Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the policy to bar unvaccinated individuals from public transport
In the interest of public health, there are rights that may be restricted for as long as the policies imposing such restrictions observe human right standards and related laws. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) previously recognised the validity of the government’s “no vaccine, no labas” policy since there was an assurance that the said restriction will not result in the denial of public services. However, given the new order from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), CHR fears that, while there is no direct prohibition on the right to travel with the “no vaccine, no ride” policy in public transport for the unvaccinated, this policy effectively restricts the exercise and […]
Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the proposal to restrict movement of the unvaccinated in Metro Manila
There are valid justifications in restricting rights, including freedom of movement, especially during national emergencies, such as the present pandemic. The Commission on Human Rights, however, continues to stress that such policies must be based on human rights standards—that, among others, these must be legal, necessary, proportional, and non-discriminatory as detailed under the Siracusa Principles. Despite the restrictions, unvaccinated individuals must also continue to be allowed to access essential services. Similar policies must contemplate valid exemptions as well, such as religious and valid medical grounds. On this note, we continue to encourage and emphasise the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 as a step to restore full enjoyment of our […]
CHRスポークスマン、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士は、ワクチン担当大臣カリート・ガルベス・ジュニアの3回目のワクチン接種の優先割り当てに関する声明を支持した。
The Commission on Human Rights supports the recent statement made by Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday, 13 September on the prioritization of healthcare workers in administration of booster shots. While the World Health Organization has yet to recommend the use of booster shots, evidence and recommendations from medical experts suggest that some healthcare workers inoculated with certain vaccines may experience waning protection against Covid. Breakthrough infections in the Philippines which stands at 0.0013 percent of 9.1 million fully vaccinated individuals may seem infinitesimal. However, there is no denying that more and more frontliners are increasingly at risk of breakthrough infections in the midst of the highly transmissible Delta […]
CHRスポークスマン、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士による、経済活性化のためにワクチン接種済みと未接種のフィリピン人を隔離するという新たな提案に関する声明
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is one with the country in its aspiration to finally recover from the pandemic. In this view, we continuously remind the government to always put respect and regard for human rights at the centre of its efforts. Recently, there was a proposal from the government to increase the mobility of fully vaccinated individuals and restrict the movement of the unvaccinated between work and home only. The idea is directed towards boosting economic activity. However, at this point, when vaccines are scarce, any form of segregation between the vaccinated and unvaccinated may lead to undue discrimination. As of 12 August 2021, government reports that 17.9% […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, to uphold the right to health of persons deprived of liberty through Covid-19 vaccinations
With the threat of a highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19 in the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urges the government to equally give attention to the condition of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and their need for Covid-19 vaccination, including the welfare of personnel managing jails and other detention facilities. CHR has continuously drawn attention to the serious overcrowding of jails and detention facilities in the country even before the pandemic—further worsened by poor hygiene, ventilation, and healthcare support. In 2019, the Bureau of Jail Management of Penology (BJMP) reports a 450% congestion rate. While we note that, during the early days of the pandemic, several government […]
CHR広報担当ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士の声明。政府にワクチン接種プロトコルの見直しを求める。
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognises the hard work of local government units (LGUs) in ensuring public access to Covid-19 vaccines. However, we note that there is still room for improvement in ensuring the health and safety of people queuing up for the vaccination. A day before NCR is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine, large crowds of people were reported to have lined up for Covid-19 vaccination. People are seen without physical distancing. Others have raised that they waited a night before, without eating and sleeping, just to fail getting vaccinated. Similar situations were also reported in areas outside Metro Manila. While our biggest problem remains to be the […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the proposal to bar unvaccinated people from leaving their houses
With the threat of rising cases of Covid-19 due to its Delta variant, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognises that preventing transmission and mitigating its effects to individuals, households, and businesses remains to be a shared national priority. Vaccination against Covid-19 is one of the most important steps in easing out of this pandemic, alongside the recommended test, trace, and treat strategy. The reality, however, is that vaccine supply remains to be challenge. At the same time, certain populations also experience vaccine hesitancy due to various reasons, including receiving wrong information on vaccines and its effects. As of 29 July 2021, reports cite that only 6.66% of the population, […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the latest vaccination numbers and the policy of non-segregation
The Commission welcomes the latest announcement from the Department of Health (DOH), which reports that over two million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of 20 June 2021, a total of 8,407,342 doses have so far been administered with 6,253,400 shots accounting for the first dose and 2,153,942 were for the second dose. In recent weeks, local government units (LGUs) have consistently recorded record breaking vaccination numbers which has led to this great milestone, with the average daily administered doses over the past week at 208,809. We are confident that continued efforts of the LGU, national government, and collective action of the people will help keep vaccination numbers […]
Statement of the CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on local government efforts to speed up vaccination
The Commission on Human Rights lauds the efforts of several local government units (LGUs), which proactively worked to address vaccine hesitancy and encourage individuals to be inoculated against Covid-19 through vaccination drives and information campaigns. A non-commissioned Social Weather Stations survey recently revealed that only 3 out of 10 adult Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated months into the national vaccine rollout. While these numbers are worrying, the Commission takes great solace in the efforts of several LGUs that have sought to ensure that vaccines remain accessible to the public through vaccination drives and information dissemination campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy and common vaccine misconceptions. The right to information to […]
CHR報道官、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士は、自由を奪われた人々をCOVID-19ワクチン接種の優先リストに含めるよう求める声明を出した。
Given the limited supply of Covid-19 shots in the country, fair access to vaccines, including who should be first in line, requires the government to define priorities based on the level of vulnerability to the virus. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) argues that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) must be equally considered to be a priority population given the multitude of vulnerabilities they face inside detention facilities around the country. This is in consonance with the recommendation of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that governments have an obligation to provide vaccines for groups that are at high risk of contagion, such as incarcerated people. The […]
CHR報道官、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士による、現在の健康状況と、最前線にいない人々がCOVID-19ワクチン接種の順番を飛ばしているという疑惑に関する声明
The growing number of Covid-19 positive individuals yet again presents a challenge to our health care system. We are confronted with overburdened health care workers and with some hospitals already reaching critical levels of designated beds and facilities for Covid-19 patients. As such, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) notes efforts to implement stricter community measures in Metro Manila, as well as in affected provinces, to help curb the rising transmission rate. It is concerning, however, that there are reports of public personalities, government officials, and non-frontliners jumping the vaccination queue meant for health care workers. As it stands, the Philippines has a limited number of vaccines allocated for medical […]