OFFICIAL RELEASE
25 May 2016
Ref: Case No. 2016-078
Commission on Human Rights Issues Resolution on ‘Rape-Joke’ Case
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today released its resolution on Case No. 2016-078 involving the complaint filed by women leaders against Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for Violation of the Magna Carta of Women for words & acts by him during the Presidential campaign.
The CHR, in the dispositive part of the resolution, found the words & actions of Mayor Duterte to be discriminatory of women that is enjoined by the Magna Carta of Women. The CHR has asked the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to consider taking appropriate measures for the violation of the Magna Carta by Mayor Duterte.
Chairperson Chito Gascon said that, “The CHR has the sacred constitutional duty to protect human rights and to call out persons when these rights are violated no matter what their position in society may be. The Commission beheves that this mandate does not exculpate Mayor Duterte from acts committed or words uttered in the course of the electoral campaign when it involves breaches to fundamental rights, in this case, the prohibition of gender-based discrimination and violence,”
The same resolution had also made further recommendations to other government agencies to take positive steps to prevent similar incidents from further happening, to wit:
1. For the Congress to revisit the Magna Carta of Women and to include other punitive sanctions for direct violations by individuals of the rights enumerated therein; and to amend Republic Act No. 7877, otherwise known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, in order to require all employers to conduct yearly gender sensitivity seminars for all its employees;
2. For the Commission on Elections to ordain and institute a code of conduct for candidates for public office and political parties to adhere to gender-sensitive language and conduct during campaigns, and to promote the rights of women;
3. For the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education, and other educational institutions, to incorporate gender mainstreaming and gender sensitivity education in their curricula in order to foster a culture of respect for the rights of women; and
4. For the Civil Service Commission to study the passage of a resolution requiring all government officials to undergo yearly gender sensitivity seminars pursuant to Philippine obligations under the Magna Carta of Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and to adopt measures to eliminate prejudices and customary practices that are anchored on the idea of the inferiority of either of the sexes or their stereotypical roles.
CHR expressed hope that because this complaint had been given due course and that after serious consideration a resolution on the matter has been issued involving the conduct of Mayor Duterte, that all stakeholders and in particular public officials would at all times deport themselves in fully respecting the rights of women guaranteed by the Magna Carta of Women.
CONTACT PERSON:
ATTY. KRISSI SHAFINNA TWYLA RUBIN
Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights Center
09175874660 / 294-8640