As the Philippines confronts complex and overlapping crises, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) marks its 39th Founding Anniversary on 5 May 2026 with the theme, “Komisyon sa mga Karapatang Pantao: Maaasahan sa Krisis at mga Hamon ng Panahon.” Grounded in the belief that dignity belongs to all, the CHR underscores its role in advancing the full spectrum of rights, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural, that matter both in moments of urgency and in the everyday lives of Filipinos.
To translate this commitment into practice, recent initiatives reflect the CHR’s thrust to advance a human rights-based approach in policies and practices, particularly those carried out by the State as duty-bearer. This approach ensures equal access to rights for all and places the most marginalized at the center of action.
The work of the CHR under the 6th Commission en banc has since diversified, spanning sustained efforts on food security through multi-stakeholder dialogues, climate justice, emerging technologies and their human rights implications, and business and human rights, including the promotion of corporate accountability and responsible conduct that respects human dignity.
At the same time, the CHR reaffirms its commitment to protecting human rights defenders and civil liberties. Through the release of the Executive Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations of the 2025 National Inquiry on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines, with a focus on red-tagging, the Commission identifies concrete measures to close gaps in existing safeguards. These include clarifying the definition and elements of red-tagging, and addressing fragmented protection, weak accountability, and barriers to justice.
The CHR has also continued its important work on press freedom and media safety, recognizing journalists as human rights defenders and strengthening mechanisms to protect them from threats both online and offline.
Bridging grassroots impact and global advocacy
Over the past year, the 6th Commission en banc has translated its mandate into concrete action. To broaden access to justice, the CHR partnered with the Supreme Court in launching the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS), a digital platform linking marginalized Filipinos with pro bono legal support.
Simultaneously, the CHR intensified its sectoral advocacies. As the country’s Gender Ombud, the Commission ramped up its gender and development campaigns, highlighting this commitment on the global stage. The CHR actively represented the Philippines at the United Nations, highlighting the obstacles to justice for women and girls at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women Session, defending Indigenous lands at the UN Expert Mechanism, and advocating for a legally binding treaty for older persons in Geneva.
These global engagements are mirrored by community initiatives, including the #AkoBatayan youth suffrage caravan and monitoring the impacts of climate change on Indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices to name a few, which amplify the voices of vulnerable but critical sectors. Across these efforts, the CHR continues to link local realities with global human rights standards, ensuring that no sector is left behind.
In all of this, CHR recognizes and extends its gratitude to the CHR workforce. Whether in the field or behind the scenes, their work sustains the Commission’s mandate.
As it approaches its 40th year, the CHR remains committed to one clear mandate: to stand with Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable, and ensure that dignity and rights are protected in every moment of crisis and beyond. ###