03 December 2023. Based on initial news reports, the bombing claimed 4 lives and injured at least 45 others as of writing. CHR Region X has launched […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the case of the resurfaced missing environmental activists
Acting on news reports and in pursuance of our Constitutional mandate, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through the joint effort of CHR Central Office Protection Cluster and CHR Region III, prompted an independent investigation on the alleged enforced disappearance and arbitrary deprivation of liberty of two environmental defenders, Jonila Castro, 21, and Jhed Tamano, […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the killing of Abra lawyer Ma. Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate
Gunned down in public and in broad daylight, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the killing of lawyer Maria Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales-Alzate. Based on initial news reports, two unidentified assailants boarding a motorcycle got close to the lawyer’s vehicle and opened fire at least eight times on Thursday, 14 September 2023. She was parked […]
Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines hosts two-day Asia-Pacific workshop on the human rights of older persons
The Manila workshop on the human rights of older persons, held on 29-30 August 2023, concluded with the adoption of the Call to Action on strengthening the advocacy of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia-Pacific region for an international framework for the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. The […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights denouncing the recent cases of rape in Lucena City, Quezon and Naga City, Cebu
(Trigger warning: Sexual assault, rape, murder, death) The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Region IV-A and VII are doing their independent and parallel investigation into the recent separate cases of rape of two minors in Lucena City, Quezon and Naga City, Cebu. According to the Lucena police, the naked dead body of an 8-year […]
Statement of CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Focal Commissioner on Gender and Women’s Rights, on President Duterte’s and his allies’ acts demeaning to women
March marks Women’s Month Celebrations in the Philippines. This year the United Nations convened the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women[1], the principal global governmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. I participated as a member of the Philippine Government Delegation as National […]
Statement of Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana on the occasion of the National Indigenous Peoples Day
This year, the county and world are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the theme “COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples Resilience.” There is much reason to celebrate the resilience of indigenous peoples (IPs) while not forgetting the pressing challenges they face. IPs living in their communities have remained resilient since time immemorial. For centuries, they have employed […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia on the recent spate of killings in Negros Oriental
Press Statement | 27 July 2019 The Commission on Human Rights is alarmed by the spike in brutal killings in the Negros Oriental region. Over the past week, sixteen (16) people have been killed in the province, according to news reports. Some of the victims had placards placed on their bodies, warning others that they […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on DOLE’s decision to fine companies that failed to comply with work safety and health standards
Press Statement | 3 July 2019 According to April 2019 Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), out of the 72.5 million Filipinos that are part of the labor workforce, 94.9% are employed. These numbers represent the backbone of the Philippine economy which help in the nation’s goal towards development. Given that […]
Statement of the CHR on the rating of the Philippines as among the worst countries for working people
Press Statement | 3 July 2019 The Philippines is once again rated as among the top 10 worst countries in the world for working people according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2019. Released on June 2019, the report rated the Philippines as 5, which means that while laws provide certain […]
A disaster approach to displacement: IDPs in the Philippines
In the absence of a national policy on internal displacement, the Philippines has used a disaster management framework to address displacement caused by terrorism-related conflict in Marawi City. Such a response, however, suffers from the absence of a rights-based foundation. A five-month armed encounter between State armed forces and the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group, which […]
CHR Calls for the Investigation into the Abduction and Killing of Jee Ick Joo
The Commission on Human Rights staunchly calls on the Philippine government to investigate the abduction and killing of South Korean national Jee Ick Joo allegedly by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last October.
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the allegations of food blockade in Lianga, Surigao del Sur
PRESS STATEMENT 22 December 2017 Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the allegations of food blockade in Lianga, Surigao del Sur Armed conflict gravely disrupts the lives of families and communities who are often caught in the crossfire between combatants. They directly suffer the horrors of war, and all its attendant difficulties […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the further extension of Martial Law in Mindanao until December 2018
PRESS STATEMENT 15 December 2017 Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the further extension of Martial Law in Mindanao until December 2018 The Commission on Human Rights respects the prerogative of the President, as well as the subsequent vote of the Congress, to extend the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on FDA registration of contraceptive products and full implementation of Reproductive Health Law
PRESS STATEMENT 5 December 2017 Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on FDA registration of contraceptive products and full implementation of Reproductive Health Law The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins Reproductive Health (RH) advocates in welcoming the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for its complete technical and reevaluation process of 51 […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on PDEA’s public disclosure of a drug suspect’s HIV status
4 December 2017 PRESS STATEMENT Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on PDEA’s public disclosure of a drug suspect’s HIV status A recent buy-bust operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) led to the apprehension of 11 drug suspects. During a press briefing, PDEA disclosed that one of them is HIV-positive. The […]
CHR hopeful with PDEA’s lead in the drug campaign
17 October 2017 PRESS RELEASE CHR hopeful with PDEA’s lead in the drug campaign Quezon City—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today welcomed the decision of the administration to designate the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the lead agency that will carry out the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “We are hopeful that […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights calling for the strengthening of our justice system in addressing the culture of impunity in the Philippines
09 October 2017 PRESS STATEMENT Statement of the Commission on Human Rights calling for the strengthening of our justice system in addressing the culture of impunity in the Philippines The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urges the government to act on the appalling number of extrajudicial killing cases in the country, and instead of […]